29. The LORD Is Still On the Throne, Psalm 93

 

Hymns: RHC 43 God Is Still On the Throne 46 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God  47 Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Psalm 93

1 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. 2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. 4 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. 5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.

THE LORD IS STILL ON THE THRONE

OUTLINE

(1) KNOW WHO HE IS? (v1-2)

(a) The LORD Who Reigns Supreme (v1a)

(i) His Glory (v1b)

(ii) His Omnipotence (v1c)

(iii) His Readiness to Defend (v1d)

(iv) His Creative Works (v1e)

(v) His Throne Unmoved (v2)

 

(2) WHAT HE CAN DO FOR YOU! (v3-4)

(a) In Every Assault to His own (v3)

(b) He quells (v4a)

(c) He triumphs (v4b)

 

(3) WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE? (v5)

(a) Declare His Faithfulness (v5a)

(i) Live by His Word

(b) Dwell in the Beauty of Holiness (v5b)

(ii) Live a Holy Life

 

INTRODUCTION

What is life like for a godless unbeliever? What is life for the child of God? There is a great difference. This psalm seeks to answer this question to encourage and give rest to every distressed child of God in every situation in life!

One old saying observes life and concluded, “As soon as there is life, there is danger!” “Safety”, this psalm tells us involves relying on our unfailing, faithful LORD!

Very true as we see the life of Moses as a baby flowing the river Nile escaping from the destructive decree of the Pharaoh to kill the little babies. And the life of Christ when He was ushered by Mary and Joseph to Egypt. Herod the king wanted to kill the baby, the predicted King of the Jews that is to be born.

And old saying goes, “God asks no man whether he accepts life. That is not the choice. You must take it. The question is how?

The psalmist emphasizes the Lordship of His God by the word “LORD” in his life. He belongs to Him, under His kingdom jurisdiction, under His care.

He first rehearsed who He is (v1-2), then he tells us what He can do for you (v3-4) and finally, he solicits your filial response (v5).

 

(1) KNOW WHO HE IS? (v1-2)

(a) The LORD Who Reigns Supreme (v1a)

(i) His Glory (v1b)

(ii) His Omnipotence (v1c)

(iii) His Readiness to Defend (v1d)

(iv) His Creative Works (v1e)

(v) His Throne Unmoved (v2)

 

1 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

The LORD reigneth. The LORD is King. This is the meaning of the the word “to reign”, “to rule”, “to have sway and dominion over people and nations.” He rules supremely over His creation. He is arrayed in kingly apparel, dignified and majestic, simply glorious in His appearance. This appearance of the LORD amplifies the greatness of His strength or power. The “girding” of the garment is metaphoric of being “ready for action”. It is by His power and His creative act that the universe is established. It is the work of His hands, His handiwork. He is the Maker of all things. All things find their Source or Origin with their Maker, our Creator God!

And the word “LORD” speaks here of a personal relationship with this reigning King of the universe. These are His children. The “LORD” is the God of His people. They know Him by His majestic Kingly reign over them and all His Creation.

The study of the attributes or nature of God gives to us God-confidence. God reigns supreme. God is still on His throne although the world seemed to be veering out of control.

Every saint of old who has caught a glimpse of God, prostrate in worship of His glory and their sinfulness.

 

(i) His glory (v1b)

– he is clothed with majesty; …

Remember Jesus in the transfiguration, Mark 9:2-8 “…Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.”

Only behold the glory of Jesus for He is the LORD. The sight was designed to strengthen the faith of the disciples, give them strength and courage to walk in the will of God after they were told of the incredible and repulsive revelation of the Messiah’s coming suffering by showing to them the glories that should follow.

A glorious outward change in our appearance that showed His glory at His Second Coming which Peter would describe in later years of what he saw on that momentous day! That’s the Greek word where we receive our English word “metamorphosis”. That’s the word in science we use to describe how an ugly caterpillar is changed or transformed into a beautiful butterfly!

2 Peter 1:16-18 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

William Tyndale was the first to use this “transfigured” word to describe the change that took place. It is the best English word to explain the original although it literally means “transformed” as used in Romans 12:2, when Paul wrote concerning the Christian life that is conformed to the will of God begins with the transformation that comes through the renewing of our minds to the will of God.

 Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 It is translated “change” in 2 Cor. 3:18 to describe the day coming when we shall be changed into the glorious image of Christ at His Second Coming.

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

 

(ii) His Omnipotence (v1c)

  • the LORD is clothed with strength, …

Remember the occasion when Peter launched out into the deep at the word of Jesus and caught a whole net full of fish, when for the whole night he and the disciples caught none (being experienced fishermen), responded thus in Luke 5:8 “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” He has forsaken all to follow Jesus! Jesus proved Himself faithful to him. He beheld the glory of God (v1b). It demonstrated the power of Jesus over His creation.

 

(iii) His Readiness to Defend (v1d)

wherewith he hath girded himself: ...

The word “girded” means “encircled or secured with a belt or band, clothed” (Defined King James Bible) signifying readiness for action.

 

(vi) His Creative Acts (v1e)

– “the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

This universe is created by our LORD.

The godless Evolutionist will propound their lie, “that particles turned into people over time, without any need for an intelligent designer…all living forms in the world have arisen from a single source which itself came from an inorganic form.” When we observe the human body, we cannot but pay homage to our Designer LORD God, we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Psalm 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

 

(v2) His Throne Unmoved (v2)

2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.

The throne of God speaks of His dominion, His sovereign rule over all His creation. This created world moves in its orbit by precise timing. It speaks of the order of the created world, how it is enduring from the beginning of time.

In our Adult Sunday School class, we studied the Attributes of God, “God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His Being, Wisdom, Power, Holiness, Justice, Goodness and Truth.” We concluded the study with this application.

  • Being – Our Spiritual Birth
  • Wisdom – Our Devotional Life
  • Power – Our Comfort
  • Holiness – Our Purity
  • Justice – Our Hope
  • Goodness – Our Benevolence
  • Truth – Our Submission

 

(2) WHAT HE CAN DO FOR YOU! (v3-4)

(a) In Every Assault to His own (v3)

(b) He quells (v4a)

(c) He triumphs (v4b)

3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. 4 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

These verses by a picture from the raging waves of nature describe the seeming uncontrollable state of the world like the tsunami that struck off the West Coast of Sumatra, Indonesia on 26 December 2004 that killed more than 225, 000 in 11 countries with killer waves up 30 metres (100 feet) high, one of the deadliest natural disaster in history.

CH Spurgeon quoted Abraham Wright who gave these words of encouragement, “The LORD on high is mightier. Consider not so much thy distress, as thy Deliverer, and when men’s malicious combination may affright thee, let Divine association support thee. The danger may exceed thy resistance, but not God’s assistance; the enemies’ power may surpass thy strength, their subtlety outwit thy prudence, but neither can excel the wisdom and might of God that is with thee. O learn therefore to try God in His strength, to trust Him in difficulties; when the merciless waves are ready to swallow thee, commit thyself to his custody. The mariner in straits looks up to heaven, do thou so; and remember that when the waters of affliction are never so high, yet ‘the Lord on high is mightier than they’.” [Treasury of David, CH Spurgeon]

Remember the disciples in distress in the midst of raging storm in the sea of Galilee and our Lord Jesus was asleep. They awoke Him and He said “Peace, be still!” and the wind and the raging sea became a quiet calm. Will you not go to Jesus and cry to Him, “Lord, save me!” in your utmost distress, He will surely help you.

The Israelites in the wilderness encountered in Exodus 17:1-7 a shortage of water again. God again proved Himself faithful to bring water of the the rock to quench their thirst. An impossible feat. Israel was faithless to question – “Is the LORD among us, or not?” Of course He is with them to take care of them. They were obeying His commandment, why should be not help them!

Exodus 17:1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.

The Apostle Paul speaks of life with God as he reflects upon the truth about God’s care for His people through the ages:

 Romans 8:28-39 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 And God’s people learn about the consistent care of God for them through life. Israel is in the wilderness for merely several months and they have faced several national crises – shortage of water and shortage of food.

Israel was doing the will of God. They were journeying according to God’s commandment. How is it that there was no water available? When they experienced thirst, they began to become worrisome and wearied.

 

(3) WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE? (v5)

(a) Declare His Faithfulness (v5a)

(i) Live by His Word

(b) Dwell with Him in the Beauty of Holiness (v5b)

(ii) Live a Holy Life

 

5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.

The psalmist jolts a response from us, having reminded us of the unfailing nature of our LORD in every Word that He has given to us in His book, the Bible.

He declares in faith to his LORD, “Your testimonies are very sure.” God’s Word is to be affirmed and never doubted for our safety. Hence, we are to live by His unfailing, infallible, unchanging Word.

Let us, therefore, endeavour walk with Him by cherishing His presence with us by not defiling ourselves with the filth of sin that can so easily beset us but run the race, looking at the many saints of old who has completed their journey in triumph, may we too be encouraged to live a holy life and to live in the beauty of holiness.

 On a Tuesday night, together with a brother, we visited a man 72 years old, stricken with a relapse of lung cancer. He says that he has no peace in his heart. He says that he is on the verge of losing his mind. God’s Word was given to him from Luke 18:1, “Men ought always to pray and not to faint.” In the midst of his distress, he has stopped trusting in God’s power and His willingness and ability to help him. It caused him to doubt even his salvation. The parable of the unjust judge and the persistent widow was given to him (Luke 18:2-8).

The widow is helpless, having lost her husband and no means of a livelihood, bullied and oppressed. She went to seek justice from this godless, unjust, corrupt judge. She was persistent in unrelentingly coming again and again for help. And the judge says that her continuing or persistent coming is wearying me, I will arise to help her. Jesus says, what about your heavenly Father, will He not avenge His elect who cries day and night to Him? Certainly, He will! Jesus concluded the parable with the saying that at time when He would come again, will He find faith on earth? Truly, faith was lacking in this man. He faints he did not continue to trust His Lord. He realized that.

We pray that He will not give up though the situation seemed hopeless, humanly speaking, it is never out of control with our LORD with us. May the LORD help us!

 

CONCLUSION

May the LORD strengthen His people to keep looking up for He never fails. He will surely conduct His children by His power and love all the way to heaven. Amen.