Introduction:
"Our world is like a convoy lost in darkness on an unknown rocky coast, with
quarrelling pirates in the chart room, and savages clambering up the sides of the ships to
plunder and do evil as the whim may take them". (H G Wells in the late 1940's). Are
we not often tempted to think like that? Amongst the violence and horror of our world at
the end of the century is God really in control? When millions starve or are homeless has
God given up? Or in the details of our own lives, when we face pain or blighted hopes,
when it does not seem fair or the heavens are as brass, what then? We open our Bibles and
study Pss 93 & 94, which shed light on life's enigmas and do so much to
strengthen faith. These two Psalms can profitably be read together, although may not be by
the same author. The compiler put them here to balance and reaffirm one another as they
look at the Sovereign God as King and Judge.
1. PSALM 93 - A STATEMENT OF TRUTH:
The first three words dominate all five verses, "The Lord reigns!" Yahweh
is King! Important for us to grasp how total is his sovereignty; an absolute Monarch, not
the constitutional head we are accustomed to, not a figurehead or symbolic figure; the
actual ruler and governor of all that is and ever shall be. He really is King, the only
King, absolute King. Our God reigns. Two important subdivisions of that central theme
amplify and develop it for us most instructively:
(a) God rules, vss 1-2: V1 - the usual evidence of kingship, the royal robe and the uniform of the commanding officer. Yahweh wears the crown and robes of majesty and appears fully armed for battle. This King has, and is about to assert, all authority; no absentee ruler or sleeping monarch but the active ruler of all. The immediate result (v1b) -the stability of the physical world. It is not going to go out of existence suddenly, its pattern of times and seasons will not fail, it will not be destroyed by any "superpower". It cannot be moved - a statement of truth to which faith responds (v2), addressing this God King in worship. Because God's throne is established the world is established. Our security lies not in the history of the world but in the eternal God. People who know that God rules are confident in his Kingship, a key idea in Ps 94 when we come down to earth, as it were, from the divine throne room.
(b) God prevails, vss 3-5: Leadership never goes unchallenged! God's Kingship is always under attack. V3: Three-fold repetition stressing the relentless nature of surging waters, hostile forces seeking to erode the throne of God; a vivid image--the tides that wash a rocky coast never stop. They may ebb, but they will flow, at times thunderous breakers (v4) but however high the tide, or powerful the waves, there is one higher and more powerful (v4b) - Yahweh prevails; in the physical world as governor of nature, in the spiritual realm over all the forces of evil and chaos that seek to dethrone him. Our God is mighty, on high for ever. Again (cf v2) faith responds in worship (v5). Since God prevails, his will is accomplished, his statutes, the expression of his will in words, promises, warnings, commands of Scriptures - stand firm. He is utterly reliable because totally true; Yahweh's integrity as absolute as his power. This is the total holiness (righteousness and completeness that gives us moral absolutes) which is the beauty of his house for ever and ever. Nothing can change his ways or his will. The Lord is King, majestic, mighty, holy. Wherever you start from, in the world of sin and need, the Bible leads you to the throne to see that the hidden reality is "Our God reigns". With this central truth established, Scripture sends us back to that confusing world to begin to live in the light of God's sovereignty.
2. PSALM 94 - ITS APPLICATION TO LIFE:
In this world people who affirm God's sovereignty often find themselves in difficulty.
They too are opposed, faced with many enemies, who sometimes seem to have the upper hand.
The Psalmist pours out the problem in vss 1-7:
(a) God's authority is being flouted, and he does not seem to be doing anything about it. Vss 1-3: We know he is the God who punishes (not vengefully or vindictively but as righteous judge). All authority and power lie with him, the whole earth under his jurisdiction. Why does he not "shine forth" (v1), "rise up" (v2), "pay back" (v2)? The enemies of God see all going their way. "How long, O Lord?" "What is going on, Lord?" Have you not often prayed like that? Yes, this whole Psalm is prayer, nothing but prayer. The Psalmist is not proposing to do anything about his enemies, he commits it all to God. Is it that the situation was not too hurtful, acute, perplexing? Look at vss 4-7, not minor difficulties. In words they lord it over the people of God, dismissing their 'outdated' faith in a God who rules, boasting that they control things. It is still true, whether through TV, radio, press or conversation. More follows: God's people persecuted & crushed (v5), exterminated (v6), the most vulnerable exploited and removed. At the root of this hostility lies unbelief. They do not deny God is there; but say either he will not defend his people because he does not care, or he cannot. This makes it so much worse for the people of God because the Lord's honour is at stake. The very source of their comfort and strength is every day more reviled. But though the Psalmist may feel desperate, prayer is the most effective way of dealing with the situation. We so often say, "All we can do is pray." If all else fails, try prayer! But if prayer comes first you do not need the rest. To talk to God is the first resource God has given us when all is wrong in the world. When the power and promises of God are under attack is the time to pour out our hearts to him.
(b) God's authority is being exercised, vss 8-23: Two areas in which this conviction needs to be re-affirmed are the mind, and then in the emotions. The Psalmist reasons in his mind from the premise "The Lord reigns" and applies that to the emotions. He takes a Biblical grip on the situation.
(i) Dealing with the mind, vss 8-15: He accepts God's verdict on those who are opposing him, foolish, not looking at reality, fighting against the structure of reality. God created all that is, sustains and controls it all. He is not blind or deaf (v9), impotent or ignorant (v10). v11, 12 - His non-activity is his love forbearing to punish or destroy, not a sign of lassitude but of his love. That love is working for the good of his own people. The believer's perspective on trouble or opposition is to see it as permitted by God and, therefore, for his good; the agent of God's discipline, not punishment but training us in discipleship, teaching us to trust where we cannot see. Every experience of life teaches us what God knows we need to learn. That is why he allows them; there is purpose in it. God is building a character like his. v13 - A mind at peace though things are bad. The wicked are digging their own graves, but God will never go back on his word to his people (v14). His character forbids it, his resources preclude it. He will always keep his word and so in terms of v15 we look forward to a future where righteousness will be established and his kingly rule will be enjoyed unhindered. Once your mind is founded on Truth like that you can move on to
(ii) Dealing with the emotions, vss 16-19: God's authority is being exercised, as we have known in our experience. Do we feel lonely, isolated, powerless (v16)? Yahweh who reigns is our champion. He comes to help (v17); dependable, faithful at every point of need. Are we afraid we shall lose our grip, that life is too precarious? Yahweh comes to support us (v18). You thought it was the end, but found you were only at the beginning of his love. Anxious and perplexed, overwhelmed by problems and fears? Yahweh who reigns is our champion; he comes to console and bring joy (v19) - delight in the midst of all the difficulties because of the Lord in my soul. He is in control, of the awkward circumstances and of my conflicting emotions too. Our God reigns.
The answer in our weary, troubled world? Vss 20-23 provide it all, in summary. Hold on to their truth. (i) God will have nothing to do with evil and all its temporary power is an illusion (vss 20-21). (ii) The Lord is in control and he can be trusted. He is our security in himself, always available (v22). (iii) So you can leave it with God. Judgement will fall, but its timing is his responsibility, not ours (v23).
Ours is to lift our eyes to the Throne, to know that our God rules and prevails, that though his authority is being flouted, it is also being exercised, and to live for him in the light of that reality.
© 2001 David Jackman
David Jackman is Director of the Cornhill Training Course in London