THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
My esteemed brother Severus continues to defer the delight we anticipate from his discourse, as he recognizes the debt he owes us. He is celebrated by all the Churches he has visited, and that particular Church—where the Lord has disseminated His message—should rejoice even more. What choice do we have but to comply with his wishes? However, I assert, dear friends, that his delay does not imply deceit on his part. Thus, let us regard him as a debtor, holding him accountable until he fulfills his obligation.
Beloved, let us heed this: as far as the Lord allows, let us discuss this Psalm, which is indeed familiar to you; for there is something beautiful about revisiting the truth. When its title was mentioned, some may have received it with astonishment. For it is inscribed in the Psalm, "When the house was built after the Captivity." Since that title precedes the text, one might expect to read about hewn stones from the mountains, the quantities transported to the site, the foundations established, the beams elevated, and the columns erected. Yet, His song contains none of these elements. It is not in a specific location or region that the house is constructed; rather, it is built wherever God’s presence is.
The Psalm declares: "Sing unto the Lord a new song; sing unto the Lord, all the earth" (Psalm 94:1). If all of creation sings a new song, it indeed constructs while it praises: the act of singing itself is a building effort, provided it does not echo an old tune. The cravings of the flesh resonate with the old song; the love of God brings forth the new. Listen closely as to why it is a new song: the Lord commands, "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another" (John 15:12). Thus, when the entire earth engages in singing this new song, the house of God is actively being established.
If the entire earth constitutes the house of God, then those who do not adhere to this foundational truth are ruins rather than a house; they reflect the decay of that ancient temple. The former structure was dismantled for the sake of the new. The apostle unites us within this very edifice, binding us together in one body, exhorting us to "Indulging one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:2-3). Where the unity of the Spirit exists, there is but one stone; this singular stone emerges from the collective. What creates unity from diversity? It is achieved through mutual submission in love. Therefore, the house of our Lord is under construction, built upon the words and teachings we receive, continually proclaimed throughout the world. This house has seen extensive growth, encompassing many nations; yet it has not subdued all lands. Its expansion has embraced many, and it will ultimately conquer all, despite the dismissals from those who presume they belong.
All nations yet to believe are destined for faith, and no one can predict which tongues shall come to believe—be they from savage tribes or distant peoples. The appearance of the Holy Spirit in fiery tongues (Acts 2:3) signifies that no tongue is so hardened that it cannot be softened by this divine flame. Numerous barbaric nations have already come to faith in Christ; indeed, He holds sway in territories untouched by the Roman Empire. What remains closed to those who wage war with swords shall be rendered accessible to those who strive with faith. The Lord reigns through the wood. Who fights with this wood? It is Christ. By His cross, He triumphed over kings, marking the very cross upon their foreheads when they were vanquished; they take pride in it as their salvation. This work illustrates how the house expands and is constructed.
So let us consider further verses from the Psalm: observe how they labor and erect 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 expanded? We are reminded to proclaim His salvation continually. Let His message resound daily; let My house increase, as God desires. It is as though the laborers inquire, "Where shall we build?" If You wish for a grand house erected for You, grant us a flat, spacious area. Where then shall we preach the gospel day by day? The answer is revealed: "Proclaim to the Gentiles His glory."
This is His glory, not our own. Builders of His house must declare His honor to the Gentiles; should they seek to promote their own name, they will fall, whereas in proclaiming His, they will find themselves exalted in their labor. Those who choose to glorify themselves have turned away from this house, and consequently, they do not sing a new song with the fullness of creation. They do not share in this joy, and thus they do not build the house, but erect instead a mere façade.
How seriously does God rebuke this pretense? Evidence abounds in the prophets, who denounce such whitewashed walls. A whitewashed wall symbolizes hypocrisy, displaying brightness on the surface while remaining filthy within. A certain man remarked that a wall standing alone with a door lacks connection to any other structure; whoever enters such a door finds only emptiness. So too, those who refuse to sing a new song alongside the house, instead opting to construct a façade, achieve little of substance. Their own door fails to grant them entry because they have ignored the true door. For the Lord declares, "I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved" (John 10:9).
Proclaim His honor to the Gentiles! Who are the Gentiles? Are the nations such as Getulia, Numidia, Mauritania, and Byzacia not honorable? Provinces are nations, too. Let the word of God dismantle hypocrisy and erect a house across the globe. It is vital to remember: “Proclaim Him to the Gentiles.” This is not merely to sing praises to a few, but to declare His wonders to all. For "great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised" (Psalm 95:4). Who other than Jesus Christ is truly great and worthy of adoration? You know He came as a man, conceived in the womb, born of a woman, nurtured, carried, circumcised, and having a sacrifice offered for Him as He grew; You know of His suffering, rejection, crucifixion, death, and piercing; He has endured it all—and He is great and worthy of our praises.
Let us not look down upon the humble; rather, let us recognize the greatness born of smallness. He became small for your sake; let Him be seen for what He is, and in Him, you shall find greatness. What can a small tongue articulate in praise of the Great One? Only to say, "Above all praise," pointing toward that which transcends our understanding. Meditate upon this; even after contemplation, you will find it insufficient. What language can encapsulate what no human thought can express? The Lord is indeed great and deserving of glory.
Consider the actual space where He wished to build His house—it itself is surrounded by trees, as we noted yesterday. "He was looking for that very house when He said, in the woods." This place, marked by man’s worship of idols, led to feeding swine and spiritual ruin. The son who forsook his father squandered all on wayward living, likened to those who worship demons. This idiocy of superstition turned the earth into a forest. But the one who builds a house must first uproot trees, hence the declaration: “While the house was being built, after the captivity.”
People were ensnared by the adversary, serving demons; yet they were redeemed from their bondage. They could serve, but could not liberate themselves. The Redeemer arrived to determine the price, shedding His blood to reclaim the entire world. You may wonder about the extent of His purchase; witness what He gave and discern the value of what was bought. The price of redemption was the blood of Christ—what could be more precious than this? Yet it is a grave error for anyone to claim that such a price was insignificant or meant solely for a specific region.
Let them not revel in pride; He offered what He did for the whole world. He is aware of what He redeemed because He knows the price He paid. Thus, because of our redemption, the house is reconstructed following the time of bondage. Those charged with declaring His glory must remove the obstacles that enslave and rebuild His house, proclaiming His majesty. How can we eradicate the demonic roots unless we preach clearly He who is above all? In ancient times, all nations had false deities; those mistakenly honored as gods are indeed demons.
The Psalmist notes, "He is to be feared above all gods"—this only emphasizes that the false gods of the nations are demons. Is He not worthy of praise simply because He is greater than such entities? Listen well: "God created the heavens." He transcends all gods; He is not only superior to them but also the Creator of everything. If He had simply said, "above all gods," it would have fallen short of His true stature. Yet, coupled with "But the Lord made the heavens," we see the stark difference between the Lord and false deities; behold how high the Lord is.
He did not merely say, "But the Lord sits in the heavens," which might imply that another created them; rather, "the Lord made the heavens." If He shaped the heavens, certainly, He also created the angels; He fashioned both angels and apostles. The demons yielded to the Apostles, yet the Apostles themselves were like the heavens that bore the Lord. O heavens, crafted by Him, proclaim His glory to the Gentiles! Let His house be established throughout the earth, let the whole creation sing a new song.
"The beauty of righteousness is before Him" (Psalm 95:6). Do you desire beauty? Seek confession! He said "confession and beauty," not the other way around. You have sinned; confess to be justified; you have erred; confess to be righteous. You can spoil yourself but cannot beautify without divine assistance.
Consider our Bride who adored her beloved; how can she attempt to beautify herself? Would one truly say that He loves what is unlovely? "I came," He proclaimed, "not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Matthew 9:13). To whom does He call? Not that they remain in their sins. How then may they cease being sinners? Only through the dual process of confession leading to beauty in His sight. They bring honor to Him through the revelation of their sins, casting aside the wickedness they once devoured; they refuse to revert to their former corruption. Thus, there will be beauty in confession, and we aspire to beauty; prioritize confession so that beauty may follow.
There are those who desire power and dignity, longing to rise alongside the angels. Yet while the angels possess a remarkable authority, that power can at times overwhelm. Every person may wish for the angels’ might, yet they often overlook the necessity of their righteousness. Above all, let righteousness envelop you, and the power will naturally accompany you. If you desire magnificence, pursue righteousness first; then true greatness will follow.
For if your ambition is solely to be exalted, you risk falling before you rise. But those who are anchored in pride rarely find themselves in fullness. Approach with humility, for to enter His presence, you must bring a contrite spirit. Enter his courts with humility and you bring the finest gift. Yet if pride fills your heart, you come empty-handed; how can you boast of your fullness if you are devoid of gifts?
The Lord has reformed the world such that it cannot be shaken, and He will judge the nations with justice. Those who today refuse to embrace the truth will ultimately mourn. "Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad" (Psalm 94:11). May the heavens proclaim the glory of God and the earth, where His blessings descend, rejoice. The heavens serve as messengers, while the earth listens intently.