You will notice that Psalm 93 does not have a title or
inscription over it. We are not sure when it was written or who actually wrote it. Psalm 93 is the first of a series of remarkable theocratic psalms (the
others are Psalms 95 through 100). These are psalms which magnify Israel's
theocracy.
We are familiar with the standard forms of government we
have on earth. We have autocratic government (governments headed by a strong
man or a dictator); we have monarchic government (headed by a king with more or
less absolute power); we have democratic governments (governments in which the
people rule). In all the history of the world only Israel has had a true
theocratic form of government—a government in which there is no man-appointed
or self-appointed ruler but rather a government directed by God.
From the beginning of its history until the time of Samuel
this was Israel's sole form of government. It failed, not because God failed,
but because Israel failed. When the people demanded of Samuel that he give them
a king so that they might be like the other nations round about, he wept. God
said to him: "Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say
unto you: for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I
should not reign over them" (I Samuel 8:7).
Psalms 93 and 95-100 emphasize the sovereign rule of
Jehovah, the King of Israel, in the affairs of the nations. Psalm 94 focuses on
God the Judge, which is an important aspect of His righteous rule. Psalm 93 was
perhaps written by one of the Levites who returned to Judah with the Jewish
remnant after the Babylonian captivity. The Medes and Persians defeated Babylon
in 539 B.C., and the next year Cyrus, the new king, gave the Jews permission to
return to their own land, rebuild their temple, and restore their nation.
We read about the history of this time period in the books
of Ezra and Haggai. It was an especially difficult time for the Jewish remnant
and their work was interrupted, attacked, and neglected. The leaders and the
people needed encouragement to continue the work, and this encouragement could
come only from the Lord. This brief hymn magnifies the Lord by presenting three
divine assurances.
In verse 1-2, the remnant was given the assurance that God reigns
supremely. It was God who allowed Nebuchadnezzar to attack and conquer the
kingdom of Judah and to destroy the temple and the holy city. The Lord used
Daniel in Babylon to teach this basic truth to Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 1-4; see
especially Dan. 4:17, 25, 32), but Nebuchadnezzar's successor Belshazzar
learned it when it was too late (Dan. 5). The Medes and Persians attacked
Babylon and killed Belshazzar the very night he was boasting of his kingdom and
blaspheming the Lord.
“The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty”. "Jehovah is king!" (Psalm 92:8;
96:10; 97:1; 99:1; Ex. 15:18; Deut. 33:5.) He is enthroned in heaven, robed in
the majestic robes of glory, and armed with all the power He needs to humble
puny rulers. His eternal throne is majestic, strong and firmly established (Psalm
65:6; 104:1), and the world He created is also firmly fixed (24:2; 78:69;
119:90). No matter what happens to human rulers on earth, the throne in heaven
is safe and secure.
We especially need this encouragement in a time when the
world is in such a mess and there is international chaos on every hand! When
God revealed Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to Daniel he said, “Blessed be the name
of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times
and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings…” (Daniel 2:20-21).
And in Proverbs 21:1 we read: “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD,
Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”
My friend, no matter what is happening in the world around
us we can be assured that “The LORD reigns”!
There is nothing that is going to catch Him by surprise!
God bless!
