THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Beloved, I invite you to contemplate this psalm, which I am about to explain through the grace of God and in light of our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. Take heart, for He who has promised is faithful to accomplish all that He has pledged, just as He has fulfilled much already. Our confidence in Him arises not from our own merits but from His grace. In my view, the reference here is to Ethan the Israelite, the one associated with this psalm. It is important to understand that the meaning behind Ethan’s name holds great significance. No individual in this world stands strong except through the hope of God’s promises; in our own strength, we are frail, but in His mercy, we find our strength. The psalmist begins, "I will sing of Thy mercies, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known Thy faithfulness to all generations."
He expresses a desire for his being to serve the Lord, speaking only of those things that are Thine. Whenever I proclaim Thy truth, I recognize that to fail to obey Thee renders me a false servant; to speak from my own self would make me a liar. However, to communicate from Thee and from myself are distinct actions: what is mine is one thing, and what is Thine is another. Let us pay attention to his expression of faithfulness and the honors he extols.
For Thou hast declared, “Grace shall be established forever." This is the essence of my song; this is the truth that my lips are meant to proclaim. Thus, Thou assert, "I do not build to destroy," for while some are taken down and not rebuilt, others, having been destroyed, are restored. This reality is echoed in the words of Jeremiah, where he states, “Behold, I have set you over nations and kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” Indeed, those who once worshipped images and stone could not be firmly established in Christ without perishing due to their previous errors. If those were not allowed to perish in order to be established, the scripture would not declare, “He will destroy them, and not build them."
He connects mercy and faithfulness, affirming, "Mercy shall be established forever; Thy truth shall be confirmed in the heavens," where both mercy and truth are in harmony, for all of God’s ways are characterized by mercy and truth. The realization of the divine promises would not be manifest without first having been preceded by His mercy in forgiving sins. Numerous promises were given in prophecy to the people of Israel, who descended from Abraham, and through them, the fullness of God's promises was to be realized. Yet, the fountain of God’s goodness was also poured out upon the Gentiles, whom He placed under the authority of angels, while retaining Israel as His chosen portion. The apostle speaks specifically of God’s mercy and truth, addressing these two groups. He refers to Christ as the minister to the circumcision for the truth of God, confirming the promises made to the fathers.
Observe how God has remained faithful; He has not rejected His people, whom He knew beforehand. The apostle emphasizes this point when discussing the fallen state of the Jews; he clarifies that God has not cast away His chosen ones, as he states, “For I also am an Israelite.” If this entire community were to be regarded as thorns, I ask, what do we say about the wheat? God’s truth is fulfilled in those Israelites who believed, thus bringing together circumcision as part of the living cornerstone of faith. This stone would not be considered the cornerstone without receiving another wall from the Gentiles: one relates to truth, while the other pertains to grace. The apostle adds that Jesus Christ became the minister of circumcision for the truth of God, for the purpose of confirming the promises made to the fathers, in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy.
Hence, it is fittingly proclaimed, “Thy truth shall be established in the heavens"; for all the Israelites appointed as preachers have declared God’s glory, echoing, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows forth the work of His hands.” Even though many of these preachers exited this life before the Church spread across the globe, their words reached the farthest corners of the earth, suggesting that God indeed established His truth in the heavens through them.
Thou hast said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen." What covenant could this be but a new covenant, renewing us for a fresh inheritance through our longing and love, inspiring us to sing a new song? The psalmist states, "I have sworn to David my servant." How confidently he speaks, for he understands whose words he utters; his lips proclaim the truth! He declares without hesitation, knowing that if the Lord inspires him to speak boldly, how much more so is he emboldened by God’s oath! For the oath of God guarantees the fulfillment of the promise. Mankind is warranted to refrain from swearing, lest he fall into perjury due to the common propensity to swear falsely; but God alone swears securely, for He alone is infallible.
Let us examine what God has sworn: “I have sworn to David my servant; I will establish your seed forever.” But what is the seed of David except that of Abraham? And what does it mean, "To your seed," but that which is Christ? He is the Head of the Church, the Savior of the body, and thus He is indeed the seed of Abraham, and therefore of David. But we too are recognized as the seed of Abraham. The apostle notes, “If you are Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.” Hence, let us comprehend the words spoken, “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 Christ. For we are members of this Head, and this body cannot exist without the Head; if the Head is glorified eternally, so too will the members be, affirming that Christ will endure eternally as one whole.
“I will establish your seed forever, and your throne from generation to generation.” Here, the term “forever” reflects the span of generations: as stated earlier, “With my mouth I will always proclaim Thy truth to every generation.” What is meant by “generation to generation”? Irrespective of the repetition, the focus is on the transition through many generations. It is suggested that two generations might be inferred; one is the present generation of flesh and blood, and the other is the future generation at the resurrection of the dead. Christ will be proclaimed here, and He will be welcomed there; here He is to be believed, and there He will be seen. "I will establish your throne from generation to generation."
Currently, Christ reigns within us; His throne is firmly established within our hearts. For if He were not seated as Sovereign within us, He would not rule over us; and if we were not ruled by Him, we would fall into chaos. Thus, He resides in us, governing our lives, and in the age to come, He shall reign over His saints eternally. God has promised this; He has declared it, and if that is insufficient, He has sworn it. Given that the promise is credible, not based on our merit but purely upon His mercy, none should hesitate to affirm what they cannot dispute.
Let this truth invigorate our hearts, as Ethan embodies strength of spirit; let us proclaim the truth of God, His utterance, His promises, and His oaths. Empowered by these truths, let us glorify God and embody Heaven.
“Lord, even the heavens shall exalt Thy marvelous works.” Not on their merits will the heavens give praise, but on the splendor of Thine own deeds, O Lord. In every act of mercy towards the lost and in the justification of the unjust, what is it that we herald but the wondrous works of God? We lift our voices in praise because the dead have been resurrected; we should celebrate even more because the lost have been restored. What grace and mercy belongs to God! Yesterday, you may have seen a man ensnared in drunkenness, and today he stands as a beacon of sobriety; a man once robed in luxury now shines in temperance; a blasphemer yesterday now praises God today; a slave to the creation now worships the Creator. In such conversions from despair, let not men boast of their own merits; let them instead embody Heaven and proclaim the marvelous works of Him who transformed them.
For who among the clouds can be compared to Thee, O Lord? Will the praise of the heavens ascend to their rain? Do preachers truly believe that anyone among the clouds can rival the Lord? Is it indeed a mark of high praise that the clouds cannot be compared to their Creator? If this is interpreted literally rather than spiritually, it may not convey the intended meaning. Are the stars, higher than the clouds, to be compared to the Lord? Can the sun, the moon, the angels, or the heavens themselves stand in comparison? Therefore, when he remarks, “For who is He among the clouds?” we ought to grasp that the clouds symbolize preachers of truth; prophets, apostles who declare God's word.
Now if the clouds serve as the proclaimers of truth, we should first explore why they are termed as such. The clouds and heavens denote the same entities: the heavens reflect the brilliance of truth, while clouds represent the obscurities of the flesh, darkened by mortality, as they are transient. The apostle articulates this by stating, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will reveal the hidden things of darkness.” At present, one can perceive a man's words, but the contents of his heart remain unseen; we witness what emerges from the clouds, but what is stored within them remains hidden from view. Who can pierce the clouds? Thus, these clouds serve as preachers of truth in the flesh.
The Creator of all came forth in flesh, and we too are regarded as clouds due to our mortality, yet we preach the truth because of the outpouring of rain. Our flesh comes one way, His by another. We, too, are called children of God; however, He is the unique Son of God. His incarnation comes via the Virgin, while He exists as the eternal Son, coessential with the Father. Who among the clouds can be likened to the Lord? Among the sons of God, who can be His equal? Let the Lord be the one to declare if He has found anyone like Himself. What do people call Me, the Son of Man? Because I appear, I am seen, I walk among you; perhaps I seemed common at that time. Tell Me: who do men say I am? They answered, “Some say, ‘You are John the Baptist’; some others say, ‘Elijah,’ or ‘Jeremiah,’ or one of the prophets.” Here, various clouds and sons of God are mentioned; Jeremiah, Elijah, and John are similarly called children of God owing to their righteousness and holiness, as they embody the characteristics of God's preachers and are thus termed clouds.
"You have asked what clouds represent Me to be; do you also tell Me, whom do you say that I am?" Peter, responding for all, declared, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Not like those sons of God, who do not attain to Thy stature: Thou didst come in flesh, but not as clouds, which do not compare to Thee.
God is greatly revered in the council of the righteous, and feared by all who surround Him. God is omnipresent; hence, who might be considered around Him? If He has any proximity, it suggests a limit on all sides. Moreover, if it is said of God, then His greatness knows no boundaries. Who remains nearby Him, except that He, who is everywhere, chose to be born of the flesh in a singular place, to dwell within a specific people, to undergo crucifixion in one location, to rise again from one place, and to ascend into Heaven? In those moments, He had Gentiles near Him. Had He remained confined to that place while accomplishing these acts, He would not be perceived as great, nor would He elicit fear from those around Him; rather, by preaching so effectively and commissioning preachers of His name across the nations, He became great and instilled awe.