THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
This psalm serves as the basis for the devil’s temptation of our Lord Jesus Christ. We should therefore remain vigilant and equipped to withstand the tempter, not relying on our own strength but on Him who was tempted before us, so that we are not overcome during our own trials. Christ did not require temptation for His own sake; rather, His temptation serves as our preparation. By contemplating His responses to the devil, we can learn to counter temptation ourselves, gaining entrance through the gate, as it is mentioned in the Gospel. What does it signify to enter through the gate? It is to enter through Christ, who proclaimed, “I am the door” (John 10:7). To enter through Him is to walk in His footsteps. He encourages us to mirror His actions in those experiences that He could only endure by assuming humanity; for how could He have experienced suffering without becoming fully man? How could He have faced death, crucifixion, and humiliation otherwise? Thus, when you face the trials of this world, whether they are inflicted openly by the devil through people or in hidden ways, as was the case with Job, remain strong and patient. You shall dwell under the shadow of the Almighty, as this psalm conveys; for should you turn away from the refuge of the Most High, lacking strength to aid yourself, you will stumble.
Many exhibit courage while enduring persecution from others, often displaying open distress, mistakenly believing that they imitate Christ’s suffering when affronted by human adversaries. However, when assaulted by the hidden malice of the devil, they often think themselves undeserving of Christ’s crown. Do not fear as you strive to follow Christ. When Satan tempted our Lord, there was no man around; his temptation was hidden, yet He triumphed over it, and He also overcame the devil’s outward assaults. Act likewise when faced with covert attacks; resist the devil’s requests to harm yourself through physical ailments or any other afflictions. Job did not perceive the devil's presence but instead recognized God’s power. He understood that the devil had no sway over him unless granted such power by the Almighty Lord. He attributed all glory to God, ascribed no strength to the adversary.
Consequently, whoever emulates Christ and endures the trials of this life while placing his trust in God will not fall into any traps laid before him; he is the one who will dwell in the refuge of the Most High, and “abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 90:1), as the psalm commences. When we approach these verses, you will recognize the familiar words used by the devil to tempt our Lord. He shall say to the Lord, “Thou art my refuge and my fortress, my God” (Psalm 90:2). Who speaks these words to the Lord? It is he who abides under the shadow of the Most High, not relying on his own abilities. Who is that? It is the one who dwells under the Most High's protection, who is not proud like those who sought to ascend to God's heights and lost the immortality for which they were created. They chose to rely on their own strength rather than seeking the Lord’s refuge, and the devil’s promised reward eluded them.
Thus, you too shall proclaim, “In Him I trust” (Psalm 90:3). For it is He who shall rescue me, not I myself. Does this not communicate that all our hope must be placed in God, not in mankind? From what shall He deliver you? From the snares of the hunter and from harsh words. Deliverance from the hunter’s snare is indeed significant; likewise, escape from harsh words is also vital. Many have fallen into the hunter’s traps due to unkind speech. What do I mean by this? The devil and his demons lay their snares just as a hunter does, and those who walk in Christ are out of reach of these traps; for he does not dare set his net amidst Christ's path; rather, he positions it off to the side. Therefore, let your path align with Christ’s, and you will not fall into the snares prepared by the devil.
What of harsh words? The devil has ensnared many with adverse remarks; for instance, those who profess Christ among the Gentiles often experience insults from them. They may feel shame at such reproaches, and in their eagerness to evade these barbs, they unwittingly walk into the traps of the hunter. Yet, what can harsh words do to you? Do not the snares the enemy uses to entangle you through insults have any power over you? It is customary to set snares at the fringe of a hedge to catch birds, and throwing stones at the hedge does not harm the birds. When has anyone harmed a bird by flinging stones into the foliage? Rather, the bird, frightened by the harmless clatter, can be caught by the net; likewise, individuals who cringe at unfounded slander and blush in response to unprovoked insults become ensnared in the traps laid by the hunter, ensnared by the devil.
Just as a Christian who fears reproach among the Gentiles falls into such snares, likewise, among Christians, those who strive tirelessly in virtue often face rebukes from fellow believers. What good is it, then, my brethren, if you find a community devoid of Gentiles? No one might deride a man for being a Christian there because there are no non-believers; yet many Christians with poor morals exist there, including those who endeavor to lead righteous lives amid depravity, the chaste among the unchaste, and those dedicated to God amidst idle distractions. Such individuals continue to attend church, yet they endure reprimands and sharp words from fellow Christians who taunt them by saying, “You are strong, you are righteous, you are like Elijah, you are like Peter; you have descended from heaven.” They are derided; wherever they go, harsh words assail them on all sides. If they allow fear to dissuade them from the path of Christ, they will find themselves trapped by the very nets of the fishermen.
When you hear such remarks, why should you deviate from your course? When such words are uttered, what assurance fortifies you to ignore them and proceed through the door? Let him declare: What have such voices to say to me, a servant and sinner? To my Lord Jesus, they asserted, “You have a demon" (John 8:48). You have just witnessed harsh words aimed at our Lord; it was unnecessary for Him to endure such taunts, but He did so to caution you against such barbs, that you might not fall prey to the hunters’ snares.
He will shelter you beneath His wings, and you shall be safe under His protection (Psalm 90:4). This is expressed to ensure that your defense does not stem from your own actions, lest you presume you can protect yourself. He will shield you, delivering you from the hunter’s traps and the harsh words of others. The phrase “between His shoulders” can be understood from both the front and the back; for the shoulders encircle the head, but by stating “hope under His wings,” it is clear that God’s outstretched wings provide you sanctuary between them, with God’s wings encompassing you, leaving you secure and unafraid lest anyone should harm you. Just as a hen guards her chicks beneath her wings, how much more shall you find safety under the wings of God, even against the devil and his minions who swoop like hawks to snatch the weak? The comparison of the hen to God’s Wisdom is significant; for even our Lord and Savior likens Himself to a hen: “How often would I have gathered your children” (Matthew 23:37). If Jerusalem would not heed, let us hope...
When you observe other birds, dear friends, you notice many that incubate their eggs and keep their chicks warm; yet, none exhibit the empathy for their young as the hen does. Swallows, sparrows, and storks can be seen away from their nests without clarity about their young, while the hen’s love is evident through her soft clucking and the spread of her feathers—she is entirely transformed by her maternal instinct, weakened by her love for her chicks. In this way, because of our own frailty, the Wisdom of God chose to become weak when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), so that we might find refuge under His wings.
His faithfulness shall be your shield (Psalm 90:5). In this context, wings are akin to shields, for neither wings nor shields are literal in this sense. If they were both physical, how could they represent the same thing? Could wings serve as shields, or shields as wings? Yet, all metaphors convey rich truths. If Christ were merely a Stone (Acts 4:10-11), He could not also be a Lion (Revelation 5:5); if a Lion, He could not be a Lamb (John 1:29). He bears these titles metaphorically, for He is neither Stone, Lion, nor Lamb, but our Savior, Christ Jesus; these appellations serve as images rather than literal descriptors. His truth is our shield—a shield assuring us that He does not equate those who trust in themselves with those who place their faith in God. Both are sinners; yet, one presumes righteousness, dismisses his faults, and states, “If my sins displeased God, He would not permit me to exist.” Meanwhile, the other dares not gaze upwards, but beats his breast, declaring, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Herein, one is proud while the other is humble. The truth of God, which recognizes no faces, distinguishes between the contrite and the impenitent, the humble and the arrogant, the self-serving and the God-seeking.
You need not fear terrors that come by night, nor arrows that fly by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor destruction that lays waste at noon (Psalm 90:6). These two assertions above correspond to the two below; be untroubled by nocturnal fears, or by arrows that strike in daylight, or by nighttime horrors and woes that lurk in darkness as well as destructive arrows that fly at noon—fear not against the devastation of the wicked. What is our fear at night, and what is our fear during daylight? To sin in ignorance is akin to nighttime sin; yet, to willfully sin is equivalent to daylight sin. Light sin is less grievous, yet the higher knowledge yields weightier sin. This distinction may not appear clear, but with God’s grace, I will elucidate that you grasp its meaning. The lighter temptations that ignorant souls succumb to can be viewed as the terrors of the night. The greater temptations, which the knowledgeable must withstand, are the arrows that fly by day. What are these lesser temptations? They are the trials that do not weigh hard upon us, allowing us to resist them quickly if we choose.
If the persecutor threatens and strikes fear in those unaware of their faith—those unsure of their identity as Christians who anticipate eternal life—then when they are confronted by transient afflictions, they assume that Christ has forsaken them, convincing themselves that their faith has been in vain. They are unfamiliar with the purpose of their Christianity, which is to triumph over the present struggles and nurture hope for what is to come; thus they fall prey to the desperate state of despair. Conversely, some among us understand we are called to a future hope, recognizing that God’s promises are not for this world; that we must endure these challenges to attain the eternal promises from God. However, when enduring strong persecutions—threats, punishments, and tortures—these individuals may ultimately capitulate, even aware of their sin, and yield to pressures as if they were subjected to daylight temptations.
But why does the psalmist mention noon? The intensity of persecution reaches its peak at noon—hence, noon signifies intense heat. The demon that attacks at noon characterizes aggressive persecution; our Lord spoke of this heat: “The sun arose, and when it had no root, it withered away.” He explains that this refers to those who falter during temptations that arise from persecution due to their lack of spiritual depth. Therefore, it is correct to identify the demon that brings destruction at noon as violent persecution.