Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

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Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Psalm 76 with Augustine – TheWay to Peace with God Do you want to see God? First confess, and then there will be a place for God in you; because “there has been made in peace a place for him.” As long as you do not confess your sins, in a way you are quarrelling with God. For how are you not disputing with him, when you praise that which displeases him? He punishes a thief, while you praise theft. He punishes a drunken man, while you praise drunkenness. You are disputing with God. You have not made a place for him in your heart, because his place is in peace. And how do you begin to have peace with God? You begin by confession, so that the same thing may displease you as displeases him. Your evil life displeases him. If it pleases you, you are separated from him. If it displeases you, through confession you are united with him. When you, God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land (v. 9). Who are the afflicted? Those who have not mounted on snorting horses, but in their humility have confessed their own sins. Confession unites us to Christ. He is feared by the kings of the earth (v. 12). The kings of the earth are fearsome, but he is above all, and he terrifies the kings of the earth. Be a king of the earth, and God will be fearsome to you. How will you be a king of the earth? Rule the earth, and you will be a king. Do not set before your eyes vast provinces with a desire to build an empire wherever you may spread your kingdoms. Govern the earth which you already possess—your heart. Augustine on Psalm 76 “Govern the earthwhich you already possess—your heart.”