THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Beloved, take heed of the psalm I am about to interpret, through God’s grace, as a beacon of our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. Take heart, for He who has given His promises is faithful to bring them to completion. It is not through our own merits that we gain confidence, but solely by His grace. The psalm bears the imprint of Ethan the Israelite, which lends it its title. The weight of the word is substantial; no one in this world possesses strength except through the hope offered by God’s promises. Without His grace, we are weak, but through His mercy, we become strong. Therefore, the psalmist begins with, "I will sing of Your mercies, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Your truth to all generations" (Psalms 88:1).
He declares that his faculties will serve the Lord: "With my mouth I will declare Your truth." If I disobey You, I cannot claim to be Your servant; speaking from my own accord would render me a deceiver. Distinguishing between speaking from You and from myself signifies two separate matters: one belongs to me, the other to You—Your truth, my voice. Let us witness the faithfulness demonstrated and the graces proclaimed in this psalm.
You have proclaimed, "Grace shall be established forever" (Psalm 87:2). This I sing, for it is Your truth which I profess. Thus You affirm, "I build not to destroy; for some You destroy and do not rebuild, while others You destroy only to restore." Were it not for those who were destroyed for the sake of restoration, Jeremiah would not have written, "Behold, I have set you today over nations and kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant" (Jeremiah 1:10). Indeed, all who previously worshipped images and stones found no stability in Christ due to their prior errors. If some had not been destroyed for rebuilding, it would not have been uttered: "He will destroy them and not build them up."
He links the concepts of mercy and faithfulness; "For You have said, 'Mercy shall be established forever; Your truth shall be firmly established in the heavens'"—where mercy and truth converge, for "All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth." The manifestation of truth in fulfilling promises is preceded by the mercy that forgives sins. Various promises were made in prophecy to the people of Israel, who descended from Abraham, and thus the promises of God were fulfilled within them. However, God's fountain of goodness did not cease to flow towards the Gentiles, those He placed under angelic authority, keeping Israel as His chosen portion.
The apostle clearly refers to the Lord's mercy and truth, addressing these two groups when he calls Christ the minister of the circumcision for God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs (Romans 15:8). Observe that God has not deceived, nor has He rejected His people whom He foreknew. While the apostle speaks of the Jews' fall, he reassures us that God has not rejected them, stating, "For I am an Israelite" (Romans 11:1-2). Even if the people were likened to thorns, I must inquire about the wheat. The fulfillment of God’s truth in the Israelites who held faith facilitated the joining of the wall of circumcision to the cornerstone. This stone would not stand as a cornerstone without receiving an additional wall from the Gentiles; the first wall pertains to truth, while the second relates to God’s grace. The apostle emphasizes that Jesus Christ is the minister of the circumcision for God's truth, to confirm the promises to the fathers and allow the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy (Romans 15:8-9). There is a rightful assertion, "You will establish Your truth in the heavens," for all the believers called to be His disciples reflected the majesty of God, just as it is written, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork" (Psalms 19:1).
"You have proclaimed: 'I have made a covenant with My chosen'" (Psalm 88:3). This is a new covenant, renewing us for a new inheritance, inspiring a new song in our yearning and love. The psalmist conveys confidence, stating he has sworn to David, his servant. How boldly he speaks who understands, serving the truth! He asserts unwaveringly, for Your words cast out all fear; Your sworn oath is the assurance of promise fulfillment. While men are justly advised not to swear (Matthew 5:34) due to the risk of deception leading to perjury, God alone swears securely, being infallible.
Let us recognize what God has sworn: "I have sworn to David, My servant; I will establish your lineage forever" (Psalm 87:4). What does the lineage of David signify other than the lineage of Abraham? And what is that lineage? "And to your seed," he states, referring to Christ (Galatians 3:16). Thus, it is indeed possible for Christ, the Head of the Church and the Saviour of the body (Ephesians 5:23), to be the seed of Abraham and, consequently, of David. Yet, are we not also the seed of Abraham? Indeed, as the apostle states, "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:29). So let us comprehend these words, brethren: "I will establish your seed forever," not only through the flesh of Christ born of the Virgin Mary, but also through all who believe in Him. For we are united as members of the Head, and this body cannot exist without the Head. If the Head is glorified eternally, so too are the members, thus ensuring the wholeness of Christ forever. Furthermore, He proclaims, "I will establish your throne for generations to come." The term "forever," then, resonates with the unbroken chain of generations; as previously noted, "With my mouth I will declare Your truth to every generation." What denotes "from generation to generation"? It covers all generations; hence, repetition serves to underscore the ongoing cycle of generations.
Perhaps we should consider two generations: the current generation of flesh and blood and the future generation of resurrected beings. Christ is honored here, and He awaits acknowledgment there—He is believed in here, and He will be welcomed there. "I will establish your throne from generation to generation." Christ already reigns within us, for if He were not situated on a throne within, He would not govern us; without His lordship, we would face ruin. He reigns within us and also in the coming generation that will arise from the resurrection. Christ shall reign over His saints eternally, as promised by God; He has declared it, and if this were insufficient, God has sworn it. Therefore, given that the promise rests not on our merits but on His mercy, we should fearlessly proclaim that in which we can have no doubt. Let this divine strength encourage our hearts, as Ethan's name signifies, strong in spirit; let us preach God's truth, His promises, and His oath, and be empowered by these means to glorify God, becoming vessels of heaven.
"O Lord, even the heavens will declare Your marvelous works" (Psalm 88:5). The heavens will not praise their own merits, but Your wondrous deeds, O Lord. In every act of mercy to the lost, in justifying the ungodly, what we exalt are indeed the magnificent works of the Almighty. Praise Him for raising the dead; let us extol Him further for redeeming the lost. What grace and mercy of God! You bear witness to a man who, yesterday, was trapped in drunkenness and, today, stands as an emblem of sobriety; a man, once consumed by luxury, who now exemplifies temperance; a blasphemer transformed into a devotee; a slave to the creation now liberated as a worshipper of the Creator. From dire circumstances, individuals are redeemed—let them not rely on their merits but become vessels of heaven, praising the marvelous works of He who made them whole.
"For who in the heavens is comparable to You, O Lord?" (Psalm 88:6). Will the heavens proclaim their own praise? Will they rain down their accolades? Is it presumed that those among the clouds can rival the Lord? Do you find it hard to accept, brethren, that nothing among the clouds can confront their Creator? Can the stars, which are higher than the clouds, be equated with the Lord? Can the sun, moon, angels, or heavens hold comparison to Him? Why then does He inquire, "For who is He among the clouds?" We discern, beloved, that these clouds, akin to the heavens, are proclaimers of truth—the prophets, apostles, and heralds of God’s word. If clouds are indeed the heralds of truth, let us first understand why they are clouds.
The same entities, labeled heaven and clouds, signify radiance and obscurity; heaven reflects the brilliance of truth, while clouds cast shadows due to fleshly mortality, appearing transient. The apostle alludes to these obscurities of the flesh when he asserts, "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will reveal the hidden things of darkness" (1 Corinthians 4:5). You observe only the exterior of a man’s speech; the innermost thoughts remain concealed. What emerges from the cloud is seen, yet what resides in the cloud stays hidden. Who can penetrate the cloud? Thus, clouds serve as vessels of truth in the flesh. The Creator of all came in the flesh.
We are termed clouds by virtue of our humanity and act as bearers of truth through the rain they yield; our flesh comes through one avenue, His through another. We too are called sons of God, yet He uniquely is the Son of God. His cloud originates from the Virgin, while He is the eternal son, coequal with the Father. Who among the clouds can be compared to the Lord? Who among God’s sons stands beside Him? Allow the Lord to reveal whether He can find anyone like Himself. When people call Me the Son of Man, it is due to My appearance among them, rendered ordinary; so, tell Me, whom do people say I am? Indeed, as they glimpse the Son of Man, they perceive a cloud. When questioned regarding the Son of Man's identity, responses arose: "Some say You are John the Baptist; others, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." Numerous clouds and sons of God are named—Jeremiah, Elijah, and John, being righteous and holy, are also called God’s sons, exhibited by their roles as God’s messengers.
You have expressed, what clouds do men equate Me to; now you also declare, "Who do you say I am?" Peter, on behalf of the others, responded, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:13-16). Not like those sons of God, who are unequal to You; You have come in the flesh, yet not as clouds who cannot match Your greatness.
"God is greatly feared in the counsel of the righteous, and is feared by all who surround Him" (Psalm 88:7). God is omnipresent; thus, who truly surrounds Him unless He, choosing to be human, was born, lived, crucified, resurrected, and ascended in a single place among one people? In that place, He had the Gentiles nearby. If He had remained there for all these acts, He would not have appeared great or instilled reverent fear; instead, His preaching sent His name's ambassadors throughout the earth. Performing miracles through His servants, He achieved greatness and struck awe in those around Him.
"O Lord God of hosts, who is like You? Your truth, Almighty God, is all-encompassing" (Psalm 88:8). Mighty is Your power; You created the heavens and the earth and all therein. Yet, Your mercy surpasses all, manifesting Your truth to all who surround You. Had You only been proclaimed where You chose to be born, to suffer, resurrect, and ascend, Your promise would have been fulfilled only for the patriarchs. Yet, the Gentiles glorifying God for His mercy (Romans 15:9) would not have been achieved if Your truth had not been made known and disseminated in the vicinity of Your earthly presence. In that location, You thundering from Your cloud sought to rain blessings upon the neighboring Gentiles by sending others as clouds.
Indeed, in Your might, You accomplished what You foretold: "From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven" (Matthew 26:64).