THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Beloved, grasp the meaning of this psalm, which I am about to explain, by the grace of God, regarding our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Take heart, for He who has made promises is faithful to bring them to fruition, just as He has already fulfilled many. Our assurance in Him does not rest on our own merits but on His grace. In my understanding, the title of this psalm can be attributed to Ethan, the Israelite. Thus, we recognize the strength of the word Ethan. Truly, no one in this world possesses strength apart from the hope in God's promises; we are weak in our own abilities, yet strong in His mercy. The psalmist begins, "I will sing of Your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations" (Psalms 88:1).
He declares, "Let my members serve the Lord." When I speak, I bear witness of Your truth. If I disobey You, I cannot be considered Your servant; if I speak from my own thoughts, I am deceitful. Speaking from You and speaking from myself are distinct: one is my own, and the other is Yours—Your truth, my voice. Let us listen to the faithfulness He displays and the graces He extols.
For You have declared, "Grace shall be established forever" (Psalms 87:2). This is the essence of my song, the truth that my mouth proclaims. You affirm: I do not destroy without also rebuilding; for some are destroyed without being rebuilt, while others, once destroyed, are restored. Had there not been those who were lost to be rejuvenated, Jeremiah would not have proclaimed, "Behold, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant" (Jeremiah 1:10). Indeed, those who worshipped idols could not find stability in Christ without succumbing to their previous mistakes. If not for some being brought low in order to be uplifted, it wouldn't be written, "He will break them down, and not rebuild them."
He intertwines mercy and faithfulness, stating, "For You have declared: Mercy shall be established forever; Your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens" (Psalms 88:2). In every divine way, mercy and truth accompany each other: the truth of fulfilled promises could not be evident unless preceded by mercy, allowing for the forgiveness of sins. As numerous promises were made to the Israelites, descendants of Abraham, and as this people multiplied, it was so that God's promises would be realized amongst them; yet, God's fountain of goodness did not close its flow to the Gentiles, to whom He entrusted the power of angels while keeping Israel as His inherited people.
The apostle references the mercy and truth of the Lord in relation to these two groups. He identifies Christ as the minister of the circumcision, confirming the promises made to the forefathers (Romans 15:8). Look how God has not been misleading. He has not cast away His people, whom He foreknew. The apostle points to the Jews' fall, cautioning against the belief that they remained ever disconnected from God; he states, "For I too am an Israelite" (Romans 11:1). If the whole people can be compared to thornbushes, how then can I speak of wheat? The truth of God is realized in those Israelites who have come to faith, thereby bridging the wall of circumcision to the cornerstone. This cornerstone would be incomplete without the support of another wall from the Gentiles, combining in this manner: the first wall relates to truth, and the second to the grace of God.
The apostle asserts that Christ served the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises extended to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy (Romans 15:8-9). In light of this, the text continues, "Your faithfulness you shall establish in the heavens," because all chosen Israelites, called to be apostles, became like the heavens, proclaiming God's glory, as it is said, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork" (Psalms 19:1). Though they were taken from this realm before the Church spread universally, their words have reached the farthest corners, affirming the idea that You will establish Your truth in the heavens where it resides.
"You have said: I made a covenant with My chosen one" (Psalms 88:3). What covenant could be but a new covenant, renewing us for a new inheritance in our desire and love, eliciting a new song? "I have made a covenant with My elect; I have sworn to David My servant." How confidently he speaks, whose lips testify to truth! I proclaim without fear, for Your words bring me courage. If Your proclamation gives me boldness, how much greater is my fearlessness knowing You have sworn it! The oath of God assures the promise’s realization.
Swearing is justly forbidden to man (Matthew 5:34), lest he fall into perjury; God alone swears safely, for He alone cannot deceive. Let us contemplate what God has sworn. He continues, "I have sworn to David My servant; I will establish your offspring forever" (Psalms 87:4). What is David's offspring but Abraham's lineage? And what of Abraham’s seed? "And to your offspring," it is said, "which is Christ" (Galatians 3:16). Truly, Christ, the head of the Church, the Savior of the body (Ephesians 5:23), is both the seed of Abraham and therefore of David; indeed, we also are the offspring of Abraham, as the apostle reminds us, "If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise" (Galatians 3:29).
Thus, let us comprehend that when it is said, "I will establish your seed forever," we understand not solely through the flesh of Christ born of the Virgin Mary but also through all who believe in Him. We are members of this Head; this body cannot be severed from the Head. If the Head is glorified perpetually, so too are the members, allowing Christ to remain complete eternally. "I will establish your seed forever, and your throne from generation to generation." We see 'forever' denotes generation and lineage; as it was stated before, "With my mouth I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations."
What do we mean by generation to generation? Every generation—repetition signifies the continuing flow of generations. Perhaps we may consider two generations, as you are aware, my beloved brethren. There is a current generation of flesh and blood and a future generation in the resurrection of the dead. Christ is proclaimed here; there He will be revealed. He is to be believed in now; He will be encountered there.
"I will establish your throne from generation to generation." Christ reigns in us now; His throne is set within us, for if He does not govern us from within, we would surely fall. He also reigns in another generation arising from the resurrection of the dead, as Christ shall reign with His saints forever—a promise from God affirmed by His very words. If this declaration holds true, God has sworn it, thus assuring the promise, not based on our merit, but on His mercy. Therefore, let fear not deter anyone from proclaiming that which ought not to be doubted. Let this conviction inspire our hearts, reminiscent of the strength embodied in Ethan's name, steadfast in spirit.
Let us declare the truth of God, His utterances, promises, oaths, and being fortified in every way, glorify God and, carrying Him with us, become like Heaven. "O Lord, even the heavens will praise Your marvelous works" (Psalms 88:5). The heavens do not honor their own merits but Your magnificent deeds, O Lord. In every act of rescue for the lost, in the justification of the undeserving, what are we praising but the wondrous works of God? You praise Him for raising the dead; yet praise Him even more for redeeming the lost. What grace and mercy God bestows!
Consider a man who was once engulfed in vice, now transformed into an embodiment of virtue; previously indulgent in luxury, now he exemplifies temperance; once a blasphemer, now a worshiper of God. From such desperate conditions, people are renewed; let them not focus on their own merits but rather rejoice in the glorious works of the One who transformed them.
"Who is like You, O Lord, among the clouds?" (Psalms 88:6). Is it the glory of heaven, or perhaps rain? Are preachers convinced that none among the clouds can equal the Lord? Does it strike you as uplifting that clouds cannot be compared to their Creator? Consider the stars above the clouds; can they be likened to the Lord? Can the sun, moon, angels, or heavens compete with Him? Why then state, "For who is He among the clouds?" We understand, dear brethren, that these clouds, like the heavens, are proclaimers of truth—prophets, apostles, heralds of God's word.
Now, if clouds represent communicators of truth, let us delve into the reason for their classification as clouds. For the same individuals serve as both heavens and clouds. The heavens radiate truth, while the clouds symbolize the obscurities of flesh; all clouds appear dark due to mortality, appearing and disappearing. The apostle observes that "therefore, judge nothing before the appointed time until the Lord comes, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness" (1 Corinthians 4:5). You perceive the outward actions of a person, yet what resides in their heart remains hidden; what is revealed from the cloud is observable, while what remains within it is not.
Who can see through the clouds? Clouds are indeed messengers of truth in the flesh. The Creator came in the flesh; we are called clouds in relation to our humanity, and we proclaim the truth, stemming from the rain of the clouds. Yet, while our flesh comes through one manner, His is unique. We are also termed children of God, but He holds the title of the Son of God in a distinct way. His incarnation came from the Virgin; He is the eternal Son, of one substance with the Father.
Who among us, then, is comparable to the Lord? Let the Lord pronounce whether He can find one like Himself. When people inquire, "Who do you say that I am, the Son of Man?" Because I appear, I am seen, I walk among you, and perhaps I became commonplace. When asked, for whom do men consider Me, the Son of Man? Truly when they observe the Son of Man, they see a cloud; yet they pose the question, "Whom do men believe I am?" In response, they provided public opinions: "Some say John the Baptist; others declare Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." Many clouds and sons of God are identified because they embodied righteousness and holiness; thus, Jeremiah, Elijah, and John are seen as sons of God; their role as heralds of God equates them with clouds.
You have posed a question regarding how men perceive Me as clouds; do you also ask, "Whom do you say that I am?" Peter speaks for all, responding, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:13-16). Not as those sons of God who are lesser than You. You were born in flesh but not likened to clouds of lesser stature.
"God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the righteous, and revered among all who surround Him" (Psalms 88:7). God is omnipresent; thus, who surrounds Him? There's no concept of any others being around Him, for if He should have anything surrounding Him, He would seem limited on every side. In truth, if it is properly attributed to God, His magnificence knows no bounds. Who can remain close to Him but He who is everywhere, having chosen to inhabit flesh? He was born in one place, lived among a specific people, was crucified in one location, rose from another, and ascended to Heaven. These events had Gentiles nearby. Had He remained where He accomplished these acts, He would not be great nor revered by all; yet in His preaching, He sent forth advocates of His name throughout all nations, performing marvels through His servants, thus becoming great and inspiring awe all around Him.