1. God Is Still On the Throne
Hymns: RHC 136 Come Ye Thankful People, 183 Jesus Paid It All, 43 God Is Still On the Throne
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.
Psalm 93:1-5 (KJV)
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)
(i) He quells (v4a)
(ii) 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)
(i) Live a Holy Life
INTRODUCTION
What is life to the godless unbeliever? What is life to a child of God? This psalm seeks to answer this question to encourage and give rest to every distress child of God in every situation in life! One writer 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! And another writer observes, “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 reigns. He is clothed in majesty. The LORD is clothed with might. He Himself girded. He also established the world, it shall not be moved.
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)
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.
(ii) His Omnipotence (v1c)
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)
– “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.
(v2) His Throne Unmoved (v2)
“2 Your throne shall be established of old you are 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.
We studied the Attributes of God in our Adults Sunday School, “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)
(i) He quells (v4a)
(ii) He triumphs (v4b)
3 The rivers have lifted up, O LORD, the rivers have lifted their voice the rivers have lifted their waves. 4 From the voice of many waters majestically from breaking the sea, majesty on high, the LORD.
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.
One writer these words of encouragement, “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’.”
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.
(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 Your testimonies are very sure, your dwelling place be lovely with holiness, O LORD, to length of days.
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 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.
One 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 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 the time when He would returning, 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.
CONCLUSION
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!