Introduction:
Today we are living in a world whose habitants are spiralling out of control. Wickedness and rebellion abounds against God and His laws which were given to man for his wellbeing but which they have violated and trodden underfoot.
As Isaiah the prophet wrote; “The earth reels like a drunkard, it sways like a hut in the wind; so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion that it falls-never to rise again. In that day the LORD will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below” (Isaiah 24:20-21).
Whether the principalities in the heavens or the unsaved kings or rulers of nations on earth they will all go to the same place in Sheol called Hades or hell (Isaiah 14:9-11).
There is no doubt that we are living in the last of the Last days. The fact that the Jewish people are back in the Land of Israel for over 70 years is a major sign that the end of this present age is rapidly closing.
Israel as a nation is God’s prophetic time clock for the Gentile nations. God has placed Jerusalem in Israel at the centre of all of the nations on earth (Ezekiel 5:5).
The time is coming when things will be so out of control on earth that even the constellations in the heavens will be shaken just prior to the Second Coming of the Messiah our Lord Jesus (Isaiah 13:9-14; 24:21-23; 34:4) (Matthew 24:29) (Revelation 6: 12-17).
On the earth nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and the tossing of the sea. The tossing sea speaks of the turmoil in the nations being tossed in a great storm.
Men and women will be fainting with terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world and when the heavenly constellations are affected the inhabitants of the earth will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with awesome power and with great glory (Luke 21:25-27).
There have always been wars, rumours of wars, nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom, famines, pestilence and earthquakes in various places, which are likened to contractions of a woman in labour.
When a woman is pregnant and goes into labour the contractions start to come somewhat infrequently and then subside but increase in frequency and intensity. However when they are coming one upon another without letup you know that the birth of the baby is imminent (Matthew 24:6-8).
So it is with the birth of the Messianic Kingdom of God on earth.
When we see these ‘contractions’ mentioned in Matthew chapter 24 increasing in frequency and intensity we know that we are well and truly heading towards the Second Coming of the Messiah Himself, our Lord Jesus, to destroy all opposition to His Kingdom and to inaugurate His Messianic Millennial Reign on earth.
The Lord Jesus also told us that when we see these ‘contractions’ increasing and starting to come one upon another that we must not be alarmed, but to stand up and not to buckle over at the knees with fear, and to look heavenwards with expectant faith because our redemption is drawing near, even at the very gates! (Luke 21:28).
The one thing we need to keep in mind is that Gods still has everything under control. The earth and the fullness of it belongs to Him alone (Psalm 24:1).
While Satan, the ‘god’ of this world, has control over the ambitions, the desires, the plans, the pursuits of fame and fortune, material prosperity and the wicked plans of fallen man with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and with the pride of life, he does not have control of the earth.
Our Triune God the Father is still on the throne of the whole universe and God the Son our Lord Jesus upholds all things in the heavens, on earth and under the earth by His powerful Word. God the Holy Spirit puts into action that word that has been spoken as He did at creation (Hebrews 1:13) (Genesis 1:1-2).
Together as One eternal God who is triune in nature all things are under their control! No matter what Satan does our Triune God “checkmates” him at every turn!
With these things in view let’s now look at this Psalm…
Psalm 93 : Exposition:
(Vs.1) “The Lord reigns,”
This is spoken of a King who rules over his kingdom and its subjects where His law is final. He reigns over every level of society within the realm of his kingdom and in this context our Triune God reigns over the whole of the universe, in eternity and especially over the inhabitants of the earth.
The same is true with our lives as New Covenant born again believers. He has redeemed and cleansed us from all sin by His blood, forgiven us our sins and sealed us with the Holy Spirit indwelling us for the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:7; 4:30) (1 John 1:7-9) (Revelation 1:5).
While we still have our sinful nature to deal with every day, if we, by faith, surrender our bodies with its appetites and desires into His hands then He gets the contents as well and in doing this we are worshipping Him (Romans 12:1-2).
If He is reigning on the throne of our life then no matter what the devil says and does to us, no matter the circumstances we are facing in this brief and temporary life down here on earth, our Triune God is still in control.
He may not answer our prayers in the way we expect but He will answer us when we ask according to His will, and His timing is perfect! (1 John 5:14-15).
He is never too early or never too late but always on time!
The leaders of nations may gather together to work and to will their nefarious plans but God just laughs at their efforts and then speaks to them in His anger, and terrifies them in His wrath (Psalm 2).
As we see the super powers ranging across the surface of the earth with their nuclear arsenals and desires for global dominance they are no match for our Triune God who knowing the past, the present and the future has them under His control. He is one step ahead at all times!
As He says; “Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfil my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do” (Isaiah 46:8-11).
In the end God does what He wants, when He wants, in the way He wants, and with whomsoever He wants, and asks no man’s permission! And then we read…
“He is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed in majesty;”
This describes that the LORD is like a powerful swelling sea that sweeps away everything in its path. He is clothed with this awesome power! It is resident in His very person.
As we read also in the prophet Isaiah…
“According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, Fury to His adversaries, Recompense to His enemies; the coastlands He will fully repay. So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy comes in, like a flood The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a (battle) standard against him” (Isaiah 59:18-19).
As we also read in the prophet Habakkuk…
“God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and His praise filled the earth. His radiance was like the sunlight; rays flashed from His hand, where His power is hidden. Plague went before Him, and fever followed in His steps” (Habakkuk 3:3-5).
It is interesting to note that on ancient maps of the Middle-East Teman and Mount Paran were located in Saudi Arabia, the heartland of the Islamic world today. Prophetically this text in Habakkuk applies to the destruction of Islam which will occur when the Messiah our Lord Jesus comes back to deal with Israel’s enemies (Isaiah 63:1-6).
As we also read about the Messiah’s second coming in Psalm 45…
“Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one; clothe yourself with splendour and majesty. In your majesty ride forth victoriously in the cause of truth, humility and justice; let your right hand achieve awesome deeds. Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet” (Psalm 45:3-5).
Indeed the LORD is robed in royal majesty! Now let’s continue…
“…and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.”
He is armed with strength both in the spiritual and natural realm. No man or devil or adverse circumstance can resist His power. He is armed or wrapped around with this supernatural awesome strength and power.
By this same power He established the earth by His powerful Word when He just spoke and it came into existence.
We are told in God’s Word; “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible” (Hebrews 11:3).
As we read in Psalm 33…
“Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him. For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples” (Psalm 33:8-10). And then we read…
(Vs.2) “Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.”
Here we see that our Triune God has always been on His throne from all eternity even before the whole universe was created. Being triune in nature God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit they have always existed and will always exist as One God who is Triune in nature.
In the incarnation God the Son, the Living Eternal Word of God Himself stepped out of heaven and became a flesh and blood man and tabernacled among us (John 1:1-3, 14).
Now in heaven, after His death and resurrection and ascension, we have a resurrected man with a glorified body being God the Eternal Son, who is our advocate with God the Father, and one who is our Great High Priest sitting at the right hand of God, and the one who ever lives to intercede for us.
As the author of Hebrews wrote…
“But because Jesus lives forever, He (the Lord Jesus) has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely (to the uttermost) those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens” (Hebrews 7:24-27).
(Vs.3) “The seas have lifted up, O LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.”
Once again the seas are mentioned being the Gentile nations foaming at the mouth with their malevolent demonic desires to withstand the LORD but it is to no avail.
Those who are lifting up their voices, describes those wicked men, “who exult themselves and lift themselves up to rebel against the LORD and who are to be taken away, carried off or swept away in God’s judgement” See (Proverbs 10:25) (Psalm 28:3) (Zephaniah 1:2-3) (Proverbs 21:7) (Psalm 73:19) (Psalm 58:9) (Psalm 90:5) (Matthew 25:37-41).
The waves of dissent may pound unceasingly like waves against God’s eternally fixed purposes but will always be smashed on the rock of His unchanging Word which has been forever settled in Heaven (Psalm 119:89).
No matter what happens His Word will always say the same tomorrow as it does today!
When all else fails we can trust His Word. The Messiah our Lord Jesus upholds all things by His powerful Word. If we want to be upheld spiritually we must stand on His Word when the waves of adversity are pounding against us.
After all we live by faith and not by sight or by our feelings and emotional swings or changing circumstances, which are no barometer for our spiritual state or standing with God.
He always responds to and rewards faith (Hebrews 11:6). And then we read…
(Vs.4) “Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea- the LORD on high is mighty.”
It is written in Psalm 29; “The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in His temple all cry, “Glory!” The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. The LORD gives His people strength; the LORD blesses His people with peace” (Psalm 29:9-11).
In His Word the LORD has given us a great spiritual weapon. Its promises are the ammunition we need to pull down spiritual strongholds in our own lives and in the lives of others. These are not physical weapons but spiritual weapons or missiles if you like to hit Satan and his principalities hard (2 Corinthians 10:4).
Satan and his principalities and demons hate the blood of Jesus!
Our confession is the trigger that launches the spiritual missiles of God’s Word against our adversary Satan, the accuser of the brethren, who accuses them day and night before our God (Revelation 12:10).
Confession is part of the salvation process (Romans 10:8-13). The most powerful spiritual missiles we have are the blood of Messiah, the Word of God, the Spirit of God, the name of Jesus of Nazareth and prevailing prayer!
When we confess with our mouth what the Word of God says that the blood of the Messiah our Lord Jesus does for us we overcome Satan (Revelation 12:11).
The spiritual predators of the jungle of this world may roam to and fro across the surface of the earth to work their nefarious malevolent dirty work against God’s people, however when the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the root of David, roars from Zion the jungle of this world trembles and the predators run for cover!
As we read in the prophet Joel…
“The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for His people, a stronghold for the people of Israel” (Joel 3:16).
As it is also written…
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10). God’s name can do anything He can do and has promised to do in His Word!
As Rabbi the apostle Paul writes…
“For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus the Anointed Messiah is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
Finally we read…
(Vs.5) “Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house” for endless days, O LORD.”
His statutes are His divine Word which cannot be changed or altered, and those who seek to add to it or take away from it will reap the consequences of their actions (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32) (Proverbs 30:5-6) (1 Corinthians 4:6) (Revelation 22: 18-19).
As our Triune God Himself has stated; “I will not violate My covenant or alter the utterance of My lips” (Psalm 89:34). He does not change! (Malachi 3:6) (James 1:17).
Ministers of the Word of God have no authority to change or to amend His Word!
God’s House or temple in the New Testament is the Body of Messiah spiritually grafted into the Commonwealth of Israel, being David’s fallen tabernacle restored which was inaugurated on the day of Pentecost.
From that day onwards as the Body of Messiah grew and expanded the time came when Gentile New Covenant believers were also being saved which had always been God’s intention (1 Corinthians 3:16) (Amos 9:11-12) (Acts 15:14-18).
The Body of Messiah individually and corporately are living stones in God’s living Temple as the apostle Peter writes…
“As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus the anointed Messiah. For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame” (1 Peter 2:4-6).
God’s Temple is a Holy Temple where His people are set apart to Him and who love and obey His Word. Today within mostly western Christendom we see behaviour which is anything but holy.
The internet is infested with unholy behaviour from the laughing revival ‘thing’ if you can call it that, to all kinds of stage antics and wild sensual acts with strobe lighting, fire tunnels, gyrating saints out of control spurred on by mesmerising repetitive music with false teachers and prophets (profits) who have no spiritual ability or discernment to rightly handle the Word of God.
Then you have the hyper faith prosperity money preachers and the biggest Christian television global network that promotes heretics and false prophets side by side with those Bible teachers who have genuine Biblical ministries.
God’s living Temple is an Eternal Temple that will enter the Messianic Millennial Kingdom for 1,000 years after which will come the final and eternal state with the new heaven and earth, because the former heaven and earth will have passed away.
The New Jerusalem will come down from heaven to earth, a city and also a people as a perfect and beautifully dressed bride prepared for her husband the Messiah our Lord Jesus (Revelation 21:1-5).
Epilogue:
The great and grand eternal theme of this psalm is the reign of our sovereign triune God clothed with royal majesty and armed with absolute strength and spiritual power beyond human comprehension.
One who has firmly established the world which cannot be moved out of its God ordained and created place in the universe.
The throne of our Triune God has been established from all of eternity without beginning or end and an eternal kingdom that transcends time as we know it down here on earth.
Our Triune God is the one who breaks up the pounding waves of those in rebellion against Him and His people, He whose word shatters all resistance to His sovereign power on earth, under the earth, and in the heavenly realms of the atmosphere, being the LORD on high who is mighty in word and deed, and whose purposes cannot be thwarted by man of devil (Job 42:1-2).
As we also read once again…
“The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His inheritance!” (Psalm 33:10-12).
His statutes, laws and commandments stand firm, being forever settled in heaven and who’s living Temple, the Body of Messiah, is wrapped around with the Messiah’s wisdom, holiness, righteousness and redemption for all of eternity (1 Corinthians 1:30).
No matter what will happen in the future our Triune God still has everything under His control including what He allows Satan to do. God permitted Satan to afflict Job but clearly told Satan not to take his life! (Job 2:6).
God will allow us to be tempted and the Lord Jesus said that temptations to sin will always come and woe to the one by whom it comes (Luke 17:1).
However, temptation in this life is our lot as New Covenant believers in Messiah and God allows it, but will never allow us to be tempted beyond what we can stand and will always provide a way to escape that we might bear it until the victory comes, and it will!
As it is written…
“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Now God wants everyone to come to repentance and to a saving knowledge of the truth (2 Peter 3:9b).
He has delayed the Second Coming of the Messiah our Lord Jesus because He is giving the unsaved time to repent and Satan is seeking to prevent this from happening. However the day will come when God will send the Messiah back to earth to turn everything upside down right side up!
As we read in the Book of Acts…
“Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).
In conclusion the one great theme this psalm encourages us in is to count on the unchanging Word of God that no matter what happens on earth, or in that fallen unseen spiritual realm in the atmosphere in the domain of Satan and his principalities, “The LORD Reigns!” Selah.
