THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
The Gospel reveals that demons acknowledged Him, and our prophets declare: For the gods of the nations are worthless idols (in the LXX, demons). In their desire to avoid defying their gods, the pagans refrained from speaking ill of Christ and instead directed their insults toward His followers. However, it is clear that if these philosophers had inquired about Christ’s disciples, even the pagan deities they consulted would have had no choice but to commend them.
My esteemed brother Severus continues to delay the joy we anticipate from his conversations, acknowledging his obligation to us; he knows he is in debt. Across all the congregations he has visited, the Lord has rejoiced through him. All the more reason for that specific Church—the one from which the Lord’s teachings have spread to others—to rejoice. Yet, what can we do but submit to his will? I remind you, dear friends, that he has merely postponed, not misled us. Let us thus regard him as a debtor and not release him until he has fulfilled his obligation. Take heed, beloved, as we explore this Psalm, which you are already familiar with; a renewed reflection on the truth is delightful. When its title is mentioned, some may have been surprised. It states, "When the house was built after the Captivity." With this reference made, one might expect to learn about the stones quarried from mountains, the materials brought to the site, the foundations laid, the beams raised, and the columns erected. However, his song does not speak of such matters. It is not that kind of construction, for the building occurs not in a single location or region. He begins with: "Sing unto the Lord a new song; sing unto the Lord, all the earth" (Psalm 94:1). If the entire earth sings a new song, then as it sings, it builds; the very act of singing contributes to the building process, provided that it sings something new. The desires of the flesh sing the old song, while the love of God offers up the new.
Listen to the reason it is a new song: the Lord declares, "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another" (John 15:12). Thus, when the whole earth sings this new song, the house of God is being built within it. If all of creation constitutes God's house, then anyone who does not adhere to this world is merely a ruin, reminiscent of the old ruins that represented that ancient temple. This old structure was destroyed for the new to emerge. The apostle unites us within this very framework, binding us together in oneness, saying, "Indulging one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:2-3). Where the Spirit’s unity is found, there is but one stone; yet this one stone emerges from many. How does one become many? Through humility and love for one another. Thus, the house of the Lord our God is being established through these words, readings, and the preaching of the Gospel across the world while it is under construction. This house has expanded greatly and encompasses numerous nations; however, it has not yet subdued all nations. By its proliferation, it encompasses many and will eventually overpower all, a claim dismissed by those who mistakenly assert they belong to this house, stating that it has already lost its position. It continues to grow, destined to include all nations that have yet to believe; no one can predict which tongue will come to faith or whether those distant from the faith will. What do the fiery tongues of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3) signify, if not that there is no heart so hardened that it cannot be softened by this divine fire? Many barbarian nations have already embraced Christ; Christ already reigns in lands untouched by the Roman Empire. What is inaccessible to those who wage war with swords is not beyond the reach of those who wield the wood of the Cross.
Who wields this wood? Christ. Through His Cross, He triumphed over kings and placed this very Cross upon their foreheads, incubating their salvation. This is the work being accomplished, the house expanding; to understand this, consider the following verses of the Psalm: "See how they labor and build the house. Sing unto the Lord, all the earth." "Sing unto the Lord, bless His name: proclaim the good news of His salvation day by day" (Psalm 95:2). How is the building enlarged? By proclaiming His salvation day by day, as it is said, let My house, says God, increase. It is as if the laborers ask, "Where do You command this to be constructed? Where would You have Your house grow? Choose for us a spacious site if You desire a broad house." He indicates the place: "Proclaim to the Gentiles His honor," not your own. O builders, declare His honor to the Gentiles. If you proclaim your honor, you will fall; if you declare His, you will be built up while building. Thus, those who choose to proclaim their honor have forsaken the true house, hence their voices do not join with the whole earth; they do not build a house but a whitewashed wall.
How severely does God condemn the whitewashed wall? Ezekiel 13:10 reveals numerous testimonies from the Prophets where He curses this very hypocrisy. What is a whitewashed wall but a facade, a mere pretense? It shines on the outside but is foul within.
A certain individual spoke of this whitewashed wall, illustrating that someone building a door in an isolated wall finds that upon entry, they discover themselves outside the house. This is similar to those who refuse to join the household and opt to construct a feeble and superficial wall; what benefit is a door if it permits no genuine entrance? For they themselves do not enter through the door, nor can their make-shift door admit them. The Lord proclaimed, "I am the door: by me they enter in" (John 10:9). Proclaim His honor to the Gentiles. What does it mean to be Gentiles? Perhaps it may seem that only a few nations, or the ones that erected the white wall, are being referred to: why not consider Getulia, Numidia, Mauritania, or Byzacia? Provinces are indeed nations too. Let the Word of God divert from that whitewashed wall, building a true house throughout the world. It is not sufficient to state, "Proclaim Him to the Gentiles"; lest you think he is excluding certain nations, he adds, "and His miracles to all men."
"For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised" (Psalm 95:4). What Lord, if not Jesus Christ, is great and worthy of praise? You know that He became flesh; you know that He was conceived in a woman’s womb, born, nourished, and raised; that He was circumcised, and that they offered a sacrifice for His growth. Ultimately, you are aware that He was beaten, spat upon, crowned with thorns, crucified, died, and pierced; He endured all of this: He is great and worthy of praise. Do not disdain the small; understand the great. He became small because you were small, recognize His greatness, and you will find greatness in Him.
What can a small tongue utter in praise of the Great One? When it says, "Above praise," it tries to express what is beyond human comprehension; as if saying, "Meditate upon what words cannot convey," and even meditation will fall short. What human thought can formulate what language cannot? The Lord is great and worthy of praise. He should be lauded and proclaimed: declare His honor and establish His house.
The location He desires for His house is indeed a wooded area, as we noted yesterday, and we discovered it within the woods. He sought that very house when mentioning "in the woods." Why is this place wooded? Because men idolized images; it is no wonder they indulged in swine. That wayward son, who distanced himself from his father and squandered all his inheritance on debauchery, became like the prodigal grazing swine (Luke 15:12-15)—essentially worshipping demons. This particular pagan superstition turned the earth into a dense forest.
And he who builds a house uproots a tree; thus, it was proclaimed, "While the house was being built, after the captivity." Men were captives of the devil, serving deceitful spirits; yet they were liberated from their bondage. Though they could sell themselves, redemption was beyond their grasp. The Redeemer arrived and set the price: He shed His blood and redeemed the entire world. You inquire, "What did He purchase?" Look at what He gave; understand from that what He obtained. The price was Christ's blood. What can be equated to this? Nothing less than the entire world, every nation. Those who deem this price insignificant—assuming it was only the Africans who received it—or consider themselves so eminent that it was granted only to them, take heed. Do not exult nor be prideful: the offering was intended for every land. He comprehended what He purchased, fully aware of the price He paid. Thus, because we are redeemed, His house is being built anew after the captivity.
And who were those that held us captive? Those whom He addressed, "Declare His glory"—they are the ones who work to uproot the trees that they may free the land, building and raising it up while proclaiming the majesty of the Lord's house. How will the demonic tree be eradicated without preaching the one who is above all? All nations once revered demons as gods; those they called gods were devils, as the Apostle clearly states: "That which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils and not to God" (1 Corinthians 10:20). They remained in bondage because they offered sacrifices to these false gods, and thus the whole earth lay as a forest.
"When he said: ‘He is to be feared above all gods,’ he added: ‘As for all the gods of the heathen, they are devils.’" All heathen gods are indeed devils. Is it not the highest praise for Him, who is truly beyond praise, that He stands above all pagan divinities, who are devils? Listen to this: "God created the heavens." Therefore, He is not only above all gods but also above every celestial entity He crafted. Had he merely stated that He is above all gods—which are demons—our understanding of Christ would remain limited; but by asserting, "But the Lord made the heavens," the disparity between the heavens and demons is profound.
He did not make the claim that "the Lord sitteth in the heavens," which may suggest that someone else created them. However, He explicitly declared, "The Lord made the heavens." If He created the heavens, He also fashioned the angels; He created the apostles themselves. The devils submitted before the Apostles, yet the Apostles became the heavens that bore the Lord. O heavens He created, proclaim His honor to the Gentiles! Let His house be established throughout the earth; may the whole world join in singing a new song.
"Confession and beauty before Him" (Psalm 95:6). Do you cherish beauty? Do you wish to be beautiful? Then confess! Scripture speaks of confession before the beauty it brings. You have been unjust; confess to become just. You were a sinner; confess to be deemed righteous. You can obscure your beauty, but you cannot fabricate it. How can our Bride, who loved a man, disfigure herself in hopes and merit beauty? Some may question, "How did He love the unlovely?" He stated, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Matthew 9:13). Who does He call "sinners" to remain in their sin? No, says He. And how will they cease being sinners? Through confession and the beauty found in Him. They honor Him by confessing their sins, expelling the evil they have clung to; they do not return to their filth as a dog returns to its vomit (2 Peter 2:22). Thus, there awaits confession and beauty: we desire beauty; prioritize confession first so that beauty may follow.
Likewise, there are those who crave power and majesty, aspiring to greatness akin to that of angels. The angels possess a certain majesty and power that is unstoppable when fully engaged. Every individual longs for the might of angels, yet not everyone loves their righteousness. Above all, let righteousness reign in your heart, and power will follow. What follows from this? Holiness and majesty abide in His sanctification. You sought greatness; first seek righteousness: once righteous, you will be great.