THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
This psalm is the very one through which the devil attempted to ensnare our Lord Jesus Christ; therefore, let us remain vigilant, equipping ourselves with this knowledge that we may effectively resist the tempter. Our reliance should not rest in our own strength but in Him who faced temptation ahead of us, to ensure we are not vanquished when we encounter our own trials. Christ had no need for temptation; His temptation serves as our instructive example. If we heed His responses to the devil, we can reply in similar fashion when faced with our own trials, thus entering through the gate mentioned in the Gospel. But what does it mean to enter through this gate? It means to enter via Christ, who proclaimed, “I am the door” (John 10:7), and to follow His example. He invites us to emulate Him in those aspects that He could not showcase unless He had taken on human form; for how could He have endured suffering without becoming Man? How could He have experienced death, crucifixion, or humiliation? Therefore, in your own times of suffering — whether inflicted openly by others under the devil's influence, or secretly as in Job's case — remain steadfast and patient. You will dwell under the shelter of the Most High, as this Psalm reveals: if you stray from relying on His protection, having no strength of your own, you will fall.
Many tend to display courage when facing persecution from others and assume they are mirroring the sufferings of Christ; yet, when the hidden attacks of the devil beset them, they mistakenly believe they are unworthy of Christ’s crown. Never fear when you are mirroring Christ. During the temptation of our Lord, there were no men present in the wilderness; it was a covert temptation, yet He overcame, also triumphing when openly challenged. So, when the enemy assaults you in secret, be steadfast and resolute when he prompts harming others through bodily ailments, fevers, or various afflictions, similar to Job’s. Job did not perceive the devil, yet he acknowledged God's sovereignty. He understood that the devil could exert no power over him unless granted by the Almighty; he rendered all glory to God while assigning no authority to the devil.
Thus, the individual who diligently imitates Christ, enduring all worldly tribulations, placing their hope in God so they might escape any snare, remains unshaken by panic. This individual abides under the protection of the Most High, as expressed at the beginning of the Psalm you have recited. When you encounter these words, recall the familiar phrases with which the devil tempted our Lord: "He shall say unto the Lord, Thou art my refuge and my fortress: my God" (Psalm 90:2). Who utters these words to the Lord? The individual who resides under the Most High's protection, not under their own means. Who, then, dwells under this divine protection? It is one who avoids pride, unlike those who sought to become like gods and lost their original immortality. They opted for their own defense rather than the protection of the Most High, and the promises of the devil never came to fruition.
Therefore, you too must declare, "In Him I trust” (Psalm 90:3), for He alone shall deliver you and not your own efforts. Consider whether this instructs us otherwise; our trust must rest firmly in God, not in man. Where will He deliver you from? From the trap of the fowler and from harsh words. Deliverance from the fowler’s trap is undeniably significant; yet what of rescue from harsh words? Numerous individuals have fallen into the hunter’s trap through unkind remarks. By this, I mean the devil and his angels spread their nets like hunters do, and those who walk in Christ are spared such snares; he does not dare lay his nets within Christ, placing them instead along the edges of the path. Let your path be aligned with Christ’s, and you shall not succumb to the devil’s snares.
As for the harsh words? The devil has ensnared many through unkindness: for instance, those professing Christ among the Gentiles often suffer insults from them, becoming embarrassed when ridiculed, and as a result, deviating from their path and falling into the nets of hunters. Yet, what harm can such words inflict upon you? Can not the nets of reproach laid by the enemy truly ensnare you? Nets are typically cast at the hedge’s edge to catch birds, while stones are tossed into the hedge — these stones do not injure the birds. When has anyone ever struck a bird by throwing stones into a hedge? The bird, startled by the harmless sound, becomes trapped in the net; similarly, individuals who fear the baseless reproaches of their foes and shrink from unjust insults are caught in their nets and ensnared by the devil. Among the Gentiles, a believer fearing their scorn falls into the hunter’s hold. Likewise, among Christians, those striving to be more diligent and virtuous than others are often subjected to insults from fellow believers.
What benefit is there, dear brother, if you discover a town devoid of Gentiles? No one there reproaches a person for being Christian since there are no pagans present; however, within that community, many Christians lead ungodly lives, while there exist those who endeavor to live uprightly and soberly among the indulgent, seeking to worship God sincerely in environments filled with the frivolous. Even in church, they face harsh words, taunted with, “You are strong, you are righteous, you are a prophet,” and insults abound. They face ridicule wherever they go; should they fear these words and turn from Christ’s way, they will also fall into the traps set by fishermen. When faced with such derision, how should they respond? In hearing these words, what comfort can strengthen them to remain steadfast? They should say to themselves: What do these words call a slave and sinner? Our Lord Jesus was told, "Thou hast a devil" (John 8:48). You have just heard brutal words spoken against our Lord; it was unnecessary for Him to tolerate this, but in doing so, He cautioned you against the damaging sting of harsh words, lest you become ensnared in the hunter's trap.
He will protect you beneath His wings, and you will find hope under His presence (Psalm 90:4). This implies that your defense must not stem from your own strength, nor should you fall under the illusion that you might defend yourself; rather, He will provide shelter, rescuing you from the fowler's net and from harsh words. The concept of being sheltered beneath His wings alludes to protection from both the front and the back, since the wings encompass the body; however, it is explicit that the defense offered by God's wings places you right between them so that you may not fear any harm. Always remember to remain within that safe haven where no enemy can approach. If a hen can safeguard her chicks beneath her wings, how much more secure will you be under God’s wings against the devil and his legions, who soar like predatory birds seeking the vulnerable? This analogy to the hen is significant since Christ, our Lord and Savior, likened Himself to a hen: "How often would I have gathered thy children together" (Matthew 23:37). Let us desire such protection.
Other birds might be observed nurturing their nests, but none demonstrate the nurturing instinct of the hen. We observe swallows, sparrows, and storks outside their nests but cannot discern if they are caring for chicks. In contrast, the hen showcases a protective nature that visibly signifies motherhood through her gentle clucks and by spreading her feathers, publicly displaying her affection. She becomes weak for the weak. In the same way, owing to our weakness, the Wisdom of God chose to become weak when the Word became flesh and dwelled among us (John 1:14), affording us hope under His wings.
His truth will encompass you as a shield (Psalm 90:5). What are wings, if not shields? Since neither wings nor shields are to be interpreted literally, how could one be the same as the other? Can wings be a shield? But all these expressions are figurative, employing similitudes. If Christ were a literal Stone (Acts 4:10-11), He could not also be a Lion; if He were a Lion (Revelation 5:5), He could not be a Lamb. Yet Christ is simultaneously referred to as both the Lion and the Lamb (John 1:29), as well as Stone and Bull, and so forth. These are metaphoric expressions because He is neither solely Stone, Lion, Lamb, nor Bull; He is Jesus Christ, the Savior of all, embodying varied images. His truth is described as a shield for you; a shield that assures us He will not amalgamate those who place faith in themselves with those who trust in God.
Both types of individuals are sinners; one is prideful and haughty, refusing to confess his transgressions, saying, "If my sins displeased God, He would not allow my existence." The other dares not raise his eyes but beats his chest, imploring, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner" (Luke 18:13). Here, both are recognized as sinners; yet one scoffs while the other weeps. God recognizes no faces; He differentiates between the penitent and the unrepentant, the humble and the proud, the self-serving and the God-seeking. You will not fear any night terrors or harm the arrow that flies by day, the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that brings despair at noon (Psalm 90:6).
The distinctions between fear by night and by day relate to ignorance and knowledge in sin; when one acts unwittingly, it resembles sinning by night, while sinning with awareness relates to daytime sins. Nighttime sins tend to be lighter, yet the latter bears greater weight—this notion may not be entirely clear now, but with divine blessing, it will be elucidated. The easier temptations, which ignorant persons yield to, are called the terrors of the night; conversely, the weighty temptations encountered by those with knowledge are the arrows that fly by day. What are these lighter temptations? They are those which do not overwhelm dramatically but can dissipate swiftly if we resist.
If the persecutor threatens the unaware — those whose faith remains unsteady and who do not grasp their identity as Christians who hope for eternal life — they might fret under temporary tribulations, wrongly believing they have been forsaken by Christ, failing to comprehend that Christianity equips them to withstand present trials and inspire hope for what is to come. Those who understand their divine calling recognize that God’s promises transcend this world’s life; they accept that all tribulations must be endured to attain what God pledges for eternity. Even so, when the persecutor intensifies pressure, administering threats and tortures, they may eventually succumb, aware of their transgressions but yielding to their very own daylight sins.
Why does he mention "at noon"? The persecution is intense; thus, noon represents an overheating situation. The devil causing harm at noon symbolizes fierce opposition; remember our Lord’s words: "The sun arose; and unrooted, they withered" — referencing those tempted when persecution strikes due to their lack of internal strength. Thus, "the demon that destroys at noon" indicates violent hostility. Reflect on the persecution that once targeted the Lord’s Church. When emperors and kings believed they could erase Christ’s name through tribulation, they declared anyone claiming to be Christian should be whipped. To avoid punishment, many denied their faith, succumbing to the arrow of the day; however, those who remained steadfast in their hopes of eternal promises confessed Jesus amid suffering, enduring physical pain but freeing their spirits, resting with God peacefully while awaiting the redemption of their bodies in resurrection.