Psalms
93 emphasizes the sovereign rule of Jehovah, the King of Israel, in the affairs
of the nations. It was perhaps written by one of the Levites who returned to
Judah with the Jewish remnant after the Babylonian captivity. The Jews, led by
Zerubbabel the governor, Joshua the high priest, and the prophets Haggai and
Zechariah were given permission to return to their own land, rebuild their
temple, and restore their nation. 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. In
verses 3-4, the people were reminded and assured that God is greater than our
circumstances. The raging seas and the pounding waves are often used as symbols
of the rise and fall of the nations and the great noise that rulers make as
they try to impress people. No matter how stormy the nations on earth may
become, God is still on His throne and is not frustrated by the foolish words
and deeds of "great leaders" who are only made of clay. Do not focus
on the threats around you; focus on the throne above you. Psalm 2:1-4: “Why
do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth
set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and
against His Anointed, saying, "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast
away Their cords from us." He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The
LORD shall hold them in derision.”
In verse 5, we also can
be encouraged that God always keeps his Word! "Your testimonies are
very sure". When the tempest is around us, we look by faith to the
throne of grace above us and the Word of God before us. The truth about what is
going on in this world is not in the cable news, but in the Scriptures. False
prophets, false teachers, and scoffers abound (2 Peter 2-3), but God's promises
will all be fulfilled in their time, and God's children live by promises, not
explanations. Satan has attacked God's Word since he lied to Eve in Genesis 3,
but the Word still stands. "The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the
plans of His heart to all generations" (Psalm 33:11).
The Jewish remnant
trusted God, labored, sacrificed, and completed the temple. We don't read that
the glory of the Lord moved into the second temple, as it did the tabernacle
(Ex. 40) and the first temple (1 Kings 8:10-11), but the Lord was with His
people just the same and accomplishing His purposes. It is a holy people that
makes the temple holy, and "the beauty of holiness" (29:2) is the
greatest adornment for any structure dedicated to the Lord.
May the LORD help us today to wear His robe of “holiness”
and walk in His “righteousness” so that His glory would be manifest to the
scoffing world around us!
God bless!
