Thank you to John for this week’s MWB
Today we continue with our series considering psalms which speak of God’s Sovereignty.
Recently I received an email from “Jubilee”, which began with the words “In these turbulent times…”. Much of the world does indeed seem disorderly and confused. And the church…? And our own lives…?
Please read PSALM 93.
This psalm could be entitled “The Throne above the Turbulence”.
The psalm begins “The LORD reigns”. That unequivocal announcement is repeated in many psalms (e.g. 96:10, 97:1, 99:1) and elsewhere in the Old Testament scriptures. We sing “Our God reigns!” (at least 18 times in one song based on Isaiah 52:7)
But what does that mean? What sort of reign? Psalm 93 tells us that the LORD’s reign is
1. TIMELESS
“Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting” (v2). “From everlasting to everlasting you are God” (Ps.90:2) There has never been a time, and never will be a time, when the LORD does not reign. Indeed, even before time began! (Can you imagine that?!)
The New Testament scriptures reveal that the Lord Jesus Christ “will reign for ever & ever” (Revelation 11:15).
2. ALL-POWERFUL
v3 speaks of the awesome power of water – whether the floods, or mighty rivers, or ocean breakers. They raise their voice and roar, and it’s like thunder (v4). (The Victoria Falls are known as Mosi-Oa-Tunya, which means “The Smoke that Thunders”.)
The words in v3 describe the primeval, chaotic waters, which symbolise all that opposes or threatens the Kingdom of God. But the LORD on high is infinitely mightier! (v4)
The New Testament reveals the Lord Jesus Christ having authority over the mightiest forces of nature, and over the strongest forces of evil (Mark 4:35-41, 5:1-20).
3. TRUSTWORTHY AND HOLY
v5 tells us that the LORD’s reign is not merely by his power but by his character. He reigns by means of his statutes, decrees, testimonies, affirmations. They are very trustworthy. The LORD who has made the world secure has given his people directives that are stable and reliable.
Whose word do you trust? (Keir’s? Donald’s? Vladimir’s? Volodimyr’s? John’s?) I expect your answer does not depend on the person’s power, but on what you know of their character.
God’s word rests on his integrity. His reign is holy. Therefore his people are to be holy. As the apostle Paul wrote “God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple” (1 Corinthians 3:17).
“The LORD reigns”: therefore may we, in these turbulent times, respond to his trustworthy word with our trust and obedience, leading to holy living.
