Augustine on Psalm 149 and
Figurative Instrumental Music as Worship and Warfare
Augustine on Psalm 41: the prophecy of musical triumph over Jesus.
Augustine Psalm 92
Augustinee was born 13 November, 354. He was taught and baptized when he thought that he was going to die. When he recovered he fell back into sin. At 29 he became sympathetic to Christianity and later became the Bishop of Hippo. While he is claimed by Catholics he was also one of the world's greatest bible scholars. His views about music are the common views of the time and afterward including the official position of the Catholic church.
Augustine understood the Old Testament to be types and shadows. They were physical events in a religion which was not directed to the spirit. The rituals could not cleanse the Spirit.
Augustine also understood that the New Testament is the fulfillment of the physical events and that the kingdom of God is not visible but, as Jesus said, "in the heart" or mind.
In writing the Psalms Augustine knew that the Psalms were poetic accounts of the prose history of the Jewish nation. In the secular kingdom the warrior Levites played secular instruments to panic and destroy the literal enemies.
Augustine was left with the conclusion that Christianity is a continuation of the blood-letting like the nations kingdom of Israel, or that the weapons and instruments and blood and slaughter is symbolic of spiritual warfare where "Spirit and Life" are in the Words of Christ (John 6:63).
The praise of God is the "fruit of the lips" the lyre and cymbal of the spiritual Christian. It is not possible to ressurect the literal music of warfare without resurrecting the literal methods of defeating the "enemy."
In Psalm 149
Augustine utterly
condemns outward praise by performers and puts spiritual praise "in
the hearts" and even upon thy bed:
1. Let us praise the Lord both St. Augustine, Psalm 149,
- in voice, and St. Augustine, Psalm 149, St. Augustine, Psalm 149,
- in understanding, and
- in good works; St. Augustine, Psalm 149,
and, as this Psalm exhorteth, let us sing unto Him a new song. It beginneth: "Sing ye to the Lord a new song. His praise is in the Church of the Saints" (ver. 1).
- The old man hath an old song, St. Augustine, Psalm 149,
- the new man a new song. St. Augustine, Psalm 149,
- The Old Testament is an old song,
- the New Testament a new song.
In the Old Testament are temporal and earthly promises.
Whoso loveth earthly things singeth an old song:
- let him that desireth to sing a new song,
- love the things of eternity.
Love itself is new and eternal; therefore is it ever new, because it never groweth old. ...And this song is of peace, this song is of charity. Whoso severeth himself from the union of the saints,
singeth not a new song; for he hath followed old strife, not new charity. In new charity what is there?
Peace, the bond of an holy society, a spiritual union, a building of living stones. Where is this? Not in one place, but throughout the whole world. This is said in another Psalm,
"Sing unto the Lord, all the earth." St. Augustine, Psalm 149,
From this is understood, that he who singeth not with the whole earth, singeth an old song, whatever words proceed out of his mouth. ...We have already said, brethren, that all the earth singeth a new song.He who singeth not with the whole earth a new song, let him sing what he will, let his tongue sound forth Halleluia, let him utter it all day and all night,
my ears are not so much bent to hear the voice of the singer, but I seek the deeds of the doer.
For I ask, and say, "What is it that thou singest?" He answereth, "Halleluia." What is "Halleluia"? "Praise ye the Lord." Come, let us praise the Lord together. If thou praisest the Lord, and I praise the Lord, why are we at variance? Charity praiseth the Lord, discord blasphemeth the Lord." ...
2. The field of the Lord is the world, not Africa. It is not with the Lord's field, as it is without these fields of ours, where Getulia bears sixty or an hundred fold, Numidia only ten fold: everywhere fruit is borne to Him, both an hundred fold, and sixty fold, and thirty fold: only do thou choose what thou wilt be, if thou thinkest to belong to the Lord's Cross. "The Church" then "of the saints" is the Universal Church. The Church of the saints is not the Church of heretics. The Church of the saints is that which God first prefigured before it was seen, and then set forth that it might be seen. The Church of the saints was heretofore in writings, now it is in nations: the Church of the saints was heretofore only read of, now it is both read of and seen. When it was only read of, it was believed; now it is seen, and is spoken against. His praise is in the "children of the kingdom," that is, "the Church of the saints."
3. "Let Israel rejoice in Him who made Him" (ver. 2). What is, "Israel"? "Seeing God." He who seeth God, rejoiceth in Him by whom he was made. What is it then, brethren? we have said that we belong to the Church of the saints: do we already see God? and how are we Israel, if we see not? There is one kind of sight belonging to this present time; there will be another belonging to the time hereafter: the sight which now is, is by faith; the sight which is to be will be in reality. If we believe, we see; if we love, we see: see what? God. Ask John: "God is love;" let us bless His holy Name, and rejoice in God by rejoicing in love.
- Whoso hath love, why send we him afar to see God?
- Let him regard his own conscience, and there he seeth God. ..."
And let the sons of Sion exult in their King." The sons of the Church are Israel. For Sion indeed was one city, which fell:
- amid its ruins certain saints dwelt after the flesh:
- but the true Sion, the true Jerusalem (for Sion and Jerusalem are one),
- is "eternal in the heavens," and is "our mother."
She it is that hath given us birth, she is the Church of the saints, she hath nourished us, she, who is in part a pilgrim, in partabiding in the heavens. In the part which abideth in heaven is the bliss of angels, in the part which wandereth in this world is the hope of the righteous.
Of the former is said, "Glory to God in the highest;" of the latter, "and on earth peace to men of good will." Let those then who, being in this life, groan, and long for their country, run by love, not by bodily feet; let them seek not ships but wings, let them lay hold on the two wings of love. What are the two wings of love? The love of God, and of our neighbour. For now we are pilgrims, we sigh, we groan. There has come to us a letter from our country: we read it to you. "And the sons of Sion shall exult in their King."
The Son of God, who made us, was made one of us: and He rules us as our King, because He is our Creator, who made us. But He by whom we were made is the same as He by whom we are ruled, and we are Christians because He is Christ. He is called Christ from Chrism, that is, Anointing. ...Give to the Priest somewhat to offer.
What could man find which he could give as a clean victim? What victim? what clean thing can a sinner offer?
O unrighteous, O sinful man, whatever thou offerest is unclean, and somewhat that is clean must be offered for thee. ...Let then the Priest that is clean offer Himself, and cleanse thee.
This is what Christ did. He found in man nothing clean for Him to offer for than: He offered Himself as a clean Victim. Happy Victim, true Victim, spotless Offering. He offered not then what we gave Him; yea rather, He offered what He took of us, and offered it clean.
For of us He took flesh, and this He offered. But where took He it? In the womb of the Virgin Mary, that He might offer it clean for us unclean. He is our King, He is our Priest, in Him let us rejoice.
4. "Let them praise His Name in chorus" (ver. 3). What meaneth "chorus"? Many know what a "chorus" is: nay, as we are speaking in a town, almost all know.
A "chorus" is the union of singers. If we sing "in chorus," let us sing in concord.
If any one's voice is out of harmony in a chorus of singers, it offendeth the ear, and throweth the chorus into confusion.
If the voice of one echoing discordantly troubleth the harmony of them who sing, how doth the discord of heresy throw into confusion the harmony of them who praise.The whole world is now the chorus of Christ.
The chorus of Christ soundeth harmoniously from east to west.
"Let them sing a psalm unto Him with timbrel and psaltery."
...........Wherefore taketh he to him the "timbrel and psalter)"?That not the voice alone may praise,
........... but the works too. [Hebrew worship speaks of works, labor;
........... and instruments also are the works of men's hands]When timbrel and psaltery are taken,
........... the hands harmonize with the voice.So too do thou, whensoever thou singest "Halleluia,"
........... deal forth thy bread to the hungry, clothe the naked,
........... take in the stranger: St. Augustine, Psalm 149, St. Augustine, Ps149,then doth not only thy voice sound, St. Augustine, Psalm 149,
........... but thy hand soundeth in harmony with it,
........... for thy deeds agree with thy words.
Thou hast taken to thee an instrument, and thy fingers agree with thy tongue. Nor must we keep back the mystical meaning of the "timbrel and psaltery."
- On the timbrel leather is stretched, on the psaltery gut is stretched;
- on either instrument the flesh is crucified.Saint Augustine, Psalm 149,
How well did he "sing a psalm on timbrel and
psaltery,"
........... who said, "the world is crucified unto me, and I unto
the world"?
This psaltery or timbrel He wishes thee to take
up,
........... who loveth a new song, who teacheth thee, saying to
thee,
"Whosoever willeth to be My disciple,
........... let him deny himself, and
take up his cross, and follow Me."
Let him not set down his psaltery, Saint Augustine, Psalm 149,
let him not set down his timbrel, Saint Augustine, Psalm 149,
........... let him stretch
himself out on the wood,
........... and be dried from the lust
of the flesh.
The more the strings are stretched,
........... the more sharply do they sound.
The Apostle Paul then, in order that his psaltery might sound sharply, what said he? "Stretching forth unto those things which are before," etc.
- He stretched himself: Saint Augustine, Psalm 149,
- Christ touched him; Saint Augustine, Psalm 149,
- and the sweetness of truth sounded.
5. "For the Lord hath dealt kindly among His people" (ver. 4). What dealing so kindly, as to die for the ungodly? What dealing so kindly, as with righteous Blood to blot out the handwriting against the sinner? What dealing so kindly, as to say,
"I regard not what ye were, be ye now what ye were not"? He dealeth kindly in converting him that was turned away, in aiding him that is fighting, in crowning the conqueror.
- "And the meek He shall lift up in salvation."
- For the proud too are lifted up, Saint Augustine, Psalm 149,
- but not in salvation:
- the meek are lifted in salvation, Saint Augustine, Psalm 149,
- the proud in death:
- that is, the proud lift up themselves,
- and God humbleth them:
- the meek humble themselves,
- and God lifteth them up.
6. "The saints shall exult in glory" (ver. 5). I would say somewhat important about the glory of the saints. For there is no one who loveth not glory.
But the glory of fools, popular glory as it is called, hath snares to deceive, so that a man, influenced by the praises of vain men, shall be willing to live in such fashion as to be spoken of by men, whosoever they be, in whatsoever way.
Hence it is that men, rendered mad, and puffed up with pride, empty within, without swollen, are willing ever to ruin their fortunes
by bestowing them on stage-players, actors, men who fight with wild beasts, charioteers. What sums they give, what sums they spend! They lavish the powers not only of their patrimony, but of their minds too.
[Motives and talent make us sympathetic but the almost universal history of theatrical performers was always associated with self worship and silencing truth]
They scorn the poor, because the people shouteth not that the poor should be given to, but the people to shout that the fighter with wild beasts be given to. When then no shout is raised to them, they refuse to spend; when madmen shout to them, they are mad too:
[The role of evangelists is to "go into all the world" and give the water of the word to the hungry and thirsty and dying for truth. There is no other performing role in the New Testament church to use up the resources of poor members]
nay, all are mad, both performer, and spectator, and the giver.
This mad glory is blamed by the Lord, is offensive in the eyes of the Almighty. ...Thou choosest to clothe the fighter with wild beasts, who may be beaten, and make thee blush: Christ is never conquered; He hath conquered the devil, He hath conquered for thee, and to thee, and in thee; such a conqueror as this thou choosest not to clothe. Wherefore? Because there is less shouting, less madness about it.
They then who delight in such glory, have an empty conscience. Just as they drain their chests, to send garments as presents, so do they empty their conscience, so as to have nothing precious therein.
7. But the saints who "exult in glory," no need is there for us to say how they exult: just hear the verse of the Psalm which followeth: "The saints shall exult in glory,
they shall rejoice in their beds:" not in theatres, or amphitheatres, or circuses, or follies, or market places, but "in their chambers."
What is, "in their chambers"? In their hearts. Hear the Apostle Paul exulting in his closet: "For this is our glory, the testimony of our conscience."
For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to youward. 2 Cor. 1:12
Suneidesis (g4893) soon-i'-day-sis; from a prol. form of 4894; co- perception, i.e. moral consciousness; - conscience.
Suneido (g4894) soon-i'-do; from 4862 and 1492; to see completely; used (like its prim.) only in two past tenses, respectively mean. to understand or become aware, and to be conscious or (clandestinely) informed of: - consider, know, be privy, be ware of.
For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end; 2 Cor. 1:13
On the other hand, there is reason to fear lest any be pleasing to himself, and so seem to be proud, and boast of his conscience. For every one ought to exult with fear, for that wherein he exulteth is God's gift, not his own desert.
For there be many that please themselves, and think themselves righteous; and there is another passage which goeth against them, which saith, "Who shall boast that he hath a clean heart, and that he is pure from sin?" There is then, so to speak, a limit to glorying in our conscience, namely, to know that thy faith is sincere, thy hope sure, thy love without dissimulation.
"The exultations of God are in their mouths" (ver. 6). In such wise shall they "rejoice in their closets," as not to attribute to themselves that they are good, but praise Him from whom they have what they are, by whom they are called to attain to what they are not, and from whom they hope for perfection, to whom they give thanks, because He hath begun.
8. "And swords sharpened on both sides in their hands." This sort of weapon contains a great mystical meaning, in that it is sharp on both sides.
By "swords sharpened on both sides," we understand the Word of the Lord: it is one sword, but therefore are they called many, because there are many mouths and many tongues of the saints.
How is it two edged? It speaks of things temporal, it speaks also of things eternal. In both cases it proveth what it saith, and him whom it strikes, it severeth from the world. Is not this the sword whereof the Lord said, "
I am not come to send peace upon earth, but a sword"?
Observe how He came to divide, how He came to sever. He divideth the saints,
He divideth the ungodly, He severeth from thee that which hindereth thee.
The son willeth to serve God, the father willeth not: the sword cometh, the Word of God cometh, and severeth the son from the father. ...Wherefore then is it in their hands, not in their tongues?
"And swords," it saith, "sharpened on both sides in their hands." By "in their hands," he meaneth in power. They received then the word of God in power, to speak where they would, to whom they would, neither to fear power, nor to despise poverty. For they had in their hands a sword; where they would they brandished it, handled it, smote with it:
and all this was in the power of the preachers.
For if the Word be not in their hands, why is it written,"The Word of the Lord was put in the hand of the Prophet Haggai"? Surely, brethren, God set not His Word in His fingers. What is meant by, "was put in his hand"? It was put into his power to preach the Word of the Lord. Lastly, we can understand these "hands" in another way also. For they who spake had the word of God in their tongues, they who wrote, in their hands.
9. Now, brethren, ye see the saints armed: observe the slaughter, observe their glorious battles.
David was chosen to be the king of a secular state "like the nations." As such, he waged wars like the nations with swords and loud musical instruments. When the wars were over the Levites were given jobs in the central place of worship -- which was not where Solomon went to inquire of God:
David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service: 1 Chronicles 25:1
For if there be a commander, there must be soldiers; if soldiers, an enemy; if a warfare, a victory.
What have these done who had in their hands swords sharpened on both sides? "To do vengeance on the nations." See whether vengeance have not been done on the nations. Daily is it done: we do it ourselves by speaking.
Observe how the nations of Babylon are slain. She is repaid twofold: for so is it written of her, "repay her double for what she hath done." How is she repaid double? The saints wage war, they draw their "swords twice sharpened;" thence come defeats, slaughters, severances: how is she repaid double?
Isaiah speaks of a musical procession to Jerusalem while God is defeating the Assyrians:
The LORD will cause men to hear his majestic voice and will make them see his arm coming down with raging anger and consuming fire, with cloudburst, thunderstorm and hail. Isaiah 30:30
The voice of the LORD will shatter Assyria; with his scepter he will strike them down. Isaiah 30:31
Every stroke the LORD lays on them with his punishing rod will be to the music of tambourines and harps, as he fights them in battle with the blows of his arm. Isaiah 30:32
Topheth (from tambourine - hell itself) has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king. Its fire pit has been made deep and wide, with an abundance of fire and wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze. Isaiah 30:33
This is the meaning of a physical kingdom, physical kings, physical musician-warriors for literal destruction of the enemy. This does not speak of a spiritual kingdom. Musical "worship" has always bee a way for self-seeking men to triumph over a church.
When she had power to persecute the Christians, she slew the flesh indeed, but she crushed not God: now she is repaid double,
for the Pagans are extinguished and the idols are broken.
And lest thou shouldest think that men are really smitten with the sword, blood really shed, wounds made in the flesh, he goeth on and explaineth, "upbraidings among the peoples." What is "upbraidings"? Reproof.
Let the "sword twice sharpened" go forth from you, delay not. Say to thy friend, if yet thou hast one left to whom to say it,
"What kind of man art thou, who hast abandoned Him by whom thou wast made, and worshippest what He made?
Better is the Workman, than that which He worketh." When he beginneth to blush, when he beginneth to feel compunction, thou hast made a wound with thy sword, it hath reached the heart,
he is about to die, that he may live.
10. "That they may bind their kings in fetters, and their nobles in bonds of iron" (ver. 8). "To execute upon them the judgment written" (ver. 9). The kings of the Gentiles are to be bound in fetters, "and their nobles in fetters," and that "of iron." ...
The Septuagint Greek Version (LXX) reads:
The saints shall rejoice in glory; and shall exult on their beds. Psalm 149:5LXX
The high praises of God shall be in their throat, and the two-edged swords in their hands; Psalm 149:6LXX
to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishment among the peoples; Psalm 149:7LXX
to bind their kings with fetters , and their nobles with manacles of iron;
to execute on them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints Psalm 149:8LXXAugustinee understood that the literal instruments were to create panic among the enemy. Therefore, in a spiritual kingdom the enemy is defeated by the Words of Christ which we speak one to another.
For these verses which we are beginning to explain are obscure. For for this purpose God willed to set down some of His verses obscurely,
not that anything new should be dug out of them,
but that what was already well known, might be made new by being obscurely set forth.
We know that kings have been made Christians; we know that the nobles of the Gentiles have been made Christians. They are being made so at this day; they have been, they shall be; the "swords twice sharpened" are not idle in the hands of the saints.
How then do we understand their being bound in fetters and chains of iron? Ye know, beloved and learned brethren (learned I call you, for ye have been nourished in the Church, and are accustomed to hear God's Word read),
that "God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the strong, and the foolish things of the world hath God chosen to confound the wise, and things which are not, just as things which are, that the things which are may be brought to nought." .
It is said by the Lord, "If thou wilt be perfect, go sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor, and come, follow Me, and thou shall have treasure in heaven."
Many of the nobles did this, but they ceased to be nobles of the Gentiles, they chose rather to be poor in this world, noble in Christ. But many retain their former nobility, retain their royal powers, and yet are Christians.
These are, as it were, "in fetters and in bonds of iron." How so? they received fetters, to keep them from going to things unlawful, the "fetters of wisdom," the fetters of the Word of God.
Wherefore then are they bonds of iron and not bonds of gold? They are iron so long as they fear: let them love, and they shall be golden. Observe, beloved, what I say. Ye have heard just now the Apostle John, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment." This is the bond of iron.
And yet unless a man begin through fear to worship God, he will not attain to love. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." The beginning then is bonds of iron, the end a collar of gold.
For it is said of wisdom, "a collar of gold around thy neck." ...There cometh to us a man powerful in this world, his wife offendeth him, and perhaps he hath desired another man's wife who is more beautiful, or another woman who is richer, he wisheth to put away the one he hath, yet he doeth it not.
He heareth the words of the servant of God, he heareth the Prophet, he heareth the Apostle, and he doeth it not; he is told by one in whose hands is a "sword twice sharpened,"
"Thou shalt not do it: it is not lawful for thee: God alloweth thee not to put away thy wife, "save for the cause of fornication." He heareth this, he feareth, and doeth it not. ...Listen, young men; the bonds are of iron, seek not to set your feet within them; if ye do, ye shall be bound more tightly with fetters. Such fetters the hands of the Bishop make strong for you.
Do not men who are thus fettered fly to the Church, and are here loosed? Men do fly hither, desiring to be rid of their wives: here they are more tightly bound: no man looseth these fetters. "What God joined together, let not man put asunder." But these bonds are hard. Who but knows it?
This hardness the Apostles grieved at, and said, "If this be the case with a wife, it is not good to marry." If the bonds be of iron, it is not good to set our feet within them. And the Lord said, "All men cannot receive this saying, but let him that can receive it, receive it." "Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be freed," for thou art bound with bonds of iron. "Art thou free from a wife, seek not a wife;" bind not thyself with bonds of iron.
11. "To do in them the judgment that is written." This is the judgment which the saints do throughout all nations. Wherefore "written"? Because these things were before written, and now are fulfilled. Behold now they are being done: erst they were read, and were not done. And he hath concluded thus, "this glory have all His saints." Throughout the whole world, throughout entire nations, this the saints do, thus are they glorified, thus do they "exalt God with their mouths," thus do they "rejoice in their beds," thus do they "exult in their glory," thus are they "lifted up in salvation," thus do they "sing a new song," thus in heart and voice and life they say Halleluia. Amen.
Comments and arrangement Kenneth Sublett - Comments Welcome.
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