Psalm 93, The LORD Reigns

We are going to have a bit of fun today with this message. It is not something I would usually do, but I believe today it is prudent. Some of you know, but some of you might not fully be aware, I fill the role of Music Director here at our church. And today, we’re going to delve into a particular song of prayer found in the Psalms. And to do that, all the scripture we’ll read today will also be found in the Psalms. As I said, This is not something I have done before, nor is it something I would usually do, but I feel like I might step into the role of a Music Leader today and give you all a service of songs today.

These Psalms are full of songs of different subjects, most any emotion, differing lengths, and varying modes. They are organized into 5 Books within the book of Psalms itself, and with Psalms 1 and 2 serving as introductory Psalms.

Psalm 93, the song that we will be in today, is the first of a grouping of prayers found in the Fourth Book of the Psalms which makes up Psalms 90-106. The Forth Book in the Psalms largely exalt the God of Israel as the King of all Creation, and right in the middle of these psalms are seven psalms (Psalms 93-99) that are generally regarded as either Prayer or Royal Psalms. These all hold the theme of God reigning over the Earth.

Here, Psalm 93 begins this collection of prayers setting the stage for those that follow. It is a short psalm, but do not let that fool you: every Psalm holds a deep depth to them. This Psalm has three verses (in the musical sense, not how they’re parsed here in our books):

Verse One encompasses verses 1-2 in our Bibles: It talks of God’s position above creation.

Verse Two encompasses verses 3-4: it speaks of the floods that come, and God still being mightier than them.

And Verse Three contains the final verse of the Psalm: it finishes the psalm speaking about the character of God’s rule.

This is meant to serve as a prayer, to call one’s attention back to God’s position, back to His power, and back to His character.

Lets read: Psalm 93:1-5

Psalm 93:1–5

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. Thy throne is established of old: Thou art from everlasting.

The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.

The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

Thy testimonies are very sure: Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.

I. Verse One

Psalm 93:1–2

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. Thy throne is established of old: Thou art from everlasting.

As I said initially, these first verse here establishes God’s position above creation, and to do that, the verse gives us multiple points:

1. God is Reigning

This is an ever-present truth. Despite what has happened, what is happening, what might or will happen, God is on the throne.

“The LORD Reigns” serves as this Psalms Title, theme, and what every verse should resolve .

Psalm 97:1–6

The Lord reigneth;

Let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.

His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.

The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.

2. God is Clothed

A) With Majesty

Psalm 104:1–5

Bless the Lord, O my soul.

O Lord my God, thou art very great; Thou art clothed with honour and majesty.

Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: Who maketh the clouds his chariot: Who walketh upon the wings of the wind: Who maketh his angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire: Who laid the foundations of the earth, That it should not be removed for ever.

B) With Strength

Psalm 18:24–36

Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; With an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; And with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

For thou wilt save the afflicted people; But wilt bring down high looks.

For thou wilt light my candle: The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

For by thee I have run through a troop; And by my God have I leaped over a wall.

As for God, his way is perfect: The word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

For who is God save the Lord? Or who is a rock save our God?

It is God that girdeth me with strength, And maketh my way perfect.

He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, And setteth me upon my high places.

He teacheth my hands to war, So that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: And thy right hand hath holden me up, And thy gentleness hath made me great.

Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, That my feet did not slip.

3. The World is Established that It will not Fall Away

A) Not confirming the Flat Earth here,

B) What this IS saying God has established the Earth as it is, it is not going anywhere. The World is not ending.

4. His Throne is Established of Old

A) Of Old, which is to say, “from the beginning”

B) He is from everlasting to everlasting, the Ancient of Days, the One Who was, and is, and is to come!

Psalm 90:1–4

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Thou turnest man to destruction;And sayest, Return, ye children of men.

For a thousand years in thy sight Are but as yesterday when it is past, And as a watch in the night.

II. Verse Two

Psalm 93:3–4

The floods have lifted up, O Lord, The floods have lifted up their voice; The floods lift up their waves.

The Lord on high is mightier Than the noise of many waters, Yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

The LORD Reigns!

1. The Floods are Lifted Up

A) Their voice is lifted!

B) Their waves are lifted!

Psalm 3

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

Lord, How are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah.

But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; My glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, And he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, That have set themselves against me round about.

Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: For thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; Thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: Thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

2. God is greater than the Floods

A) He is greater than their noise

B) He is greater than their waves

Psalm 89:5–18

And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord: Thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.

For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?

God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

O Lord God of hosts,

Who is a strong Lord like unto thee? Or to thy faithfulness round about thee?

Thou rulest the raging of the sea: When the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; Thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.

The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: As for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.

The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.

Thou hast a mighty arm: Strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.

Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: Mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: They shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.

In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: And in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.

For thou art the glory of their strength: And in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.

For the Lord is our defence; And the Holy One of Israel is our king.

III. Verse Three

Psalm 93:5

Thy testimonies are very sure: Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.

The LORD Reigns!

1. God’s Testimonies are True

God’s testimonies never fail! They are true! His Word is Truth.

Psalm 19

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Day unto day uttereth speech, And night unto night sheweth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language, Where their voice is not heard.

Their line is gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world.

In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

His going forth is from the end of the heaven, And his circuit unto the ends of it: And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is thy servant warned: And in keeping of them there is great reward.

Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me: Then shall I be upright, And I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth, And the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight,

O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 119:105–112

NUN.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.

I have sworn, and I will perform it, That I will keep thy righteous judgments.

I am afflicted very much: Quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word.

Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, And teach me thy judgments.

My soul is continually in my hand: Yet do I not forget thy law.

The wicked have laid a snare for me: Yet I erred not from thy precepts.

Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: For they are the rejoicing of my heart.

I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes

Alway, even unto the end.

Psalm 119:129–136

PE.

Thy testimonies are wonderful: Therefore doth my soul keep them.

The entrance of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple.

I opened my mouth, and panted: For I longed for thy commandments.

Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, As thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.

Order my steps in thy word: And let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

Deliver me from the oppression of man: So will I keep thy precepts.

Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; And teach me thy statutes.

Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, Because they keep not thy law.

Psalm 119:137–144

TZADDI.

Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments. Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous And very faithful.

My zeal hath consumed me, Because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. Thy word is very pure: Therefore thy servant loveth it.

I am small and despised: Yet do not I forget thy precepts.

Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And thy law is the truth.

Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: Yet thy commandments are my delights.

The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: Give me understanding, and I shall live.

Psalm 119:145–152

KOPH.

I cried with my whole heart; Hear me, O Lord: I will keep thy statutes.

I cried unto thee; save me, And I shall keep thy testimonies.

I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.

Mine eyes prevent the night watches, That I might meditate in thy word.

Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O Lord, quicken me according to thy judgment.

They draw nigh that follow after mischief: They are far from thy law.

Thou art near, O Lord; And all thy commandments are truth.

Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old That thou hast founded them for ever.

2. Holiness Adorns His House Forever

God’s supreme attribute is His holiness.

Psalm 99

The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: He sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. The Lord is great in Zion; And he is high above all the people. Let them praise thy great and terrible name; For it is holy.

The king’s strength also loveth judgment; Thou dost establish equity, Thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt ye the Lord our God, And worship at his footstool; For he is holy.

Moses and Aaron among his priests, And Samuel among them that call upon his name; They called upon the Lord, and he answered them. He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: They kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them. Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God: Thou wast a God that forgavest them, Though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. Exalt the Lord our God, And worship at his holy hill; For the Lord our God is holy.

God is Holy!

End by asking everyone to stand, and recite the psalm again.