THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
Beloved, I invite you to comprehend this psalm that I am about to explain, through the grace of God, accessing our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. Take heart, for the One who has made promises is faithful to fulfill them, just as He has done so many times before. It is not due to our own merits that we place our trust in Him, but by His grace that we find assurance. I believe that the psalm's title refers to Ethan the Israelite. Thus, you see whom Ethan signifies, and the strength behind the word is undeniable. There is no true strength in this world save in the hope of God's promises; relying on our own merits, we remain weak, but through His mercy, we gain strength. The psalmist begins boldly: "I will sing of Your mercies, O Lord, forever; with my mouth, I will make known Your truth to all generations" (Psalms 88:1).
He expresses, "Let my members serve the Lord," indicating that what I speak is not my own, but Yours. My tongue will declare Your truth; to speak from oneself is untruthful. Speaking from You differs fundamentally from speaking from self; one emanates from me, the other is purely Yours. Let us listen to the faithfulness He exemplifies and to the graces He extols.
You have proclaimed: "Grace shall be established forever" (Psalms 87:2). This is my song; this is the truth that my mouth declares. You state clearly that You do not build to tear down. There are those whom You destroy without rebuilding, yet others, whom You do tear down, You restore. If there were not those who fell only to be rebuilt, then Jeremiah would not have been inspired to write: “Behold, I have appointed you this day to uproot and to pull down, and to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:10). Indeed, those who once worshipped idols could not firmly find their place in Christ without first facing destruction due to their prior errors. Similarly, were it not for some who faced ruin prior to the possibility of restoration, the phrase, "He will destroy them, and not build them up" would not have been penned.
The union of mercy and faithfulness appears in His promise: "For you have said, Mercy shall be established forever; Your truth shall be firmly established in the heavens," where mercy and truth converge. The paths of the Lord reflect both mercy and faithfulness, as truth embodied in the fulfillment of promises cannot be revealed without prior mercy through the forgiveness of sins. Many prophecies were made to the people of Israel, descendants of Abraham, so that God's promises might find their fulfillment among them. Yet, the fountain of His goodness was not confined solely to the Jewish people, as they were placed under the guidance of angels, while the Israelites remained His chosen portion. The apostle speaks of the Lord’s mercy and truth directed towards both groups. He defines Christ as the servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, to affirm the promises made to the patriarchs (Romans 15:8).
Note how God has not deceived nor abandoned His people whom He has always known. While discussing the fall of the Jews, the apostle reassures us that they have not been forsaken, as God has not rejected those whom He foreknew; for I too am an Israelite (Romans 11:1-2). If a portion of this nation is unfaithful, what remains true for the faithful? God's truth is revealed in the Israelites who have believed, establishing one wall of circumcision against the cornerstone of faith. This cornerstone is not merely an isolated entity but integrates each wall, related specifically to the truth of God and grace. The apostle reminds us that Jesus Christ serves as the minister of circumcision for the truth of God, to affirm the promises to the fathers and offer glory to God through His mercy to the Gentiles (Romans 15:8-9).
Therefore, it is rightly stated: "Your truth You shall establish in the heavens," for all the apostles of Israel reflect the heavens, declaring His glory as it is written: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork" (Psalms 19:1). Although the apostles were taken from us before the Church expanded globally, their message has reached the ends of the earth, affirming our understanding that "You will establish Your truth in the heavens" through them.
"You have said: 'I have made a covenant with My chosen'" (Psalms 88:3). This covenant signifies the new covenant by which we are renewed for a new inheritance, inspiring hope and love, of which we sing a fresh 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 with lips that proclaim truth! When you speak, you instill bravery; surely, when You have sworn, You secure my confidence! For God’s oath confirms His promises. While men ought not to swear (Matthew 5:34), for fear of deceit leading to perjury, God swears with complete assurance, as He alone is infallible.
Let us understand what God has sworn. "I have sworn to David my servant; I will establish your seed forever" (Psalms 87:4). What is David’s seed but that of Abraham? And what is the seed of Abraham? "And to your seed," it is stated, "which is Christ" (Galatians 3:16). Christ is the Head of the Church, the Savior of the body (Ephesians 5:23), deriving His lineage from Abraham, and thus David too. Are we not also the seed of Abraham? Indeed, we are, as the apostle reminds us, "If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:29). In this light, let us understand the affirmation: "I will establish your seed forever," which embraces both the flesh of Christ born of the Virgin Mary and all who believe in Him. For we are parts of this Head—if the Head remains glorious eternally, so are the members, ensuring that Christ endures complete.
"I will establish your seed forever, and I will establish your throne from generation to generation." This "forever" indicates continuity through kindred, as he mentioned before: "With my mouth I will declare Your truth to every generation." What does "generation to generation" imply? It signifies every generation, where repetition highlights the passage of various generations. Perhaps two generations are notably referenced, as I have previously illustrated to you, beloved brethren. Currently, we speak of a generation of flesh and blood, yet a future generation will rise in the resurrection of the dead. Christ is heralded here; He will be recognized there, believed in here, and beheld there. "I will establish your throne from generation to generation."
Christ reigns within us; His throne is firmly rooted in our hearts. If He did not dwell within, He would not govern us, and without His rule, we would fall into chaos. Therefore, He reigns within, sovereign over us, and He will also reign in a future generation that arises from the resurrection. Christ's reign over His saints is everlasting. God has promised it; He has declared it. And if that is insufficient, God has sworn it. Thus, since this promise holds credibility—not due to merit, but by His mercy—no one ought to fear proclaiming the truth that they cannot doubt. Let this divine power inspire our hearts as Ethan received his name, a symbol of courage; let us encourage others with the truth of God, His utterances, promises, and oath. Strengthened on every side by these means, we glorify God and, with Him within us, embody the Heaven to which we aspire.
"Lord, even the heavens will praise Your marvelous works" (Psalms 88:5). The heavens do not boast of their own merits but rather of Your wondrous deeds, O Lord. In every act of mercy towards the lost, and in the justification of the unrighteous, what do we exalt but the magnificent works of God? We praise Him for raising the dead; let us praise Him even more for redeeming the lost. What grace, what mercy from God! Consider a man who yesterday was ensnared by drunkenness and today stands as a beacon of sobriety; once a vessel of indulgence, now transformed into an embodiment of temperance. Yesterday a blasphemer of God, today a worshiper; once a servant of sin, now a devotee of the Creator. From such dire states, how many are converted! They must not look to their own merits; rather, they should become vessels of Heaven, proclaiming the marvellous works of the One who has elevated them.
"For who is he among the clouds that can be compared to You, O Lord!" (Psalms 88:6). Is this praise from Heaven, is this rain that falls? Are those who preach certain that none among the clouds can stand beside the Lord? Does it seem to you, dear brethren, that it is an exaltation of praise that the clouds do not equate to their Creator? If understood literally, this may seem so; can the stars beyond the clouds be compared to the Lord? Can the sun, moon, angels, or heaven indeed compare? Yet He addresses these clouds, suggesting that their significance extends beyond mere comprehension: "For who is He among the clouds?"
We comprehend, beloved, that these clouds represent the preachers of truth, the prophets, apostles, those who declare the word of God. If the clouds are so designated, let us first consider why they symbolize clouds. The reign of heaven consists of the bright truth, whereas the clouds obscure visibility due to their fleshly nature; all clouds carry darkness from mortality and are transient. This notion aligns with the apostle's assertion: "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness" (1 Corinthians 4:5). You may see the words spoken by a man, yet what lies within his heart remains concealed—visible only when it emerges from the cloud. Who truly pierces the cloud?
Thus, clouds serve as fleshly preachers of truth. The Creator took on flesh Himself. We are designated clouds due to our human form and serve as truth bearers through the rain they bring; yet our flesh and His are derived differently. We are called sons of God, but He is the Son of God in a divine sense. His cloud originates from the Virgin; He is the eternal Son, consubstantial with the Father. Who is like the Lord among the clouds? Who among the sons of God can compare? Let the Lord Himself declare if He can find one of equal likeness. People call Him the Son of Man because He appears, walks among us, and seems common; yet who do they declare that I am? When they see the Son of Man, they perceive a cloud, but what do they say about me? They respond with the opinions of others: "Some say You are John the Baptist; some, Elijah; others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." Many clouds and sons of God are mentioned here—righteous and holy, such as Jeremiah, Elijah, and John, are acknowledged as sons of God. Their role as messengers of God casts them as clouds.
You have said, "What clouds do men perceive me as?" But also ask, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter, speaking for all, replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:13-16). Not as those sons of God who are unequal to You; You came in the flesh, yet not as clouds that carry no equality.
"God is greatly to be feared in the council of the righteous and feared by all who are around Him" (Psalms 88:7). God is omnipresent; thus, to whom does He belong who stands near Him? For if He had anything surrounding Him, He would appear to be limited on all sides. Should it be said of God and concerning God, then His greatness is infinite. Who surrounds Him but He who is everywhere, having chosen to be born from flesh in one locale, dwell among one people, be crucified in one context, rise in one place, and ascend into the heavens? At that time, Gentiles encircled Him, and if He had merely remained in that locale, He would not be exalted, nor feared by those around Him. However, because He preached so boldly and sent forth heralds of His name to every nation, He grew magnificent and instilled awe in all.