THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Beloved, listen to this psalm that I am about to explain through God's grace, focusing on our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. Be assured, for He who has made promises is faithful to fulfill them, as He has done so significantly before. Our confidence in Him arises not from our own efforts but from His grace. I believe the title of this psalm is attributed to Ethan the Israelite. The significance of the name Ethan conveys great strength. There is no true strength in the world outside of hope in God's promises; on our own, we are feeble, yet in His mercy, we are empowered. Thus, the psalmist starts 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).
The psalmist expresses, “Let my members, Lord, serve You,” indicating that his speech is not his own but speaks of Your truth. If I fail to obey You, I cannot be considered Your servant; if I speak on my own, then I am deceitful. Speaking from You and speaking on my own represent two different realities—one is Yours, and the other is mine; my tongue conveys Your truth. Let us consider the faithfulness displayed and the beautiful truths he expresses.
For You have declared, “Grace shall be established forever” (Psalm 87:2). This is my song: this is Your truth that my mouth proclaims. Thus, You affirm, “I do not build to destroy,” as some are indeed destroyed without being rebuilt, while others, after destruction, are restored. If there were not those destroyed to be rebuilt, the prophet Jeremiah would not have said, “Behold, I have appointed you today to destroy and to build” (Jeremiah 1:10). Certainly, those who previously worshipped idols could not find their place in Christ without succumbing to their earlier mistakes. And if some had not experienced destruction for their own good, it would not have been declared, “He will destroy them, and not build them up.”
He connects mercy and faithfulness. For You have said, “Mercy shall be established forever; Your truth shall be confirmed in the heavens,” where mercy and truth exist harmoniously. All of the Lord’s ways are mercy and truth; truth, in fulfilling promises, must be preceded by mercy, which offers forgiveness for transgressions. Although many promises were made in prophecy to the people of Israel, descendants of Abraham, and despite this people being numerous for the sake of God's promises, His fountain of goodness was also open to the Gentiles under angelic guardianship, while Israel remained His chosen nation. The apostle references the mercy and truth of the Lord as it pertains to both groups, framing Christ as the minister of the true God for the circumcision, to affirm the promises made to the ancestors (Romans 15:8).
Reflect on how God has not deceived nor rejected those He foreknew. While discussions around Jewish shortcomings arise, the apostle reassures that God has not abandoned His chosen people, for I too am an Israelite (Romans 11:1-2). If this entire people are likened to thorns, what then of the wheat? God’s truth is fulfilled among those Israelites who believe, bringing together the wall of the circumcision to the cornerstone. Yet, this stone cannot serve as a cornerstone unless it has also received another wall from the Gentiles—thus, the first relating to truth and the second to God’s grace. The apostle asserts that Jesus Christ was the minister of circumcision for God’s truth, ensuring the promise made to the fathers, so that Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy (Romans 15:8-9).
Thus it is rightly stated, “Your truth shall be established in the heavens,” for all the Israelites called to be apostles became as the heavens, declaring God's glory: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows the work of His hands.” Despite their earthly departure before the Church spread globally, their words reached the ends of the earth. Therefore, we can rightly interpret, “You will confirm Your truth in the heavens” filled with them.
You have declared, “I have made a covenant with My chosen” (Psalm 88:3). It is a new covenant, renewing us for a new inheritance, one that inspires our longing and love, leading us to sing a new song. The psalmist states, “I have sworn to David my servant." He speaks with boldness, for he understands, and whose lips echo truth! I am unafraid, knowing Your word emboldens me, especially since You have sworn; Your oath guarantees the promise’s fulfillment. Humans rightfully avoid swearing (Matthew 5:34) to prevent perjury due to the possibility of deception; however, God alone can swear with certainty because He is infallible.
Let us consider what God has sworn: “I have sworn to David my servant; I will establish your seed forever” (Psalm 87:4). But what does the seed of David represent but the seed of Abraham? And what does that mean? “To your seed, who is Christ” (Galatians 3:16). Christ, the head of the Church and Savior of the body (Ephesians 5:23), must be the seed of Abraham, and we, too, are partakers of that lineage. The apostle states, “If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). In this sense, we must grasp these words, fellow believers: “I will establish your seed forever,” not merely through the flesh of Christ born of Mary, but through all of us who believe in Christ. For we are the members of this Head. This body cannot be separated from the Head; if the Head reigns in glory eternally, so too will the members, ensuring that Christ remains whole forever. “I will establish your seed forever, and your throne from generation to generation.”
The reference to “forever” speaks to lineage and kinship, as he mentioned, “With my mouth, I will always show your truth to generation and kin.” What does “generation and generation” mean? It signifies every generation. This repetition is not for mere emphasis but acknowledges the coming and going of various generations. It perhaps highlights two distinct generations: the present one of flesh and blood, and the future one of resurrection. Here Christ is declared; He will be acknowledged there—believed in here and seen there. “I will establish your throne from generation to generation.” Christ indeed has a throne within us; His throne is established among us. If He did not reign within us, we would not be ruled by Him, putting us at risk of being overthrown. He reigns within, overseeing, as well as presiding over another future generation arising from resurrection. Christ shall rule over His saints eternally, for God has promised it; indeed He has declared it. If that assurance were insufficient, He has sworn it. Therefore, since the promise is credible based on His mercy, not our merit, none should hesitate to declare what they truly believe.
Let this power then invigorate our hearts, akin to Ethan’s name, which means strong in heart. Let us proclaim the truth of God, the declarations of God, His promises, and His oaths. Strengthened by these truths, we glorify God and, carrying Him with us, become a manifestation of Heaven.
“O Lord, even the heavens shall praise Your marvelous works” (Psalm 88:5). The heavens do not extol their merits but instead Your wondrous acts, O Lord. Each act of mercy extended toward the lost, every instance of justifying the unjust, reflects but the marvelous works of God. We praise Him for raising the dead; we also praise Him more for redeeming the lost. What an outpouring of grace and mercy! Consider a man who was once ensnared in drunkenness, now a beacon of sobriety; formerly indulgent, now a paragon of temperance; previously a blasphemer, now a worshiper; a servant of the creature turned devotee of the Creator. From these desperate situations, individuals are converted. Let them not fixate on their own merits but become Heaven themselves and extol the marvelous works of Him who transformed them.
For who among the clouds can compare to You, O Lord? (Psalm 88:6). Would the praise of heaven or the rain amount to such? Are preachers so confident none among the clouds can rival the Lord? Does it evoke exaltation to think that the clouds cannot equal their Creator? If taken literally, can the stars above the clouds be compared to the Lord? Or the sun, the moon, the angels, the heavens? Why then does he proclaim, “Who is He among the clouds?” Understand, dear friends, that these clouds, like the heavens, are proclaimers of truth; prophets, apostles, heralding God's word. Now, if these clouds are messengers of truth, we must explore why they are clouds. For those who are regarded as heaven and clouds share a dual nature: illuminated by truth as heaven, and obscured by the flesh as clouds, for all clouds are dim due to mortality and transient.
It is the obscurities of the flesh—these clouds—that the apostle remarks, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will reveal the hidden things of darkness” (1 Corinthians 4:5). You see a person’s spoken words, but not the thoughts within; we perceive what emerges from the cloud, but the depth it conceals remains unseen. Who pierces the clouds with their gaze? Thus, clouds serve as fleshly proclaimers of truth.
The Creator Himself took on flesh. We are referred to as clouds because of the flesh, and as proclaimers of truth due to the outpouring, yet our flesh comes by one means and His by another. We also are called sons of God, yet He is uniquely the Son of God. His cloud arises from the Virgin; He is the Son from eternity, consubstantial with the Father. Who among the clouds can be likened to the Lord? Who among the sons of God approaches His stature? Let God reveal whether He can identify another like Himself.
When they see the Son of Man, they see a cloud. Yet when asked, “Who do men say that I am?”, they respond with various names—some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. This multitude of clouds identified reflects their righteous nature; they were called sons of God, maintaining holiness, appearing as preachers of God and thus are likened to clouds. You have asked how men view Me among clouds; now ask, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter, speaking on behalf of all, replied, “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 have come in the flesh, yet not as clouds, who do not equate to You.
God inspires awe in the council of the righteous, and amongst all surrounding Him (Psalm 88:7). God is omnipresent—who truly surrounds Him? If He had any boundaries, it would imply He is finite. If indeed this is correct regarding God, then His greatness is limitless; who can remain around Him, save for He who is everywhere, electing to be born in a single place, live among a specific people, be crucified in one location, rise from there, and ascend to Heaven? During His earthly ministry, He was surrounded by Gentiles. If He had stayed where He performed these acts, He would not have attained greatness nor inspired fear, but He preached with such impact that He sent forth His name to all nations, working miracles through His servants, thus becoming great and revered by all.
“O Lord God of hosts, who is like You? Your truth, Almighty God, is all-encompassing” (Psalm 88:8). Your might is incredible: You crafted heaven and earth, with all that exists. Yet, Your mercy, which reveals Your truth to those around You, surpasses even Your power. Had You only preached where You chose to be born, suffered, resurrected, and ascended, only then would the promise about the fathers have materialized. However, the realization that Gentiles would glorify God for His mercy (Romans 15:9) could not be achieved unless Your truth was shared beyond the confines of Your earthly appearance.
From that place, You thundered from Your cloud to bring rain upon the Gentiles; indeed, in Your power, You fulfilled, declaring, “You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of Heaven” (Matthew 26:64).