THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
This psalm is the one that Satan used to tempt our Lord Jesus Christ; therefore, we must remain vigilant as we study it, equipping ourselves to withstand the tempter not relying on our own strength but on Him who faced temptation before us. We must not be overcome when trials come upon us. Although Christ did not require temptation for His own benefit, His temptation serves as our instruction. If we heed His responses to the devil, we too can respond similarly when we face our own tests, entering through the gate as mentioned in the Gospel. Entering through the gate signifies coming to Christ, who declared, "I am the door" (John 10:7). To enter through Him is to follow His example.
He invites us to emulate His actions, which were possible only because He became human; otherwise, how could He have endured suffering? How else could He have been crucified and humbled? So too, when you encounter life's afflictions, whether inflicted openly by others or hidden like those suffered by Job, remain steadfast and patient. You shall find refuge under the wings of the Almighty as the psalm conveys: if you abandon the help of the Most High, you will fall.
Many exhibit courage against persecution from people, expressing anger toward themselves, believing they imitate Christ's sufferings; yet when they face the hidden assaults of the devil, they doubt they are crowned with Christ’s victory. Never be afraid to imitate Him. For when the devil tempted our Lord, no one else was present in the wilderness; it was a secret temptation, yet He prevailed, including against the open attacks. Thus, if you wish to enter through the door when strange afflictions assail you, whether they come as ailments or hardships—like those faced by Job—do not see the devil, but recognize the power of God. He knew that the devil had no authority over him except what was allowed by the Almighty Lord; he attributed all glory to God, denying any power to the devil.
He who emulates Christ by enduring the trials of this world, placing his hope in God and avoiding the traps laid for him, remains unshaken by fear. It is he who lives under the shadow of the Most High, as declared at the beginning of the psalm, living under God’s protection (Psalm 90:1). When we encounter the well-known words used by the devil in tempting our Lord, one must declare to the Lord, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God” (Psalm 90:2). Who declares this to the Lord? It is the one who dwells under His protection, not relying on self. This person does not exhibit pride like those who sought to become like gods and lost their immortality. They preferred to depend on themselves rather than on the Most High, and what the devil promised remains unrealized for them.
So too must you proclaim, “In Him I trust, for He shall deliver me” (Psalm 90:3), not in your own strength. Consider where He will deliver you from: from the snare of the fowler and from harsh words. Liberation from the fowler’s snare is indeed significant; what then of deliverance from harsh words? Many have fallen into traps due to cruel words. The devil and his angels cast their nets like hunters; yet those who walk in Christ are kept safe from these nets, for he does not dare ensnare them there, only placing them at the edge but not on the path.
So let your path be in Christ, and you will not entangle yourself in the devil's traps. What of the harsh words? The devil has ensnared many through bitter words; for instance, Christians among the Gentiles often face scorn. They feel ashamed and, in evading the path due to such reproaches, fall into the hunters' traps. However, what harm can harsh words inflict upon you? Can the snares set by the enemy do anything to you? It is common to set nets at hedges to trap birds and throw stones; yet these stones harm nothing. When was a bird truly struck by stones cast into a hedge? The bird, startled by harmless noise, becomes trapped; similarly, men who fear unprovoked insults are caught in the nets and ensnared by the devil.
Just as among the heathens, a Christian who dreads reproach falls into the trap; among Christians, those striving to be diligent and virtuous often suffer mockery from others. What value is there, dear brother, in finding a place devoid of Gentiles? There may be no verbal attacks for being a Christian for lack of heathens, yet there are many Christians leading unholy lives, among whom true believers strive to live righteously. These righteous ones face condemnation and harsh words when viewed by others—comments like “You are strong, you are righteous, you are Elijah, you are Peter, you’ve come from heaven.” Insults abound, and in every direction, they receive harsh words; should they turn away from the path of Christ in fear, they will fall into snares.
When faced with such criticisms, how should they remain steadfast? What assurance can sustain them to keep them on the way? Let them recall: “What words can address me, a servant and sinner?” The Lord Jesus Himself was once called “You have a devil” (John 8:48). You have just heard cruel words hurled against our Lord; His tolerance serves as a warning to prevent you from falling into the hunters’ traps.
He will shelter you underneath His wings (Psalm 90:4). This expression suggests that your defense should not be found in yourself, lest you believe you can protect yourself. He will safeguard you, delivering you from the fowler's snare and from harsh words. Being shielded by His wings means enveloping you between His shoulders—this indicates protection from all sides, ensuring there is no cause for fear. One must take care never to stray from a place where no enemy dares approach.
Consider how a hen guards her chicks under her wings. How much more secure will you be under the wings of God, even against the devil and his legions, who are like birds of prey seeking to capture the vulnerable? This symbolism of the hen reflects the wisdom of God; Jesus himself compared Himself to a hen, saying, "How often I longed to gather your children" (Matthew 23:37) but Jerusalem did not.
In nature, other birds incubate their eggs and warm their offspring, yet none exhibit such compassion and care as the hen. We see swallows, sparrows, and storks flitting about, unable to determine if they have young; but the hen’s tender voice and protective stance reveal her motherhood. She changes for her chicks’ sake, weakening herself for their safety. Thus, the Wisdom of God became weak, taking on flesh and dwelling among us (John 1:14), that we might find refuge beneath His wings.
His truth shall be your shield (Psalm 90:5). What are wings compared to shields? Both terms are metaphorical; if they were literal, how could they represent the same thing? If Christ is a Stone (Acts 4:10-11), how can He also be a Lion (Revelation 5:5) or a Lamb? He is called these not literally but metaphorically, for He transcends these images as our Savior. His truth serves as your safeguard, distinguishing those who rely on self from those who have faith in God.
Both are sinners, yet one is arrogant, the other contrite, saying, “God be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). The truth of God knows no favoritism; it delineates the humble from the proud, the self-righteous from the God-seeking. You shall not fear the terror in the night, nor the arrow that flies by day (Psalm 90:6).
What should be feared by night and by day? Sin committed in ignorance resembles night, while sin done with full awareness is like daylight. The former is more excusable, while the latter bears greater consequences. When those unaware of their faith are threatened, they panic and assume Christ has abandoned them, failing to recognize who they are in Him.
Yet there are others who know their eternal calling; they understand that the promises of God are not for this temporal world. When the persecutor applies pressure, threatening them further, they can falter, yet their knowledge of the future hope should lead them to endure. Why does he speak of the danger at noon? It signifies intense scrutiny and heightened tribulation, indicative of fierce persecution.
The predator at noon mirrors the oppressive energy of persecution—the very essence of the sun beating down. As Jesus remarked, "The sun rose, and because they had no root, they withered away," illustrating those who stumble when trials arise due to their lack of spiritual foundation.
At that critical moment, adversaries realized the increase of believers was corresponding with the number of martyrs, leading them to propose exterminating Christianity. Their first decree declared, “Whoever professes to be a Christian, let him be scourged.” Those who capitulated denied their faith under threat; the arrow of persecution struck them. But those who placed their eternal lives above their earthly existence received their wounds yet were freed in spirit.
Consider those who named themselves Christians; they faced execution, similar to arrows shot during daylight. As the enemy intensified their persecution, many well-intentioned souls, failing to lean on the protection of God, succumbed, revealing their trust in their own strength rather than faith in the Most High. Manifold instances of failure stem from a lack of reliance on God’s defense leading to despair under pressure.
Countless fell before the midday demon; the psalmist notes that a thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, yet this will not come near you (Psalm 90:7). To whom is this said, brethren? It refers to Christ Jesus.
The members, comprising the body and the head, cannot be divided; the body represents the Church united with Christ. Thus, we understand the psalmist’s avowal: a thousand may fall to the left, and ten thousand to the right, but they will not draw near you. It is indeed alarming to falter from Christ, especially when one falls from His side; yet, such a fall is possible only through the actions of the disheartened.
In Scripture, the thousand is lesser than the ten thousand, indicating the apostles called to reign with Christ, having forsaken all to follow Him. These judges are the perfect heads of the Church. Many who sought to gift the poor—and thereby hoped to sit alongside Christ in the judgment of nations—still denied Him amidst great trials.
Let us then define more thoroughly those who fall by Christ’s right. Although many forsook hope of judging alongside Him, many more fell from the possibility of being at His right side. The words of the psalmist emphasize, “A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand,” underlining the multitude of those supporters who fail in the faith.
What does it mean to not draw near? It captures the truth that while torturers could inflict pain on the flesh, they could not assail the faithful’s core belief. Their pain approached the body but never reached their faith—courage remains even amidst suffering, as they laughed at such trials, leaning upon Him who has triumphed before them so that they too might win.
Who will prevail? Only those who rely not on themselves but on Christ. Those who trust in flesh, even hoping to share in Christ’s glory, could easily fall prey to the midday demon, panicked by persecution.
Engaging in their efforts, many fell from the expectation of judgment, evidenced by the falling thousand. Yet this incident does not signify impending doom; as Scripture assures, the Lord recognizes His own (2 Timothy 2:19).
Ultimately, with your eyes you will look on the recompense of the wicked (Psalm 90:8). What does this mean? It means that while the wicked may tyrannize Your servants, they will not do so forever without consequence. Even if God permits trials, those who persist obtain a glorious crown in the end. They will be recompensed for their evil, not for the good they inadvertently engendered; this truth requires the eye of faith, which unveils the truth that the unjust shall not endure eternally.
While witnessing the wicked prosper, it's important to contemplate their future. The ones who oppress now may later feel the swift retribution of divine judgment.