THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Beloved, grasp the essence of the psalm I am about to elucidate, through the grace of God, which embodies our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. Be encouraged, for He who has made promises is faithful to fulfill them as He has done before. Our confidence is not based on our own merits but solely on His grace. The figure referred to, I believe, is Ethan the Israelite, who has imparted this psalm's title. It's clear whom Ethan signifies; the term itself carries great weight. There exists no strength in this world apart from the hope we have in God's promises, for in our own endeavors we are feeble, but in His mercy, we find strength. The psalmist begins with a declaration: "I will sing of Your mercies, O Lord, forever; with my mouth, I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations" (Psalms 88:1).
He states, "Let my limbs serve the Lord," relying on the truth that is rooted in Your Word. My faithfulness gives voice to Your reliability: if I stray from Your commands, I am no longer Your servant; if I speak solely from myself, I am a falsehood. Speaking from You and myself are distinct: Yours is the truth, and my tongue conveys it. Let us observe the faithfulness and the grace that the psalmist articulates.
Indeed, You have declared, "Grace shall be established forever" (Psalm 87:2). This is what I sing, this is Your truth that my mouth is meant to declare. You assert, "I build to not destroy"; there are those You dismantle but do not remold; yet, others You tear down only to reconstruct. If there were not desolate to be rebuilt, then Jeremiah would not have proclaimed, "Behold, I have appointed you this day to uproot and to build" (Jeremiah 1:10). Truly, those who once worshipped idols could never stand firm in Christ without perishing due to their past errors. Were it not for some being dismantled to pave the way for rebuilding, it could not have been written, "He will demolish them, and not restore them."
He ties together mercy and faithfulness: "For You have said, 'Mercy shall be established forever; Your truth will be firmly established in the heavens.'" This establishes a continuity of mercy and truth, for the paths of the Lord embody mercy and truth; should truth in fulfilling promises exist, it must be preceded by mercy in the forgiveness of sins. Numerous promises were made in prophecies to the people of Israel, descendants of Abraham, and God ensured the flow of His goodness also to the Gentiles, over whom He appointed angels, retaining Israel as His treasured possession. The apostle refers to the Lord's mercy and faithfulness when he speaks of these two sects. He identifies Christ as the minister to the circumcision, bringing forth the truth of God to confirm the promises made to the ancestors (Romans 15:8).
Observe how God has remained steadfast; He has not rejected His people whom He knew in advance. While discussing the Jews' fall, the apostle clarifies that they have not wholly denied God, affirming that God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew; after all, I too am an Israelite (Romans 11:1-2). If all of this people are thorns, what then of the grain? God's truth must come to fruition in those Israelites who dared to believe, thus forming one wall of circumcision anchored in the cornerstone. But this cornerstone would remain incomplete without the addition of the Gentiles as another wall, linking the first wall uniquely to truth, and the second to God's grace.
The apostle states that Jesus Christ served the circumcision for the truth of God, ensuring the promises to the fathers be realized so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy (Romans 15:8-9). Accordingly, it is rightly said that "Your truth will be confirmed in the heavens," as all the Israelites called to be apostles reflected the glory of God, as written, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork." While they were summoned from here prior to the Church's universal reach, their words have echoed to the world's corners, rightly manifesting what we read: "You will establish Your truth in the heavens filled by them."
You have proclaimed, "I have made a covenant with My chosen" (Psalm 88:3). What covenant other than a new one, renewing us for a fresh inheritance, one that elicits a new song? The psalmist declares, "I have sworn to David My servant." How boldly does he speak; one who comprehends allows their lips to serve the truth! I speak unreservedly, for You have spoken. Should Your word banish my fears, even more so when You swear! God's oath assures the accomplishment of His promises. Humans, however, are rightfully cautioned against swearing (Matthew 5:34), for through the habit of swearing, one may find themselves in perjury. Only God can swear securely, for He is the infallible One.
Let us ponder what God has sworn. "I have sworn to David My servant: I will establish your seed forever" (Psalm 87:4). Yet what is David's seed but Abraham's seed? And he defines your seed as Christ (Galatians 3:16). Therefore, Christ, the Head of the Church and Savior of the body (Ephesians 5:23), is indeed Abraham's seed, and accordingly, we are too, as the apostle affirms, "If you are of Christ, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:29). In this light, we must interpret the words, "I will secure your seed forever," encompassing both the Flesh of Christ born of the Virgin Mary, and all who believe in Him. For we are members of this Head. This body cannot be severed from the Head: if the Head is exalted forever, so too are the members, ensuring Christ remains whole eternally. "I will establish your seed forever, and your throne from generation to generation."
He emphasizes "forever," linking it to generations and kin, as mentioned: "With my mouth, I will continually declare Your truth to every generation." What does "generation to generation" mean? To every generation — for the repetition underscores the ongoing flow of various generations. Might we consider two distinct generations, dear brethren, as previously discussed? There is the present generation of flesh and blood, as well as a future generation birthed in the resurrection of the dead. Christ is heralded here; He will be acknowledged there, believed in here, and embraced there. "I will establish Your throne from generation to generation." Presently, Christ occupies a throne within us; He governs us. If He were not enthroned within us, He would not rule over us; and if we are not under His rule, we are certainly subject to chaos. Thus, He reigns within us while concurrently holding sway in the coming generation stemming from resurrection. Forever He will reign over His Saints, as promised by God, assuredly declared — if that were not sufficient, God Himself has sworn this.
Consequently, since the promise stands credible, reliant not on our merit but His mercy, no believer need shy away from proclaiming that which they cannot doubt. May this assurance invigorate our hearts, as Ethan’s name suggests — those strong in spirit. Let us boldly preach the truth of God, the declarations of God, His promises, His oath; and equipped by these truths on every side, let us glorify God and, carrying Him with us, become Heaven.
“Lord, even the heavens will declare Your marvelous works” (Psalm 88:5). The heavens will not commend their own merits but proclaim Your wonders, O Lord. In every act of mercy towards the lost and in the justification of the unrighteous, what do we extol but God's marvelous works? Praise Him for raising the dead; yet, even more so for redeeming the lost. What grace, what mercy from God! Consider a man once ensnared in drunkenness, now an emblem of sobriety; a man once immersed in luxury, now adorned with temperance; a blasphemer yesterday, now a worshipper; a slave of creation yesterday, now a servant of the Creator. Such transformations emerge from grave states of despair; let them not credit themselves; let them embody Heaven and praise the marvelous works wrought by Him who made them Heaven.
“For who in the clouds can compare with You, O Lord?” (Psalm 88:6). Will the heavens' praise, or will the rainfall? Can it be that preachers presume no entity among the clouds rivals the Lord? Does it seem to you, brethren, an elevation of praise that the clouds cannot equal their Creator? If taken literally, can the stars above the clouds be compared to the Lord? What of the sun, the moon, heavenly beings, and the heavens themselves? Why then articulate, as though intending to exalt, “For who is He among the clouds?” Let us understand, my brethren, that these clouds symbolize preachers of truth; they are prophets, apostles, proclaiming God's word.
If the clouds signify preachings of truth, we should first inquire why they are envisioned as clouds. The same individuals are both heaven and clouds: heaven arising from the brilliance of truth, clouds from the obscurities of the flesh, for all clouds carry the shadow of mortality; they ebb and flow. Regarding the veils of flesh, the apostle remarks, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will illuminate the hidden things of darkness” (1 Corinthians 4:5). You perceive what a person articulates, but cannot fathom their deepest intentions; what is expelled from the cloud is visible; what remains concealed within the cloud is not seen. For whose sight penetrates the cloud? Thus, clouds represent truth’s proclamation while cloaked in flesh. The Creator took on flesh Himself...
We bear the title of clouds due to our humanity, and we voice the truth through the rain of clouds; yet our flesh arrives through one path, and His through another. We, too, have the honor of being called sons of God, but He claims the title of Son of God in a distinct manner. His origin is from the Virgin, while He is the Eternal Son, consubstantial with the Father. Who among the clouds equates to the Lord? And who among the sons of God is like Him? Let the Lord testify if He can find one akin to Himself. "Who do people say I am, the Son of Man?" Because I manifest, because I am perceived, because I mingle among you, and in kinship become commonplace; ask, for whom do people regard Me as the Son of Man? Truly, when they see the Son of Man, they perceive a cloud; but inquire, "Who do men say I am?" In response, they convey human conjectures: "Some say You are John the Baptist; others, Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” Many clouds and sons of God are enumerated here; they too are called sons of God because, by their virtue, they embody righteousness and holiness, as do Jeremiah, Elijah, and John — recognized as clouds due to their role as messengers of God.
You inquired, “What clouds do men liken Me to?” Answer, too, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter, speaking for all, responded, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13-16). Not as those sons of God who are incommensurate with You: You took on flesh, yet not as clouds that cannot equal You.
“O God of hosts, who is like You? Your truth, Almighty God, surrounds us” (Psalm 88:7). God is ever-present; thus all surrounding Him is the reality of His omnipresence. If He were confined to one perimeter, the illusion of finitude would ensue. More so, if correctly asserted regarding God, His majesty knows no boundaries; who remains near Him, except that He, who is everywhere, chose to be born from flesh in one space, dwell among one people, endure crucifixion in a specific location, rise in one place, and ascend to heaven? At these occasions, He was encircled by Gentiles. Had He remained in that place where all acts transpired, He would neither have been great nor instilled fear among all. However, by preaching in such a manner and dispatching proclaimers of His name across all nations, performing miracles through His servants, He manifested greatness, instilling awe in all.