THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
As we attentively hear the Psalm's reading, we should also be focused as the Lord unveils the mysteries He has chosen to conceal in this passage. Some truths in Scripture are hidden, not to be denied but to be disclosed to those who seek diligently. If you earnestly knock with a heart of devotion and genuine love, He who understands your intentions will make Himself known to you. We are aware of how some may complain about God's patience, either lamenting the presence of wicked men in the world or their substantial influence; they often witness unrighteous individuals prevailing over the righteous, with the wicked celebrating while the good endure suffering. This reality can lead to the disillusionment of those who perceive their righteousness as futile, as it appears that God turns away from the good deeds of the faithful and supports those who indulge in vice. Thus, those with fragile spirits may conclude that their righteous living is in vain, leading them to emulate the wicked if they see them prosper. They may refrain from outwardly sinful actions not out of a love for righteousness but rather from a fear of societal judgment; they may suppress evil behaviors, yet do not restrain sinful thoughts. The most insidious of these thoughts is the belief that God neglects human actions and fails to distinguish between the righteous and the unrighteous, fostering the notion that He either chooses to disregard the good or actively persecutes them while favoring the wicked. This mindset, though it harms no one else, corrupts the individual themselves, distancing them from God rather than inflicting injury upon Him.
The Psalm comes with the title: A Psalm of David on the fourth day of the week. Its purpose is to instill patience amidst the trials faced by the righteous, encouraging them to endure the prosperity of the wicked while nurturing their own perseverance. This theme permeates the entire Psalm. Why does it bear this title of the fourth day? The Lord's Day is the first day; the second is deemed a lunar day by worldly standards; the third is known as the Martian day. Therefore, the fourth day follows as the day associated with Mercury, a name that should ideally be replaced by terms more fitting for Christians. The various names across cultures hardly reflect a universal truth. If anyone has been conditioned to speak in ways their heart disapproves, they ought to remember that the celestial bodies existed long before the men whom we name them after. Due to the temporary services rendered by these men during their lives, they were honored with divine recognition, despite the fact that their lives and accolades were fleeting and mortal. Lured by deception, they revered stars to flatter those who aided them in their temporal pursuits, each misguided belief intensifying as it is echoed throughout humanity. Christ dismantled this falsehood while the devil enforced it. Hence, we use the term "fourth day" in reference to the time following the Lord's Day.
Let us now recall the creation narrative from Genesis as we ponder the significance of this title. On the first day, God created light; on the second, the firmament named Heaven; the third unveiled the earth and the sea, with waters gathered and dry land formed. On the fourth day, the Lord placed celestial lights in the heavens—Genesis 1:3-19—fashioning the sun to govern the day and the moon and stars to oversee the night. The selection of the fourth day for the Psalm serves to emphasize the call for patience amid the flourishing of the wicked. The Apostle Paul reminds us, "Do all things without murmuring and disputing, that ye may be blameless and harmless, ye sons of God, without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life" (Philippians 2:14-16).
Now, let us turn our attention back to the Psalm. The Lord is a God of vengeance, a God who acts with assurance—Psalm 93:1. Do you believe He overlooks wrongdoings? The God of vengeance indeed enacts His justice. To be a God of vengeance means to be a God of chastisement. You may grumble because the wicked appear unpunished, but do not let your heart be troubled, lest you align yourself among those who face punishment. If a thief escapes consequence, do not summon bitterness against God! If you wish for another to be corrected, first examine your own speech; if you wish to correct your heart towards others, first align your heart with God's. For when the desire for divine vengeance arises, may it find you first inclined towards mercy. God will indeed come; He will judge those persevering in wickedness—those who are ungrateful for His patience, accumulating wrath for the impending day of judgment. God will recompense every individual according to their deeds—Romans 2:4-6—and because the Lord is a God of vengeance, He acts assuredly.
Our hope rests in our Savior; He is the refuge for all who are destitute. He assures us: I will trust in Him. What does this imply? He holds no fear nor does He shield the sins and vices of humanity. Like a faithful healer employing the scalpel of preaching, He excises our woundedness. Thus He was foretold and proclaimed to be. What remarkable truths did the One, who was said to teach as one having authority, share with them? "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!" What profound declarations did He openly deliver? He feared no man because He is a God of vengeance. This is why He did not hold back His words, allowing them to remain before Him even when He extended mercy in judgment. Had they accepted the remedy of His word, they would escape the fate of their Judge.
Therefore, because "The Lord is a God of vengeance," He indeed proceeds with certainty—sparing no man in His speech. The One who withheld nothing in word in His mortal agony will He then withhold anything in judgment upon the Resurrection? The humble One, who feared no one, will He fear in His glory? Given His previous confident actions, imagine how He will behave at the culmination of time. Do not express grievances against God, who appears to spare the wicked; instead, engage with kindness, for He may choose not to let you escape the rod for a time so that you might receive mercy at judgment's end.
The confidence that results in acknowledgment: "Be exalted, O Judge of the world"—Psalm 92:2. When He traversed this world in humility, do you believe they would restrain Him when He is exalted? When they judged Him in His mortality, will they not be judged by Him in His immortality? What does He declare? "Be exalted, thou who acted with confidence"—those who could not endure the steadfastness of His words forsook Him. They mistakenly bade Him to endure persecution instead of recognizing Him within faith. Thus, in a world where He vehemently acted with confidence and knew no fear, He ascended; let us, His Church, too endure with patience during such long-suffering times. "Be exalted, O Judge of the world, and repay the proud as their deeds merit." He will indeed reward them.
This phrase, "exalt thyself, O Judge of the world, and recompense the proud according to their merits," reflects prophecy rather than a command. Christ did not rise from the dead and ascend to heaven because the Prophet spoke it; the Prophet foretold this because it was destined to occur. The Prophet, witnessing Christ humbled in spirit and fearless, articulates, "He acted with confidence." Observing with assurance the One arrested, crucified, and humbled only to rise again and return to heaven to judge those who inflicted harm upon Him, he declares, "Be exalted, for Thou art the Judge of the world and recompense the proud according to their merits." Thus, He shall reward the prideful but not the humble. Who are the proud? Those who commit minor evils and additionally defend their transgressions.
Miraculously, individuals who once persecuted Christ's body found faith, and through their advocacy for believers born from within the Jewish fold, even the blood of Christ washed them clean. Those whose hands were stained with His blood became part of His Church, which is His body. They shed their ransom to partake in salvation. In the aftermath, many came to embrace faith.
"Lord, how long shall the wicked triumph? How long shall the wicked triumph?"—Psalm 92:3. They will respond, uttering falsehood; every voice echoes conducting unrighteousness—Psalm 93:4. When they speak unjustly against God, they complain, "What benefit is there in our existence?" What will you answer them? Can it be that God does not regard our efforts? They live in rebellion, convinced that God remains unaware of their actions. But such folly will be their downfall! If officials were aware of their misconduct, they would be detained, yet no one evades God's gaze. He sees not just the visible sins but also the hidden desires of the heart. Deep down, even the wicked acknowledge God’s all-seeing nature; conscious of wrongdoing, they rationalize that their existence remains reliant on divine indifference, alongside the realization that they would not endure if exposed before their earthly authorities. Therefore, they might conclude that such ways do indeed please God.
A righteous individual approaches and declares, "Do no iniquity, lest you perish. Observe me; I engaged in wrongdoing—yet I do not face judgment; the righteous were condemned—why did that happen? I did wrong, yet have not suffered." Such arguments arise as their escape routes from truth; their excuses form a convoluted rationale, relying on appearances rather than integrity. They point to the goodness of the longsuffering of God, which leads to true repentance.
Yet, amongst those who find reasons for evasion, the Apostle counters, "But after your hardness and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for the day of wrath and revelation of righteous judgment of God, who will recompense everyone according to their deeds"—Romans 2:5-6. Thus, while God's mercy abounds, their iniquities multiply, laying down a foundation of wrath that will emerge as that mass accumulates. Do not neglect even minor transgressions; for streams are filled from individual droplets.
"They have oppressed Thy people, O Lord, and disgraced Thy inheritance"—Psalm 92:5. They have slaughtered the widow and the orphan, having killed the sojourner—Psalm 92:6. The psalmist's expressions are self-explanatory and do not require further elaboration.
Moreover, they claim, "The Lord will not see"—Psalm 93:7; they argue that He pays no attention, that His concern diverts elsewhere, and that He is oblivious. It encapsulates two statements from the ungodly: "This you have done, while I held my silence; you thought I would be like you." What does this imply? They think I overlook your deeds because I do not punish them. They also assert that, as God seemingly does not notice their wrongs, He cares little for their lives; they wonder if He accounts for them at all. How unfortunate! He who allowed you to exist surely takes interest in how you lead your life! These thoughts typify their mindset, persistently voicing, "The Lord will not see, and the God of Jacob will not consider it."
"Be warned now, you foolish among men; understand this someday!"—Psalm 92:8. The Lord instructs His people. Let there be no envy when witnessing the wicked prospering while living within God's favor. When good individuals observe the flourishing of the immoral, they may be tempted to join their ranks, believing righteousness bears no reward here. But he who awaits his reward will not miss it; the timing for it has not yet arrived. You labor in the vineyard: diligently carry out your task, and you shall be compensated. Why demand your wages from the employer before your labor concludes? Patience is integral to your work; that reward hinges on your diligence. Should you be treacherous, take heed, for you risk not only missing payment but also incurring punishment as a dishonest worker.