THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Beloved, as I delve into this psalm through God's grace, remember our hope anchored in the Lord Jesus Christ and take heart. He who promises is faithful to fulfill His word, as He has done in the past. Our confidence comes not from our own worthiness but entirely from His grace. I believe the author of this psalm is Ethan, the Israelite, which lends this text its title. The implications of the name Ethan are significant; no one is truly strong except by relying on God's promises. In our own strength, we are frail, but in His mercy, we find strength. The psalmist begins by declaring, “I will sing of Your mercies, O Lord, forever; with my mouth, I will proclaim Your truth to all generations” (Psalms 88:1).
He goes on to express, "Let my members serve the Lord," affirming that when he speaks, he speaks from God. If I were to speak without obedience, I would not be His servant; my speech would be deceptive unless it draws from God’s truth. To speak from Him and for myself represents two distinct interactions: one being mine and the other, His truth animating my words. Consider how faithfully the psalmist acknowledges the Lord's attributes and the graces he celebrates.
For You have declared, “Grace shall be established forever” (Psalm 87:2), which is the essence of my song; this is the truth my lips proclaim. The Lord assures us that He does not build to destroy; He dismantles only to rebuild. Had there not been those destroyed for the sake of restoration, Jeremiah wouldn’t have asserted, “Behold, I have set you today over nations and kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down” (Jeremiah 1:10). Those who once venerated idols and stones could not find stability in Christ without the loss resulting from their former errors. Moreover, had some not faced destruction to pave the way for restoration, it would not be written, “He will destroy them but not build them up.”
In linking mercy to faithfulness, the psalmist also reflects, “For You have said, Mercy shall be established forever; Your truth will be confirmed in the skies,” emphasizing that the ways of the Lord intertwine mercy and truth. The genuineness of His promises relies on mercy preceding justice and sin’s forgiveness. Prophecies communicated many promises to Israel, descendants of Abraham, which blossomed as God’s promises unfolded. Still, God did not withhold His goodness from the Gentiles, whom He placed under angelic authority, keeping Israel as His chosen people. The Apostle Paul speaks to the mercy and truth of the Lord, referencing both Jewish and Gentile recipients of His grace. He regards Christ as the servant to the circumcision, ensuring the promises made to the patriarchs (Romans 15:8).
See how God remains truthful and has not forsaken His people, whom He foreknew. While the Apostle discusses the fall of the Jews, He reassures us that God has not cast away His people. For I, too, am an Israelite. Although many in Israel may be like thorns, what might I say of the wheat? God’s truth will be realized in those Israelites who embrace belief, forming one wall of the faithful around the cornerstone. This cornerstone derives strength from the Gentiles, forging two walls: one representing truth, the other showcasing divine grace. Thus, the Apostle declares that Christ, the servant of the circumcision for God's truth, confirms the promise to the fathers while also allowing Gentiles to praise God for His mercy (Romans 15:8-9).
Consequently, it is aptly stated, “Your truth shall be confirmed in the heavens,” echoing that all called as apostles in Israel symbolize the heavens, declaring God’s glory. It is written, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows the work of His hands,” for although they departed prior to the Church's global expansion, their proclamations reached the world’s ends, affirming, “You will establish Your truth in the heavens.”
You have proclaimed, “I have made a covenant with My chosen” (Psalm 88:3). What kind of covenant is this but a new covenant, renewing us for a higher inheritance, stirring our longing and love, for which we sing a new song? The psalmist proclaims, “I have sworn to David my servant,” demonstrating fervent confidence from understanding and articulating the truth. I shall speak boldly, for You have declared, and with Your promises, I am made fearless! God alone can swear with certainty, as He is infallible.
Let us examine what God has sworn. He declared, “I will establish your seed forever” (Psalm 87:4). The line of David traces back to Abraham, and concerning Abraham’s seed, it is written, “To your seed, who is Christ” (Galatians 3:16). So, Christ, the head of the Church and the Savior of the body (Ephesians 5:23), embodies the seed of Abraham, and we, too, partake in this lineage. Just as the Apostle states, “If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). Thus, we can interpret, “I will establish your seed forever,” to mean not only through the flesh of Christ birthed by the Virgin Mary but also through all who believe in Him, for we are members of His body.
If His head is eternally exalted, so too will the body be forever sustained. The psalmist’s promise of establishing your seed forever signifies continuity, affirming His truth across generations. Generations on earth will witness Christ reign, first His kingdom within us and later over His saints in glory. God’s oath solidifies His promises, and since our faith rests not on our merits but rather upon His mercy, we should not hesitate to proclaim what we know to be true. Let this conviction strengthen our hearts, as Ethan’s name suggests, and inspire us to share the truth of God boldly.
“Lord, even the heavens will praise Your wondrous works” (Psalm 88:5). Heaven will not sing of its own achievements but of Your marvelous endeavors, O Lord. We praise You for every act of grace towards the lost and the justification of the unjust. Consider the transformation from a life engulfed in excess to one shining with sobriety; from a blasphemer to a devotee. It is through such dramatic conversions that we encounter the transformative mercy of God, urging revival in their praises.
“Who is like You, O Lord, among the clouds?” (Psalm 88:6). Will the heavens represent only their praise or their actions? Can any among the clouds truly compare to You, O Lord? The psalmist’s inquiry implies a lofty praise; after all, even the stars surpass the clouds in height. It is essential to recognize the clouds as preachers of truth: prophets and apostles bringing forth God’s message.
We must discern their purpose as they convey His message through the obscurities of the flesh. Inspired by the Apostle’s words, “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time” (1 Corinthians 4:5), we see how the superficial judgment relies on appearances, but deeper intentions lie concealed. The very flesh that binds us also enables us to proclaim truth; we, too, have been designated messengers by God. Christ came in the flesh to embody this truth, surpassing us as the only Son of God. “Who is among the clouds who measures up to the Lord?” as challengingly stated.
As people ponder the identity of the Son of Man, they speak of Him as if common among mortals; yet Peter, prompted by revelation, proclaims, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13-16). His identity is exalted above all.
“God is to be feared in the assembly of the righteous” (Psalm 88:7). God is omnipresent, and the very notion of ‘surrounding Him’ might imply finitude; however, His greatness knows no bounds. His incarnation in one place amidst a specific company, His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension—all affirm His sovereignty and instill fear in all who witness His power and majesty.
“O Lord, God of hosts, who is like You? Your truth, O Almighty God, surrounds us” (Psalm 88:8). Your might displayed in creating heaven and earth, surpasses all; yet the depth of Your mercy reveals Your truth to all. Should Your gospel have only been shared in the locale of Your birth and passion, the promise to the patriarchs would not have ensured the ensuing glorification of God among the Gentiles for His grace (Romans 15:9). From Your locale, You thunderingly released truth upon the surrounding nations.
By the strength of Your power, You have fulfilled Your promise: “You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 26:64).
While you grasp the truths from the sprinkling of God’s clouds, recognize that the absence of opposition only highlights Your purpose—even as the people awaited a sign (Luke 2:34). Remember, the nation who received You resonates as the dry land amid the tumultuous seas, as the others embody hearts hardened and soured.
Your preachers extend Your truth despite raging storm around them. “You control the sea” (Psalm 88:9). The raging sea symbolizes the chaos enveloping the persecution of martyrs, yielding a bountiful harvest for the Church in their wake. Thus, let the ministers carry forth Your truth and stand fearless amidst the tumult. You reign over the tempestuous waves, promising not to overwhelm those rooted in You (1 Corinthians 10:13) as you silence their fury.
What have You accomplished to subdue the boisterous waves? “You have humbled the proud as one who is crushed” (Psalm 88:10). There lurks an arrogant serpent of the sea—the devil—about whom it is said, “I will command the serpent, and he shall bite them” (Amos 9:3). You, omnipotent, have subdued the proud, as if wounding them, but also, out of Your humility, have taught the proud to turn away from their arrogance. Those who once stood staunch in pride see the example set by Your profound descent into humility.
You have scatterered the proud through Your triumphant humility and offered redemption to many. The blood shed for our sins also notably damages the pride of the adversary, whose grip tightened through the bond against us. This deed, embracing humility, leads to a transformative realization; the proud must yield. It is not through physical wounds but through the humility exhibited through your sacrifice that the devil was ultimately defeated.
“Yours is the world and all that is encompassed” (Psalm 88:11). It rains down Your truth across the earth, from the heavens that convey Your message to the earthly realm that receives it. What results arise from such outpouring? You crafted the foundation upon which the earth stands, encompassing the north and all seas (Psalm 88:12). Though wickedness may proliferate, does it ever breach the Creator's established boundaries?
Why should I fear the north or the sea? In the northern realms lurks the enemy, who dared to proclaim, “I will sit upon the mount of the congregation” (Isaiah 14:13). Yet You have humbled him, bringing low the proud. Your authority over creation demonstrates a greater dominion than their rebellious desires.
“Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in Your name” conveys both the self-explanatory and the profound. Tabor signifies the approach of light. This illuminative essence originates from Him whose light is perpetual (John 1:9). The light, which is the world's illumination, emerges from a source unquenched. It is a candle placed on a lampstand to shine brightly: Tabor symbolizes the coming light. Conversely, Hermon embodies a curse—rightly juxtaposed, as that very light brings condemnation upon the proud. Our enlightenment, originating from You, heralds the downfall of the proud deceiver.
Thus, Tabor and Hermon celebrate not their merits but instead, praise Your name, acknowledging, “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but unto Your name be the glory.”
“You have a mighty arm” (Psalm 88:13). No one can claim ownership of any greatness. Your strength guides and sustains us.