THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Its designation is “A Psalm to the sons of Korea.” Let us grasp no other intention than that which the apostle conveys: for Christ is the culmination of the law. Romans 10:4 Thus, when he positioned these words at the forefront of the psalm's title, he guided our hearts toward Christ. If we direct our gaze upon Him, we will not be misled, for He is the Truth we strive to attain, and He is the Way (John 14:6) by which we journey.
The prophet sings of the future, employing language as though recounting a past event: he describes the future as if it has already been fulfilled, because with God, what is yet to happen has already occurred. “Lord, You have shown favor to Your land” Psalm 83:1; as if proclaiming it had already transpired. “You have rejected the captivity of Jacob.” The ancient lineage of Jacob, the people of Israel, descended from Abraham's seed, promised one day to become heirs of God. They were indeed a tangible nation to whom the Old Testament was entrusted; yet within the Old Testament, the New was foreshadowed: such was the image, such was the declaration of truth. In this portrayal, given as a prophetic sign, a promised land was granted to this people, located where the Jewish nation resided, where the city of Jerusalem is known to us all. When this people took possession of this land, they endured numerous hardships from neighboring foes; and when they transgressed before God, they were led into captivity—not for destruction, but for discipline; their Father not condemning them, but chastening them. After their captivity, they were freed, experiencing multiple cycles of bondage and liberation; and even now they remain in captivity for a grave sin, specifically for having crucified their Lord. What, then, are we to make of the words, “You have rejected the captivity of Jacob”? This psalm proclaims it in a song. “You have rejected the captivity of Jacob.” To whom did it speak? To Christ; for it also mentions “the end of the children of Koreth,” for He has turned away the captivity of Jacob. Consider Paul's personal declaration: “I am a wretched man; who will deliver me from this body of death?” He queried who could be his deliverer, and immediately recalled: “The grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 7:24-25 Concerning this grace, the prophet asserts to our Lord Jesus Christ, “You have turned away the captivity of Jacob.” Pay careful attention to the captivity of Jacob, and recognize that it means this: “You have turned away our captivity,” not by rescuing us from foes we had never encountered, but by liberating us from our sinful deeds, from which Satan held dominion over us. Indeed, if a person is released from their sins, the prince of sinners has no claim to hold dominion over them.
How did He liberate Jacob from captivity? Observe the spiritual nature of this deliverance, as it unfolds within. “You, O Lord, have forgiven the iniquities of Your people; You have covered all their sins.” Psalm 83:2 This is how He turned away their captivity—by removing iniquity, for iniquity had detained them; your transgressions are forgiven, and you are set free. Confess, therefore, that you are in bondage so that you may be deserving of deliverance; for he who is unaware of his adversary cannot call upon the One who saves. “You have covered all their sins.” What does it mean that “You have covered Yourself”? So as not to behold them. How could You refrain from seeing them? So as not to seek retribution. You chose not to perceive our sins; thus, You saw them not, because You chose not to see them: “You have covered all their sins.” “You have appeased all Your anger; You have turned away Your wrath.” Psalm 84:3
As it speaks of the future, though the echoes of the words may fade, it continues: “Restore us, O God of our salvation.” Psalm 83:4 How can he petition for what he just articulated as if it has already occurred, except that he wished to show he was prophesying with a past tense? By requesting that it would be accomplished, he indicates that what he claimed has yet to be fulfilled, even as he understands it to have already occurred: “Restore us, O God of our salvation, and turn away Your wrath from us.” Have You not declared previously, “You have quenched all Your anger; You have turned Yourself away from Your wrath”? How then can You now say, “Turn away Your wrath from us”? The Prophet responds: I speak of these matters as fulfilled, for I perceive they are soon to come to pass; but recognizing they have not yet come to fruition, I implore that they may be realized.
“Do not remain angry with us forever.” Psalm 84:5 The wrath of God subjects us to death, and through that wrath we earn our sustenance in toil and weariness. Genesis 3:19 This was the decree upon Adam's transgression; and Adam represents us all, for in Adam all die; 1 Corinthians 15:22 The judgement upon him extends to us after him. For we did not yet exist as individuals but were present in Adam; therefore, all that befell Adam pertains to us, so that we, too, must die: for we all were in him. How much less will the sin of your ancestor harm you, if you are transformed, just as it would not harm your father, if he, too, were transformed. Yet all that our race inherited prior to our subjection to death came from Adam. What brought this about? This frailty of the flesh, this anguish of pains, this abject existence, this bondage of death, this snare of temptation; all these afflict us in this life, and this constitutes the wrath of God, as it is the recompense of God. However, since this was to occur, we were destined to be regenerated and renewed through faith, with all mortality set aside in our resurrection, and all people restored to a renewed state; for as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:22 Seeing this, the Prophet declares, “Do not be angry with us forever, nor let Your wrath extend to generations.” The first generation was mortal due to Your wrath; the second generation shall be immortal through Your grace...
“O God, You will restore us again and revive us.” Psalm 84:6 This does not imply that we turn to You on our own strength, apart from Your grace, and subsequently You will revive us; rather, that not only might our revival stem from You, but also our very conversion, that we may be made alive. And Your people shall rejoice in You. For their wrongdoings they will find joy in themselves; for that which is good they shall rejoice in You. For when they sought joy in themselves, they discovered only sorrow; but now, since our joy resides in God, who alone will provide everlasting joy, let them rejoice in Him who cannot perish. For why, brothers, would you rejoice in silver? Either your silver shall perish or you shall perish, and which shall go first is unknown; yet it is certain that both are destined to perish. Neither man nor his silver can remain here indefinitely; the same applies to gold, garments, homes, wealth, expansive properties, and ultimately this very light itself. Thus, do not wish to take delight in these: rather, find joy in that light which is eternal; rejoice in that dawn which knows no yesterday and will not be succeeded by tomorrow. What is this light? “I,” He says, “am the Light of the world.” John 8:12 He who proclaims, “I am the light of the world,” calls you to Himself. When He beckons you, He will convert you; when He converts you, He will heal you; and in healing you, you will behold your Savior, to whom it is said, “Show us Your mercy, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation.” Psalm 84:7: Your salvation, that is, Your Christ. Blessed is the one whom God reveals mercy to. He who cannot succumb to pride is the one whom God shows mercy. By bestowing His salvation, He reassures him that all that is commendable within him is derived solely from He who is all our goodness. When an individual observes that all the goodness he possesses is not of his own making, but from God; recognizing that all praise directed at him is by the grace of God, not by any personal achievement; thus he will not be proud; and, devoid of pride, he will not rise above himself; and not rising, he will not fall; and not falling, he will stand; and standing, he will hold fast; and holding fast, he will remain; and abiding, he will find joy and rejoice in the Lord his God. He who created him shall be his delight; and his joy no one shall diminish, disrupt, or take away.
So, what does John say in his epistle? “Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed.” 1 John 3:2 Who would not rejoice if, wandering aimlessly, unaware of their lineage, experiencing need, it were announced, “You are the son of a senator; your father enjoys great wealth in your estate; I implore you to return to your father”? How he would rejoice if this were proclaimed to him by someone trustworthy! One whom we can trust—the Apostle of Christ—came to us and declared: “You have a father, a homeland, an inheritance.” Who is this father? “Beloved, we are children of God.” 1 John 3:2 Therefore, He has promised to reveal Himself to us. Reflect, my brothers, on the beauty of His being. All the lovely things you admire were created by Him. If they are beautiful, how magnificent must He be? If they are great, how great is He? Therefore, from the lovely things we cherish here, let us strive all the more for Him; and, in despising these things, let us love Him, so that through that very love, we may, by faith, cleanse our hearts, enabling us to receive the vision of Him when it arrives, finding our hearts purified. The light that shall be revealed to us must find us prepared: for it is a matter of faith. This is what we have expressed here: “And grant us Your salvation; grant us Your Christ, that we may know Your Christ, and behold Your Christ—not as the Jews perceived Him and crucified Him, but as the angels behold Him and rejoice.”
“I will listen,” Psalm 84:8 declares. The prophet states that God spoke within him, while external noise swarmed around him. Hence, withdrawing momentarily from life’s clamor, turning inward and then outward to Him whose voice he perceived within; shutting himself off, as it were, from the cacophony of existence, from a spirit burdened by a corruptible body, and from an imagination beset by the earthly tabernacle, he says, “I will hear what the Lord God speaks within me”; and what did he hear? For He will proclaim peace to His people. Thus, the voice of Christ, the voice of God, conveys peace: it calls out for tranquility. Behold! It is said, “He who is not yet at peace, loves peace: for what can you find of me that is better than peace?” What is peace? Where there is no conflict. What is it to lack conflict? Where contradiction does not exist, where there is no opposition, nothing in defiance. Consider if we are still there; ponder whether there exists no struggle with the devil now, whether all the saints and faithful are not combating the prince of demons. And how do they wrestle with one unseen? They wrestle with their own desires, through which he incites them to sin; and by refraining from his suggestions, they wrestle, though not defeated. Therefore, where there is turmoil, peace is still absent.