THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
God, our Lord, is undoubtedly approaching and will not remain silent (cf. Ps. 49:3); “fire shall precede Him,” and this fire will “consume His adversaries” (cf. Ps. 96:3); it will envelop the barren trees. It will then become clear which trees are unfruitful, when it will be declared to them, I was hungry, and you did not give Me anything to eat (Matt. 25:42). Conversely, on His right side, the richness of fruit and the glory of greenery will be apparent, with eternal vitality evident. And to those who are like barren trees, it will be said, Depart into everlasting fire (cf. Matt. 25:41). Even now, the axe lies at the root of the trees, as John the Baptist proclaims: every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire (Matt. 3:10).
This psalm is recognized as "The Psalm of David, when his land was restored." We must commit everything to Christ if we are to maintain the path of true understanding; we should not stray from the cornerstone referenced in Ephesians 2:20, lest our thoughts falter. In Him, what once trembled shall find stability; let that which was previously uncertain rest upon Him. Regardless of the doubts that arise, when one encounters the Scriptures, they should hold fast to Christ. Once Christ has been revealed to a person through the words, they can be confident in their comprehension; until they grasp the truth of Christ, they should not presume to have understanding. For Christ is the fulfillment of the law, bringing righteousness to everyone who believes (Romans 10:4). What does it signify when the psalm mentions "when his land was restored"?
The restoration of the earth symbolizes the resurrection of the flesh; through His resurrection, all that is celebrated in the psalm has come to fruition. Let us listen to a Psalm that expresses joy regarding the restoration of the earth. May our Lord awaken in us a hope and joy befitting such a magnificent work; may He inspire our speech to reflect our hearts so that whatever joy we experience may be shared through our words to your ears, and ultimately guide you to action.
"The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of islands be glad" (Psalm 95:1). This is undoubtedly true, for the word of God has been proclaimed not only on the mainland but also in those islands scattered across the sea, which are now populated with Christians—servants of God. For the Creator of the sea remains unfettered by it. Where ships can travel, so too can the words of God reach. Islands may serve as a metaphor for all churches. Why islands? Because they are surrounded by the tumult of temptations. Yet, like an island that may suffer from the waves on all sides but remains unbroken, so too do the Churches of God, emerging in every corner of the world, endure persecution from the wicked who rage around them. And behold, the islands remain steadfast until the sea is finally calmed.
"Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne" (Psalm 95:2). The Lord Himself proclaimed, "For judgment I have come into this world; that those who do not see may see, and those who see may be made blind" (John 9:39). Those who believe themselves to have insight or wisdom, thinking they do not require healing, could find themselves blinded. Yet, those who recognize their blindness may receive enlightenment. Thus, for those who have not grasped His nature, clouds and darkness encircle Him; while for those who humble themselves and seek mercy, righteousness and judgment govern His throne. He has made His believers His throne; in them, He sits, dispensing wisdom, for the Son of God embodies the wisdom of God. An affirmation of this understanding can be found within another scripture: "The soul of the righteous is the dwelling place of Wisdom." Indeed, those who have faith in Him are justified by this faith and become His throne, for He resides within them, governing and judging according to His will.
"A fire goes before Him and consumes His adversaries on every side" (Psalm 95:3). We remember what is stated in the Gospel: He will declare, "Depart into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41). This fire refers not to a post-judgment scenario, but rather to a purifying fire that precedes His coming in judgment, meant to cleanse His enemies throughout the world. This fire signifies a temporal chastisement for the disbelieving and ungodly, and perhaps a fire of salvation for the redeemed. As the Lord Himself stated, "I have come to cast fire upon the earth" (Luke 12:49), a fire that symbolizes division, as He further described, "I did not come to bring peace but a sword" (Matthew 10:34). This sword effectively parts us from the vile habits of sin, granting spiritual salvation. Those who trust in Him have been ignited by this flame of love; it is seen when the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles as "tongues of fire" (Acts 2:3). Fueled by this divine fire, they spread forth to confront and ignite His adversaries.
"His lightnings illuminate the world" (Psalm 95:4). This is a profound cause for joy. Can we not recognize it? His lightning has illuminated all creation: His enemies have been scorched, and all that was deemed unworthy is now consumed, illuminating the whole world. How do these lightnings shine forth? They emerge from the clouds, which represent the truth's messengers. When one gazes upon a cloud that appears dark and heavy, its hidden power remains unknown. Yet, when lightning strikes, it reveals brilliance; from what was scorned comes forth something to behold. Thus, our Lord Jesus dispatched His Apostles as His heralds—clouds viewed as mere men, discounted until they revealed the extraordinary. They were frail vessels, burdened by the flesh, yet contained within them a profound light capable of enlightenment. Peter, once a fisherman, prayed and raised the dead (Acts 9:40); his outward shell was a cloud, while the miracle itself was the lightning illuminating the world. Through their actions and words, when they performed wonders and spoke astonishing truths, their light shined forth and the earth stood in awe. Is this not a reality? Will not the entire Christian community ultimately affirm "Amen"?
"The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord" (Psalm 96:5). Who are these hills? They symbolize the arrogant and proud. Every lofty thing which stands against God, through the works of Christ and His followers, has trembled and fallen; and when I say they melted away, there are no better words to describe their capitulation. The hills dissolved like wax in His presence. Where then is the arrogance of might? Where lies the strength of the unbeliever? The Lord, like fire to them, has melted them away; their stubbornness ceased upon the arrival of His flame. The peaks have been leveled; they now refrain from blaspheming Christ. Although the heathens disbelieve, they no longer blaspheme. Even if they are not yet part of the living stones, the hardened hills are brought low. "Before the Lord of all the earth," for He is not merely the God of the Jews, but also of the Gentiles (Romans 3:29). Thus, He is sovereign over all the earth, the Lord Jesus Christ born in Judea, yet not for Judea alone, for He is the Creator of all and has recreated the souls of humanity.
"The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory" (Psalm 96:6). What are the heavens proclaiming? They announce the magnificence of God. Who constitute the heavens? They are those who have become His throne; for just as God reigns in the heavens, so He also reigns within His Apostles and the proclaimers of the Gospel. If you desire to be a part of this, be cleansed from worldly desires; if you possess no earthly lusts and authentically lift your heart, you shall be heaven. As the apostle has written, "If you have been raised with Christ, set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth" (Colossians 3:1-2). You begin to realize your connection to things above rather than the earthly; have you not become heaven? You carry the flesh, yet your heart may already be in the heavenly realm, for "our citizenship is in heaven" (Philippians 3:20). In such a state, you should also proclaim Christ, for who among the faithful does not? Thus, the entirety of the Church proclaims Christ, and heaven bears witness to His righteousness. All believers, concerned with bringing God to those yet to believe, out of love, represent heaven; from them, God exhibits the terror of His judgment, causing the unbeliever to tremble and believe in the might of Christ.
"All who worship carved images will be put to shame" (Psalm 95:7). Has this not come to pass? Have not these idols led many into confusion? Carved images refer not only to those shaped by hands but also to every form of idolatry. Why do those who worship these lifeless images find disillusionment? Because all have encountered His glory and nations now proclaim it. Let those who venerate stone idols feel disgrace. These stones were never alive, pretending to be lifeless; our Stone, however, is alive—He lives eternally with the Father, and though He died for us, He has risen, conquering death, which no longer holds sway over Him (Romans 6:9). The nations recognize this glory and abandon their idols, fleeing to the churches. Do they still seek out their carved images? Have they not resolved to turn away from their idols? They have forsaken their idols, once boasting in them. Yet there exist those who claim to be knowledgeable, insisting, "I do not worship that stone or that image." But they fail to see that they inadvertently pay homage to demons. "What the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; we know that an idol is nothing" (1 Corinthians 10:20-21). Hence they cannot justify their devotion to idols; instead, they pledge allegiance to demons, which is far more perilous. For if they were only worshipping idols, those would neither help nor harm them; but pledging allegiance to demons renders them the masters of their fate.