Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

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Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Psalm 95 with Augustine – The Banquet of Joy and the Fire of Destruction Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD (v. 1). He calls us to a great banquet of joy, not one of this world, but in the Lord. For if there were not in this life a wicked pleasure which is to be distinguished from a righteous joy, it would be enough to say, Come, let us sing for joy , but he has briefly distinguished it: to the LORD . What is it to rejoice rightly? To rejoice in the Lord. You should rejoice in the Lord faithfully, if you wish to trample safely upon the world. We began with exulting joy, but this psalm ends with great fear: So I declared on oath in my anger, “They shall never enter my rest” (v. 11). It is a great thing for God to speak; how much greater is it for him to swear? You should fear a man when he swears, lest he do something on account of his oath against his will. How much more should you fear God, when he swears, seeing he can swear nothing rashly? He chose the act of swearing to confirm his words. And who does God swear by? Himself, for he has no one greater by whom to swear (Heb 6:13). By himself he confirms his promises, by himself he confirms his threats. Let no one say in their heart: his promise is true; his threat is false. As his promise is true, so is his threat sure. You should be equally assured of rest, of happiness, of eternity, and of immortality if you have executed his commandments, as you are of destruction, of the burning of eternal fire, of damnation with the devil, if you have despised his commandments.