THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
I express a desire, dear friends, that we might have chosen to adhere to our Father’s instruction; however, it is indeed commendable to follow His guidance. Since the one who graciously intercedes for us has given us commands, I will share, beloved, what this psalm—referred to as ‘David's Song of Praise’—offers us as followers of our Lord. This song embodies both joy, as it is a song, and reverence, as it is a form of praise. What can a person hold in higher regard than that which pleases them so profoundly that discontent is impossible? Thus, when we praise God, we do so with assurance. A praiser finds solace in knowing there is no shame in the object of their adoration. Therefore, let us engage in both praise and song; let us, with hearts full of cheer and joy, lift our voices. The psalm reveals to us the essence of what it is we are to praise in the upcoming verses.
Let us come and rejoice before the Lord (Psalm 94:1). He invites us to partake in a joyous celebration, one that transcends worldly engagement and dwells in Him. Were it not for the existence of fleeting joys, distinct from the joy bestowed by righteousness, it would suffice to simply say to rejoice; nevertheless, He emphasizes it with clarity. What does it mean to genuinely rejoice? To find your joy in the Lord. It is imperative to rejoice in Him if you desire to safely navigate the complexities of this world. Now, consider the invitation to ‘Come.’ Who is He summoning to share in the joy of the Lord, if not those who, while distant, may draw near and thus find joy? Yet, from where are they distanced? It cannot be a physical separation from the One who pervades all places... It is not through spatial distance, but through moral dissimilarity that humanity finds itself far from God. What signifies being unlike Him? It denotes a life steeped in sin, harmful behaviors; for through virtuous conduct, we approach Him, whereas unrighteous habits distance us from Him. Therefore, as dissimilarity leads us astray, so does similarity draw us close. This likeness refers to the divine image in which we were made, which we tarnished through sin, yet which is restored through the grace of absolution, renewing within us the likeness of our Creator—a reflection of God's image imprinted upon our souls, enabling us to return to His divine bounty.
Let us offer joyful exclamations to God, our Savior... (Psalm 94:2). Contemplate, beloved, those who express jubilation through any common musical celebration, evidencing profound elation that words alone fail to convey. When they sing, their joy erupts in ways that language cannot fully express, revealing internal emotions that words fall short of capturing. If they can give voice to earthly joys, how much more should we express our ecstatic delight rooted in the heavenly?
Let us approach Him with confession. Scripture presents confession on two fronts: the confession of praise and the confession of repentance. The former glorifies the one praised, while the latter expresses sorrow for our failings. Men confess in praise of God, as well as when they acknowledge their guilt; the tongue finds no nobler service. Indeed, these reflect the promises contained in another psalm: I will repay You my vows, which I have expressed with my mouth. There is nothing more profound than perception, and nothing more vital than understanding and performing the good. How then should you discern your obligations to God? By praising Him and recognizing your faults; it is through His mercy that our sins are forgiven. If He judged us strictly by our merit, He would find nothing but grounds for condemnation. “Oh, come,” He calls, “that we may finally turn away from our sins, and that He may not bring our past before us; but as if to commence anew, when all our debts have been erased...” Therefore, as despair deepens due to your transgressions, confess your sins; for the greater our recognition of sin, the more magnificent the grace of the Forgiver, and the fuller the repentant confession will be. Let us not assume that we deviate from the song of praise by understanding this acknowledgment of our wrongs; it remains an integral part of our praise, for through our confession of sins, we exalt the glory of God.
And let us shout joyfully with psalms. We have previously articulated what it means to raise a joyful sound; the repetition serves to emphasize the call to action. We have not forgotten our exhortation to proclaim a joyful noise; rather, in moments of acute emotion, repetition heightens our understanding of the speaker’s intent. Listen then: For the Lord is a great God and a mighty King above all gods (Psalm 94:3). Know this: He will not forsake His people. Whom will He not reject? Here, we should refrain from personal interpretations, for the Apostle has illuminated the meaning for us. It was the Jewish people, a prophetically charged lineage descended from Abraham, a nation destined to carry the mysteries that heralded our Savior; within this people, the temple, the anointing, and the priesthood served as foreshadowings for Christ. This was the chosen people who received God’s revelations and to whom the prophets were sent. Yet, is this entire nation condemned? By no means. The Apostle refers to it as the good olive tree, which originated with the patriarchs. Even though some branches have been severed, not all are lost. For if every branch were severed, where would Peter and John come from? What of Thomas, Matthew, or Andrew? Where do these apostles originate? What of the five hundred brethren to whom our Lord appeared post-resurrection? (1 Corinthians 15:6) Where did the multitudes, as described by Peter (who, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke in the languages of the nations, Acts 2:4), fervently redirect their allegiance from those who first sentenced the Lord to death to now embracing Him in faith? And those five thousand were so transformed that they sold their possessions to lay their proceeds at the apostles’ feet. What that one wealthy man could not accomplish upon hearing from the mouth of the Lord (Matthew 19:21-22), many thousands whom He crucified suddenly did. The depth of their heartache catalyzed their longing for healing. Thus, since they all stem from this lineage, the Psalm avers: “For the Lord will not abandon His people...”
What further does the Psalm declare? The whole earth is in His hand (Psalm 94:4); we recognize Christ as the cornerstone. A corner cannot exist without two walls converging; they come from different sides yet do not oppose one another. Circumcision represents one side; uncircumcision, the other. In Christ, these two unite, as He is the cornerstone, as it is written: The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone...
For the sea is His, and He fashioned it (Psalm 94:5). The sea symbolizes this world, yet God, who created it, has set boundaries for the tumultuous waves. Therefore, there exists no temptation that lacks its measure... And His hands have crafted the dry land. Be that dry land; earnestly yearn for God’s grace, likening it to sweet rain that may fall upon you and yield abundant fruit. He does not allow the waves to overwhelm what He has consecrated. Consequently, let us cry out to the Lord.
Come, let us worship and bow down; let us weep before the Lord, our Creator (Psalm 94:6). If you find yourself aflame with the awareness of your transgressions, douse the fire of your sin with tears; weep unreservedly before the Lord who has created you, for He does not dismiss the works of His hands within you. Do not harbor the belief that you can redeem yourself. Alone, one might stumble, but you cannot restore your soul; it is the Creator who restores you. Weep before the Lord, your Maker. Approach Him with your grievances; may His presence guide your confession. Who are you when you confess before Him but a being formed by Him? A created soul places immense trust in its Creator, not in an indifferent manner, but reflective of His image and likeness.
For He is the Lord our God (Psalm 94:7). As we kneel and bow in reverence before Him without fear, consider who we are. We are the flock of His pasture, the sheep of His hand. Observe how elegantly the order of words has been reversed to give each term its proper significance; thus, we understand that the sheep are also considered the people. He does not say, the sheep of His pasture and the people of His hand, which might imply a more customary separation; rather, He states, the people of His pasture. Consequently, the people themselves are likened to sheep, as He refers to them in this way. He praises these sheep in the Song of Songs, likening them to the pristine teeth of His beloved Church. Your teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep, which have emerged after washing; each one bearing twins, and none lacking offspring. What does this mean by ‘Your teeth’? They are those through whom you articulate, for the Church’s teeth symbolize her voice. What are they akin to? Like a flock of cleansed sheep. Why have they been shorn? Because they have shed the weight of worldly burdens. Wasn’t that flock just mentioned earlier, shorn at God's command when He said, “Go, sell what you possess, give to the poor, and you will find treasure in heaven; then come, follow Me”? (Matthew 19:21). In obedience, they came, stripped of their earthly encumbrances. And what of those who are baptized into Christ? What is said of them? They emerge from purification; that is, they rise from cleansing, each bringing forth twins. What twins are these? They are the two commandments upon which the Law and the Prophets rely (Matthew 22:40).
So, today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts (Psalm 94:8). O my people, the Israel of God! The Lord is addressing His people—not just those He will not forsake, but all His people. For He speaks of the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20), addressing every division: His prophecy speaks through Christ, to both the Jewish nation and the Gentile world. For a time, you heard His voice through Moses and grew hard-hearted. Then, when your hearts were calloused, He proclaimed through a messenger; now He comes Himself to speak—allow your hearts to soften. The One who sent forth heralds now chooses to speak with His own mouth, the very one who spoke through the Prophets.
As in the day of trial and testing in the wilderness, where your forebears put Me to the test (Psalm 94:9). Let your forefathers serve as an example of what not to imitate: they may have been your ancestors, but should you not follow in their footsteps, they shall not define you; though you were born of them, your identity need not be tied to their legacy. If Gentiles from the ends of the earth admit, in the words of Jeremiah, “The Gentiles shall come to you from the ends of the earth and say, Surely our ancients have inherited lies, vanity, and pursuits of no worth” (Jeremiah 16:19), if the Gentiles abandon their idols, drawing near to the God of Israel; should Israel, whom God delivered from Egypt through the divided sea (Exodus 14:21-22)—where He vanquished their pursuing foes—whom He guided through the wilderness and nourished with manna (Exodus 16:13-35), seen never to be deprived of correction or favors—should they forsake their God upon the arrival of the Gentiles? This is the same generation that tempted Me, tested Me, and witnessed My works...