THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Beloved, grasp the essence of the psalm that I am about to explain, through God’s grace, as we place our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. Take courage, for He who makes promises is faithful to fulfill them; He has done much already. Our confidence stems not from our own merits but from His grace. In my view, the term “by Himself” refers to Ethan the Israelite, from whom this psalm derives its name. It highlights that strength comes solely from the hope in God's promises; in our human frailty, we are powerless, yet His mercy grants us strength. The psalmist commences with, "I will sing of your mercies, O Lord, forever; with my mouth, I will declare your truth to all generations" (Psalms 88:1).
He states, "Let my members serve the Lord." This implies that when I speak, it is only of Your words. My mouth will proclaim Your truth: should I fail to follow You, I am no true servant; if I speak independently, I am a deceiver. Speaking Your truth differs greatly from speaking my own; one belongs to me, the other to You. Let us pay attention to the faithfulness He displays and the praises He sings.
For You have declared, "Grace shall be settled forever" (Psalm 87:2). This is the truth that I sing: this is the message my mouth strives to proclaim. Thus You proclaim, “I build not to destroy.” Some You do destroy without rebuilding, while others You do rebuild after destruction. Were it not so, Jeremiah would not have written, “Behold, I have charged you today to destroy and to build” (Jeremiah 1:10). Indeed, those who once worshipped images and stones could not be anchored in Christ without experiencing demise due to their previous errors. If not for those who were led to destruction, the scripture would not state, “He will destroy them, and not build them up.”
He interconnects mercy and faithfulness; "For You have said, Mercy shall be settled forever; Your truth shall be established in the heavens," where both mercy and truth intersect, for all of the Lord's paths are marked by mercy and truth. The manifestation of truth in the realization of promises cannot occur without the preceding mercy demonstrated in the forgiveness of transgressions. Furthermore, many promises were made in prophecies to the people of Israel, descended from Abraham's lineage, and God ensured these promises were fulfilled among them. Nevertheless, He also extended the fountain of His goodness to the Gentiles, who were placed under the guidance of angels while Israel remained His chosen people. The apostle mentions the Lord's mercy and truth to both groups, calling Christ the minister of the circumcision, confirming the promises made to the patriarchs (Romans 15:8). See how God has remained faithful; see how He has not forsaken His people, whom He has known beforehand.
Even while the apostle addresses the Jews' fall, he counters the notion that they have completely turned away from God, stating that God has not cast off His people, whom He foreknew, as exemplified in his own identity as an Israelite (Romans 11:1-2). If all of this people have become thorns, what then is said of the wheat? This is to ensure that the truth of God would be revealed in those Israelites who believed, thus connecting the wall of circumcision to the cornerstone. Yet this stone would not be the cornerstone without the wall brought in by the Gentiles: the first wall pertains specifically to truth, while the second pertains to God’s grace. The apostle emphasizes that Jesus Christ was the minister of circumcision for the truth of God, confirming the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy (Romans 15:8-9).
It is rightly said, "Your truth you shall confirm in the heavens," for all Israelites called to be apostles became as the heavens, proclaiming the glory of God, as noted in the scripture: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows the work of His hands." Although they left this world before the Church spread across the earth, since their words reached the ends of the earth, we rightly conclude that "You will establish Your truth in the heavens" filled in them.
You have said, “I have made a covenant with My chosen” (Psalm 88:3). But what is this covenant but a new covenant, through which we are renewed for a new inheritance, filled with longing and love, expressed in our new song? The psalmist declares, “I have made a covenant with My elect; I have sworn to David, My servant.” How boldly does he speak who understands and whose lips serve truth! I speak without fear, for You have said. If Your word makes me fearless, how much more shall I be fearless when You have sworn! For God’s oath guarantees the fulfillment of the promise.
Humans are justly admonished against swearing (Matthew 5:34), for the habit may lead to perjury, yet God alone swears securely because He alone is infallible. Let us see what God has sworn: “I have sworn to David, My servant; I will establish your seed forever” (Psalm 87:4). But what is the seed of David but the seed of Abraham? "And to your seed," He says, "which is Christ" (Galatians 3:16).
It is conceivable that Christ, the Head of the Church and the Savior of the body (Ephesians 5:23), is the seed of Abraham and of David. But indeed, we are also the seed of Abraham, as the apostle affirms, "But if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:29). In this context, we should interpret the words, “I will establish your seed forever,” not only referring to the flesh of Christ born of the Virgin Mary but also to all who believe in Him. For we are members of this Head. This body cannot exist without the Head: if the Head is glorified forever, so are the members, thus Christ remains complete forever. “I will establish your seed forever, and I will establish your throne for generation and generation.” We assume he says “forever” because it pertains to each generation; as stated above, “With my mouth I will always show Your truth to generation and kindred.”
What is meant by generation and generation? To every generation, for the repetition emphasizes the ongoing nature rather than mere numerical recurrence. Perhaps we should conceive of two generations: one of flesh and blood, and the other in the resurrection of the dead. Christ is acknowledged both here and there, proclaimed here for belief and welcomed there for sight. “I will establish your throne from generation to generation.” Christ currently reigns within us; His throne is established within us, for if He were not seated on His throne within, He would not rule over us. Were we not under His rule, we would be cast down ourselves. Thus, He resides in us, reigning over us; He also reigns in another generation that comes from the resurrection of the dead. Christ will reign over His Saints forever. God has promised it; He has declared it; if that were insufficient, God has sworn it. Thus, since the promise is reliable—not due to our merits, but because of His mercy—none should shy away from declaring that which he cannot doubt.
Let this truth enrich our hearts, as Ethan's name suggests a strong heart; let us proclaim the truth of God—His utterance, His promises, His oath; and strengthened from all sides by these means, let us glorify God and, carrying Him within, become as Heaven.
“Lord, even the heavens will praise Your marvelous works” (Psalm 88:5). They will not praise themselves but will exalt Your marvelous deeds, O Lord. In every act of mercy extended to the lost, in justification of the unjust, what do we celebrate but the marvelous works of God? Praise Him for raising the dead and for redeeming the lost. What grace, what mercy! You might witness a man yesterday ensnared in drunkenness yet today a model of sobriety; yesterday a shackle of luxury, now a beacon of temperance; yesterday a blasphemer, today a worshipper; yesterday a slave to creation, today a servant of the Creator. Such transformations arise from despair; let them look not to their merits but become like Heaven, praising the marvelous works of Him who created them.
“Who among the clouds can compare with You, O Lord?” (Psalm 88:6). Will it be the admiration of Heaven; will it be their rain? Are preachers convinced no one among the clouds equals the Lord? Is it an extraordinary exaltation that clouds cannot match their Creator? If taken literally and not mystically, it doesn’t hold; can the stars that overshadow the clouds be compared to the Lord? Can the sun, moon, angels, and heavens match Him? Why then does it suggest an elevation of praise saying, "Who is He among the clouds?" We understand, beloved, that these clouds, akin to the heavens, are heralds of truth; the prophets, apostles, proclaimers of God's word...
If clouds serve as voices of truth, let us first discern why they are termed clouds. The same beings are called both heaven and clouds: heaven reflects the brilliance of truth, while clouds signify the obscurities of our flesh. All clouds appear dark due to mortality and transit. Concerning these obscurities, the apostle says, "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who shall lighten the hidden things of darkness" (1 Corinthians 4:5). You can observe what a person expresses; however, what lies in their heart remains unseen. The outward manifestations show, while the concealed truths do not.
Who among us can penetrate the clouds? Thus, clouds serve as vessels of truth in the flesh. The Creator took on flesh Himself... We are called clouds due to our flesh, and we are messengers of truth thanks to the rain brought forth by clouds; yet our existence is birthed in one way, His in another. We too are called sons of God, yet He is the Son of God in a different sense. His cloud emerged from the Virgin, He is the Son from eternity, consubstantial with the Father. Who is the One among the clouds who could rival the Lord? And who, among the sons of God, parallels Him? Let the Lord Himself declare whether a match for Him exists.
"Who do people say I am, the Son of Man?" He asks, perhaps reflecting upon how common He has appeared among us. Tell me, for whom do people recognize Me, the Son of Man? Indeed, when they see the son of man, they recognize a cloud; but they question, "Who do people think I am?" In response, they recount various opinions: some say John the Baptist; some, Elijah; others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Clouds and sons of God are mixed together; as the righteous and holy, they too can be called sons, just as Jeremiah, Elijah, and John. Their role as proclaimers aids their identity as clouds.
"You have described how clouds represent Me; now also consider, ‘Who do you say that I am?’" Peter answered for all, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13-16). Not as those other sons of God who aren't equal to You. You came as flesh but not as clouds, which aren’t equal to You.
“God is greatly to be revered in the assembly of the righteous and revered by all who surround Him.” (Psalm 88:7). God is everywhere; thus, who is surrounding Him who is ever-present? If He had anything surrounding Him, He would appear finite. Moreover, if it is genuinely said of and about God, then His greatness is limitless; who remains around Him except that He who is omnipresent chose to be born in flesh at one place, dwell among one people, be crucified at one locale, rise from there, and ascend to Heaven? Where He performed these acts, He had Gentiles in His presence. Had He simply remained where He accomplished these deeds, He would not have been deemed great nor reverenced by all. Instead, by preaching in a manner that sent His name’s ambassadors throughout the globe, performing wonders among His emissaries, He grew in renown, instilling awe among all.