THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
This psalm is referred to as "The Psalm of David, when his land was restored." To maintain correct understanding, we should surrender everything to Christ and remain steadfastly anchored to the cornerstone, as stated in Ephesians 2:20, so that we do not falter in our minds. In Him, the wavering will find stability; let all that has previously swayed in uncertainty rest securely in Him. Any doubts one holds when contemplating the Scriptures should not lead one away from Christ. When His nature is unveiled through the Word, true understanding comes; yet one must not presume comprehension before encountering Christ. For Christ fulfills the law, bringing righteousness to all who believe (Romans 10:4). What then do these words signify in Christ: "When his land was restored"?
The restoration of the earth signifies the resurrection of the flesh; through His resurrection, all that the psalm proclaims has been fulfilled. Let us lift our hearts in a joyful Psalm praising the renewal of the earth, asking the Lord our God to inspire us with hope and joy that reflects such a grand act. May He guide our words to mirror our hearts, allowing our heart's joy in these wondrous deeds to flow from our lips to your ears, and ultimately manifest in our actions.
"The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad" (Psalm 95:1). This truth stands, as the Gospel has reached not just the mainland, but also the islands scattered across the seas, where the faithful and servants of God abound. For He who created the sea is not confined by it. Where ships navigate, surely His words can reach. The islands symbolize all churches, surrounded by the tumult of temptations. However, like an island that withstands the waves, the churches of God, though besieged by wickedness, remain steadfast, and ultimately, the seas will calm.
"Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne" (Psalm 95:2). The Lord declared, "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 they have sight, who deem themselves wise, are the ones who may be blinded, failing to grasp their need for healing; conversely, through acknowledging their blindness, the sightless may find enlightenment. Hence, for those who do not comprehend Him, clouds and darkness prevail; conversely, for those who confess and humble themselves, righteousness and justice form the basis of His reign. He has made His believers a throne for Himself, residing in them through the Wisdom of God, His son. We also find confirmation through other Scriptures, as the soul of the righteous is a vessel for Wisdom. When those who believe in Him were justified by faith, they became His throne; He reigns among them, governing and judging through them.
"A fire will go before Him, and will consume His enemies all around" (Psalm 95:3). Recall what we find in the Gospel: "He will say, 'Depart into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels'" (Matthew 25:41). This reference is not to that fire, which is for the final judgment. Rather, it speaks of a fire that precedes His coming. The fire that goes before Him does so to execute temporal judgment upon the unbelieving and ungodly, declaring the mixture of punishment and, for the redeemed, the potential for salvation. The Lord Himself proclaimed, "I came to send fire upon the earth" (Luke 12:49), which divides like a sword, as also indicated in another passage where He states He brings not peace, but a sword (Matthew 10:34). Both sword and fire serve a redemptive purpose, as the sword of His Word separates believers from their sinful behaviors. He has come to sever ties with all that does not honor Him, including separating us from the unbelief of our forebears. Thus, when He came to ignite the earth with His love, the Apostles who received the Holy Spirit, symbolized as tongues of fire (Acts 2:3), spread the flame of divine love into the world, igniting the hearts of believers against His adversaries—those who abandon their Creator for idols.
"His lightnings have illuminated the world" (Psalm 95:4). Indeed, this brings great joy. Can we not perceive it? Is it not clear? His flashes of brilliance have brightened the entire cosmos; His opponents have been consumed by the fire. The rejected have been devoured, and His light has revealed itself across the globe. Where do these lightnings originate? From the clouds—the preachers of His truth. When we look to the clouds, thought dark and obscure, we might miss what is contained within. Yet when the lightning strikes, radiance bursts forth; from what is underestimated comes the awe-inspiring. Thus, our Lord Jesus Christ sent forth His Apostles as His heralds, appearing as mere men, often dismissed until they emitted the wondrous light emanating from them. Initially seen as fallible and unlearned, they carried within them the capacity to illuminate the world. Peter, the fisherman, praying, saw the dead rise (Acts 9:40). His earthly form was a mere cloud, while the miracle was the flash of divine intervention. Through their actions and astonishing words, they illuminated the world; the earth witnessed it and was filled with awe. Is this not true? Will not all believers eventually declare "Amen" and tremble at the light that emerged from these clouds?
"The hills melted like wax in His presence" (Psalm 96:5). Who then are the hills? They represent the proud, those lofty entities that stand against God. Through the works of Christ and His followers, such heights have trembled and given way. When I say they melted, no better descriptor exists. The hills have melted like wax before Him; where then rests the supremacy of authority? Where is the resolve of the unbeliever? For He has been a consuming fire, leaving them to diminish in His presence once the blaze was kindled. All that was once elevated has been brought low; they dare not blaspheme Christ. Although the nations may not believe in Him, they do not openly defy Him; even the hardened have been subdued. Before the Lord of all creation—not just the Jews, but also the Gentiles as the apostle teaches (Romans 3:29)—He is Lord of all. Born in Judea, yet His sovereignty extends beyond, for the Creator creates anew all humanity.
"The heavens declare His righteousness, and all peoples see His glory" (Psalm 96:6). What is the proclamation of the heavens? They declare the magnificence of God. Who are the heavens? They are made up of those who have become His throne; as God abides in the heavens, so does He dwell within the Apostles and all gospel preachers. If you aspire to be like them, cleanse your heart of worldly desires. If you have risen above earthly lusts and genuinely lifted your heart to Him, you will be heaven. "If then you have been raised with Christ," the apostle says, "set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:1-2). You have begun to connect with heavenly matters, thus becoming heaven itself. Though still bearing flesh, your heart is already aligned with heaven; your citizenship is in the heavens (Philippians 3:20). As such, you proclaim Christ, for who among believers does not? Therefore, the entire Church glorifies Him; heaven announces His righteousness. All faithful individuals, desiring to draw near to God those yet unacknowledged, do so out of love, embodying heaven. Through them, God reveals the weight of His judgment; the ungodly tremble and believe. They demonstrate the authority Christ had in the world as they entreat others to embrace Him. How many today endeavor to bring friends to entertainers or musicians, merely for admiration? Do you not love Christ? For He who has triumphed over the world has displayed such marvels that none can find fault with them. In Christ, no one remains defeated; there is no cause for shame. Invite, guide, and lead whom you can; fear not, for you lead them to Him who brings grace to those who seek Him, imploring Him to enlighten them for a good testimony.
"All who worship carved images will be put to shame" (Psalm 95:7). Has this not taken place? Are there not conflations? Do they not encounter confusion daily? Carved images refer to those fashioned by human hands. Why do all who venerate these images meet disgrace? It is because humanity has witnessed His glory. All nations now confess the majesty of Christ; those who worship lifeless stones should be ashamed, for those stones were devoid of life. We have encountered a living Stone—our Stone is vibrant and eternally exists with the Father; although He was slain for us, He is resurrected and lives today, having conquered death (Romans 6:9). The nations have recognized His glory; they abandon the temples, seeking refuge in the churches. Have they not resolved to renounce their idols? They are released from their ties to false gods. Some may proclaim themselves knowledgeable, insisting they do not worship stone or lifeless forms. They claim to venerate what they perceive, serving an unseen deity supervising their image. Claiming to honor the true God merely obscures their service to devils. As the apostle warns, "What the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, not to God; and I do not want you to be partakers with demons" (1 Corinthians 10:20). Therefore, they should not excuse themselves, claiming to abhor idolatry; rather, they are in danger of servitude to demons, which is far worse. For if they only worshipped objects, those would neither assist nor harm them, but a devotion to demons makes them subservient.
Consider, rather, the holy men likened to angels. When you meet a holy person who serves God, be cautious not to idolize them; they would rebuff your adoration, refusing the honor due solely to God, instead standing alongside you under God’s authority. This mirrors the actions of the holy apostles Paul and Barnabas. In Lycaonia, after performing miraculous deeds, the people sought to offer sacrifices to them, calling Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mercury. But they were grieved. Did they reject the accolades because they despised being mistaken for demons? No, but out of reverence for divine honor vested in humanity. Their own words expose their true sentiment; thus it is recorded in Acts 14:14-15 how they insisted on worshiping only the one true God. All holy angels pursue the glory of Him whom they love, prompting all whom they cherish to gaze upon Him. They proclaim Him and not themselves, as they are divine messengers and soldiers seeking the splendor of their Captain. Those who pursue their own glory are deemed usurpers, akin to the devil and his angels, who coveted divine honor and filled Pagan temples with sacrifices meant for themselves. Is it not preferable to worship holy angels than devils? They affirm, "We do not venerate demons; we honor angels, the ministers of the great God." Would that you learn from these spirits of light to worship the One whom they adore. Let the very angel who was sent to Cornelius—who led him to Peter—also lift praise to Christ, the Lord of Peter. "Worship Him, all you divine beings!"