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by Sandy Shaw
Psalm 93 is quite a short Psalm - but here right at the very beginning is one thing we all need to know - one truth of which we need frequent reminding - "The Lord Reigns" - our God reigns - He is robed in majesty.
The picture is quite astounding. Jesus Christ is risen and living and alive - enthroned in heaven - interceding for us - praying for us - and he is enthroned at the Father's right Hand. Romans Chapter 8 .
What a beautiful thought - insight - vision - revelation - the King of Kings interceding for - praying for his subjects - caring for his followers and disciples - asking the Father on our behalf. What is he asking the Father regarding you?
The Psalmist saw the living reigning Lord. See something of this today - perhaps even something new - something fresh.
Whatever opposition might arise in our world - His throne is unmoved and unmoveable. Whatever happens - Jesus is not shaken - Jesus will not be taken by surprise. Whatever turmoil and rebellion and upheaval might explode across the world - Jesus Christ remains Master and Lord and King - who is able to hear our cries - no matter what waves might be roaring.
When we are despondent - when we are desperate - down - feeling almost defeated - know that God is in control - our God reigns.
It is a good song to sing - the words are true - but to believe them at all times can be a very different matter and quite difficult - when we cannot see clearly or wonder what might be ahead of us. Let the Holy Spirit whisper in your ear - "The Lord reigns".
He is robed in majesty - not just with the emblems and trappings of majesty - not make-believe fancy dress - but with majesty itself.
He is armed with strength. He is able to act powerfully. There are seasons when He does this. He intervenes to save sinners - and deal with errors. There are times when He displays His strength in wonderful ways. Often He hides His power - then He reveals it - or releases something of its capability - and because it appears so unusual - so extraordinary - some people have problems believing that that is our God at work.
"Thy Kingdom come" - Lord, make Thy power even more conspicuous - reveal Thy might in greater measure.
We could not be sure of anything if we were not absolutely certain that He was in full control of this world - and of our lives. This is not blind fatalism - or wishful thinking - this is FAITH – belief, responding in obedience.
When He withdraws His manifest presence - blasphemers rant and rave - the profane grow bold - licentiousness increases and immorality explodes - and even persecutors rise up in rage and anger against those who believe in Jesus Christ.
Are we not witnessing such a time in our country in these days? An outpouring of the Holy Spirit is being followed by a time of rebellion - which could knock the nation totally out of control, if God were not on the throne.
Atheism is the mother of anarchy. Atheism spawns all kind of sin. But the throne of our God is from everlasting to everlasting. Consider all the thrones and empires of the world - how they have appeared and disappeared - vanishing like the grass we read of in Psalm 92 - Babylon - Assyria - Greece - Rome - Byzantine - British - each very powerful in its day - and each vanished as far as power and influence and authority and might are concerned.
Our God is on the throne still. And His Israel is at the centre of the world's stage - battling with her first enemy - the Philistines. How interesting!
Every believer in Jesus can rejoice that he has a ruler - a king - a saviour - and loving Lord Who is eternal and everlasting and tender.
The various rebellions of man are so vain - so empty - so futile - such a sinful waste of energy. They do not shake the kingdom of God.
Over the centuries men have raged violently - like angry furious waves with all their froth and foam - but the rock is not washed away. Such rage and anger is displayed frequently - this comes out in the repetition of these words in verses 3,4 .
Others have had to face the pounding waves too - others have had to face thundering antagonism - and continue to do so.
We are NOT the first to be confronted with such experiences - and we need to read these words from time to time to remember that what we might be experiencing has been the experience of many who have gone before us, as they too served God.
The Lord on high is mighty. The Lord is higher than the pounding waves and mightier than the raging waters.
Ungodliness is ugly. Consider the pain - the fear - the agony - sin is so terribly ugly - and we hear of how crime is rising at quite an alarming rate. Sin is so terribly and terrifyingly ugly - and Jesus is the opposite. In the midst of all that is going on we have to be reminded from the Word of God that our living God is on the Throne - and God's Truth resists all opinions and fashions and views and ideas of men.
Your statutes - stand firm - your laws. For some 3,000 years God's holy law has endured all the attacks and ravages of clever and or wicked men. Holiness adorns Your house. Holiness is incorruptible - God's truth does not change with the years.
God's authority has been flouted - mocked - ridiculed. We have brought anarchy by rebellion, and opened the door to the powers of moral darkness through abortion.
God is mighty. Consider how mighty Jesus Christ was - whether He was dealing so tenderly with a leper - or challenging religious Pharisees. And on the Cross how mighty he was - and when dealing with death, no-one has ever been mightier.
Our task - our job - our calling - is to preach and proclaim the unchanging Christ in our changing world.
"The Lord reigns" are the opening words of this Psalm - and the note of "holiness" is the final word. This Psalm is so impressive. These few words can make a deep impression upon us.
They can comfort the distressed - reassure the concerned - strengthen those who are timorous - and assist those disciples of Jesus who might be faced with times of trouble.
This is why we do not question His power - and to seek to hurry God is to find fault with Him - in whom there is no fault. He is an absolute King - and He works and moves in absolute Purity, Mercy, Love, Justice and Judgement.
The storms are raging - over these past weeks it is as if the tide is coming in. Jerusalem is called the city of the great king - Psalm 48 - and that is why there is such a fierce battle raging - not over London or Mecca or New York - but over Jerusalem.
We see our present situation reflected in these verses - Jesus reigns - His power is experienced and felt. His kingdom is established in our lives. Opposition is overcome as He enables us to get on top of situations. There are victories over sin - and we grow in holiness that little bit as the weeks and months go by.
We are called to reign with Him - 2Timothy 2verse 12 . If we endure we will also reign with Him.
It has been said about Jesus - He is King, and He knows it.
In Psalm 93 , the Psalmist has a revelation from God. He has a vision of the greatness and might of the living God. He is aware of the angry voices - and the violent fury of the pounding waves - and the need to stand firmly upon the Word of God - worshipping right to the very end.
“Our loving Father – we thank You that we have Jesus Christ at Your right hand, praying for us – interceding for those who are his. May this knowledge give us courage to stand firm – enabling us to preach and speak and minister according to gifts and calling we, Your children, have received. We praise You and thank You, through Jesus, our Saviour and Lord and King.”
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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