- Home
- Speakers
- St. Augustine
- Exposition On Psalm 108
St. Augustine

Augustine of Hippo (354 - 430). Early Church Father, bishop, and theologian born in Thagaste, Numidia (modern Algeria), to a pagan father, Patricius, and Christian mother, Monica. Educated in rhetoric at Carthage, he embraced Manichaeism and lived a hedonistic life, fathering a son, Adeodatus, with a concubine. Converted in 386 in Milan under Ambrose’s preaching, inspired by a child’s voice saying, “Take up and read,” he was baptized in 387. Ordained in 391, he became Bishop of Hippo Regius in 395, serving until his death. Augustine wrote over 100 works, including Confessions (397), a spiritual autobiography, and City of God (426), defending Christianity against pagan critics, shaping Western theology. His sermons, numbering over 8,000, addressed grace, original sin, and predestination, influencing Catholic and Protestant doctrine. Unmarried after conversion, he lived ascetically, founding a monastic community. His debates with Pelagians and Donatists refined church teaching. Augustine’s words, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You,” reflect his spiritual depth. His writings, translated globally, remain foundational to Christian thought, blending philosophy and faith.
Download
Topic
Sermon Summary
St. Augustine delves into the intricate connections between various Psalms, highlighting the prophetic nature of the titles and the depth of meaning beyond historical references. He explains how Psalm 108 is a combination of parts from other Psalms, emphasizing the unity in prophecy and the significance of titles like 'A Song of Solomon or Psalms of David.' Augustine draws parallels between the Psalms and the fulfillment of God's promises through Christ, as mentioned in Hebrews and Corinthians, underscoring the divine orchestration of Scripture.
Exposition on Psalm 108
1. I have not thought that the CVIIIth Psalm required an exposition; since I have already expounded it in the LVIIth Psalm, and in the LXth, of the last divisions of which this Psalm consists. For the last part of the LVIIth is the first of this, as far as the verse, Your glory is above all the earth. Henceforth to the end, is the last part of the LXth: as the last part of the CXXXVth is the same as that of the CXVth, from the verse, The images of the heathen are but gold and silver: as the XIV and LIIId, with a few alterations in the middle, have everything the same from the beginning to the end. Whatever slight differences therefore occur in this CVIIIth Psalm, compared with those two, of parts of which it is composed, are easy to understand; just as we find in the LVIIth, I will sing and give praise; awake, O my glory: here, I will sing and give praise, with my glory. Awake, is said there, that he may sing and give praise therewith. Also, there, Your mercy is great (or, as some translate, is lifted up) unto the heavens; but here, Your mercy is great above the heavens. For it is great unto the heavens, that it may be great in the heavens; and this is what he wished to express by above the heavens. Also in the LXth, I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem: here I will be exalted, and will divide Shechem. Where is shown what is signified in the division of Shechem, which it was prophesied should happen after the Lord's exaltation, and that this joy does refer to that exaltation; so that He rejoices, because He is exalted. Whence he elsewhere says, You have turned my heaviness into joy; You have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness. Also there Ephraim, the strength of my head: but here, Ephraim the taking up of my head. But strength comes from taking up, that is, He makes men strong by taking up, causing fruit in us; for the interpretation of Ephraim is, bearing fruit. But taking up may be understood of us, when we take up Christ; or of Christ, when He, who is Head of the Church, takes us up. And the words, them that trouble us, in the former Psalm, are the same with our enemies, in this. 2. We are taught by this Psalm, that those titles which seem to refer to history are most rightly understood prophetically, according to the object of the composition of the Psalms....And yet this Psalm is composed of the latter portions of two, whose titles are different. Where it is signified that each concur in a common object, not in the surface of the history, but in the depth of prophecy, the objects of both being united in this one, the title of which is, A Song or Psalm of David: resembling neither of the former titles, otherwise than in the word David. Since, in many places, and in diverse manners, as the Epistle to the Hebrews says, God spoke in former times to the fathers through the Prophets; Hebrews 1:1 yet He spoke of Him whom He sent afterwards, that the words of the Prophets might be fulfilled: for all the promises of God in Him are yea. 2 Corinthians 1:20
- Bio
- Summary
- Transcript
- Download

Augustine of Hippo (354 - 430). Early Church Father, bishop, and theologian born in Thagaste, Numidia (modern Algeria), to a pagan father, Patricius, and Christian mother, Monica. Educated in rhetoric at Carthage, he embraced Manichaeism and lived a hedonistic life, fathering a son, Adeodatus, with a concubine. Converted in 386 in Milan under Ambrose’s preaching, inspired by a child’s voice saying, “Take up and read,” he was baptized in 387. Ordained in 391, he became Bishop of Hippo Regius in 395, serving until his death. Augustine wrote over 100 works, including Confessions (397), a spiritual autobiography, and City of God (426), defending Christianity against pagan critics, shaping Western theology. His sermons, numbering over 8,000, addressed grace, original sin, and predestination, influencing Catholic and Protestant doctrine. Unmarried after conversion, he lived ascetically, founding a monastic community. His debates with Pelagians and Donatists refined church teaching. Augustine’s words, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You,” reflect his spiritual depth. His writings, translated globally, remain foundational to Christian thought, blending philosophy and faith.