THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
This psalm bears the title: "The Prayer of Moses, the servant of God," through whom the Lord imparted the law to His people and liberated them from bondage, guiding them through the wilderness for forty years. Moses thus serves as a minister of the Old Covenant and a prophet of the New Covenant. As the Apostle states, these occurrences were examples for us and are documented for our admonition, as we are the ones upon whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore, aligning with the honor attributed to Moses, this psalm merits examination, as it takes its name from its prayer.
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"O Lord," he proclaims, "Thou hast been our refuge from generation to generation.” This may signify refuge in every generation, or across two generations—the old and the new—since Moses served as the Servant of the Old Covenant and as a Prophet pertaining to the New. Jesus, the Surety of that covenant and the Bridegroom of that generation, states, "If ye had believed Moses, ye would have believed Me, for he wrote of Me." It should not be assumed that Moses solely authored this psalm, as it does not display any of his characteristic poetic expressions often found in his songs. The name of this great servant of God is utilized to evoke a certain association for the reader or listener.
The psalmist proclaims how God became our refuge, emphasizing that He was not perceived as such prior to this acknowledgment: "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God." Thus, the One who exists eternally, who precedes us and creation itself, has been our refuge since we turned toward Him. The phrase "before the mountains" carries deep significance; mountains symbolize the highest realms of creation. If God existed before creation, as He ultimately did, what necessity is there to specify "before the mountains"? More profoundly, God existed prior to the heavens, the earth, and all material and spiritual beings.
It is plausible that all of creation is denoted by this distinction; the mountains signify the exaltation of angels, while the earth reflects the humility of humanity. Consequently, while creation is described in terms of being formed or fashioned, in the case of angels, it is noted that they were created by God's decree: "He spake, and they were created; He commanded, and they stood fast." The earth, in contrast, was created that man might be formed from it, as illustrated in Scripture: "God formed man of the dust of the ground." Before the noble aspects of creation were brought into existence, it was necessary that there be worshippers on earth. The distinction between time and eternity is made clear, indicating that God, who transcends all periods, exists not from a specific beginning to a determined end.
Despite translations that might confuse the terms for eternity and time, it is vital to recognize that God's existence is unchanging and eternal. It is not a matter of "He was and will be," but rather, "He is." This is reflected in the declaration, "I AM that I AM," and in "I AM hath sent me unto you." Furthermore, “Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.” Herein lies an imperative to seek refuge in God, prompting us from the instability of temporal existence to the permanence of eternity.
Amid the trials of life, where temptations constantly threaten to lead us away from this refuge, the prayer of the servant of God reveals a desire for divine assistance: "Turn not man to humiliation." In other words, do not allow us to turn away from eternal truths in pursuit of fleeting, earthly desires. This plea echoes the command to "Lead us not into temptation." The psalmist continues in recognition of humanity’s frailty, affirming that all time, even a thousand years, is but a moment in His sight: "For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past."
Thus, we are urged to seek refuge in God, who remains unchanged amidst the transient nature of our existence. The apostle encourages us to focus on what lies ahead and not be burdened by what is behind. By acknowledging the brevity of life, the psalmist underscores humanity's vulnerability, paralleling our existence to that of fleeting grass, proclaiming, "They wither in the morning."
The acknowledgment of this plight is accompanied by the recognition of sin’s consequences, as he states, "For we are consumed by Thine anger." It is through God's displeasure that we are reminded of our own mortality and earthly weaknesses. Alongside this acknowledgment, there is a recognition of God's mercy, as we seek redemption amid our afflictions: "Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee." Thus, the psalm paints the picture of a mortal life limited in days, prone to suffering and sorrow; "The days of our years are threescore years and ten."
Yet, even in acknowledging the hardships, there lies a glimmer of hope expressed in the desire for divine favor, "Make us glad according to the days wherein Thou hast afflicted us." God's mercy, to be experienced in the morning of our lives, signifies renewed hope. All must seek the fullness of joy that comes from His presence.
Therefore, let us look to the Lord, to acknowledge our works and our lives as His creation. His light upon us guides our actions, reminding us that our endeavors should not be bound to temporal success but instead directed toward eternal purposes. In unity with God’s will, we strive to fulfill the divine intention set before us, recognizing that love is the foundation of all good works.
Ultimately, both the Old and New Covenants illustrate that while the ephemeral nature of life may bring trials, the promise of redemption and eternal life through Christ brings us hope, guiding our hearts to seek what truly satisfies and sustains. In our prayers and supplications, we seek the revelation of God's grace, knowing that in Christ, we find our true refuge and fulfillment.