Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Chapter 3: Psalms 39–59

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Psalm 50 with Augustine – Living in Light of the Coming Judgment

From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth. Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages (vv. 2–3). Those who have begun to feel the sweetness of wisdom and truth know how great a punishment it is to be separated from the face of God: but those who have not tasted that sweetness, if they do not yet yearn for the face of God, let them fear fire; let punishments terrify those who are not won over by rewards. If what God promises is of no value to you, tremble at what he threatens. The sweetness of his presence will come. For now, you are not changed, you are not awakened, you do not sigh or yearn. You embrace your sins and the delights of your flesh, you are heaping kindling upon yourself, the fire will come. Threats should not compel you to do evil, they should not prevent you from doing good. But by the threats of God, by threats of everlasting fire, you are discouraged from doing evil, invited to do good. Why does it upset you, except because you do not believe? Let everyone then examine their hearts, and see what faith remains there. If we believe in a coming judgment, let us live well. Now is the time of mercy; the time of judgment is coming. Even then people will repent, but it will not help. Let there be repentance now, while there is fruit of repentance; let there be sorrow of heart and tears now, lest he come and uproot you. For when he uproots you, a fiery judgment follows. Let not the poor tremble beneath God’s warning. What God requires from us, he first provides; only be devoted. God does not demand what he has not given, and to all people he has given what he demands. Call upon me in the