Psalm 93
1 The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty;
the LORD is robed in majesty
and is armed with strength.
The world is firmly established;
it cannot be moved.
2 Your throne was established long ago;
you are from all eternity.
3 The seas have lifted up, O LORD,
the seas have lifted up their voice;
the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
4 Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea—
the LORD on high is mighty.
5 Your statutes stand firm;
holiness adorns your house
for endless days, O LORD.
Tomorrow-Sunday- we are leaving for the eastern shore of Virginia.
This psalm always comes to mind when I’m there- vs 4-
“Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea- the LORD on high is mighty.”
So I’m putting up my Sunday Psalm today.
Enjoy the beauty of the King of the Universe ” Robed in Majesty”!
Psalm 93
God is King, robed and ruling, God is robed and surging with strength.
And yes, the world is firm, immovable,
Your throne ever firm—you’re Eternal!
3-4 Sea storms are up, God,
Sea storms wild and roaring,
Sea storms with thunderous breakers.
Stronger than wild sea storms,
Mightier than sea-storm breakers,
Mighty God rules from High Heaven.
5 What you say goes—it always has.
“Beauty” and “Holy” mark your palace rule,
God, to the very end of time.
The Message
For this psalm I’m throwing out the question format I’ve been using and just going to look at it as one would a painting. The descriptive words and panorama of majesty in this praise psalm call for more of an artistic approach.
In my father’s old KJV, this psalm has a subtitle, “The LORD reigns”- and that is the first line of this announcement. Because this is a psalm to be shouted out, like an announcement, freely made and bursting out of a full heart of joy! This is not a part of a planned festival, not a solemn pronouncement, not a Sunday morning reading- this is a testimony of praise!
We see a picture of the LORD God as King, robed in majesty. A more accurate translation would be – God the King appears in full magnificence and armed for battle. The King James Version gives us a vision of the picture, in that God “hath put on glorious apparel”.
The KING has appeared in full battle armor over a tumultuous world- “Above the voices of many waters, the mighty breakers of the sea, the LORD on High is mighty.”
Last year I was on an island in the midst of a terrible Nor’easter -waves breaking across the causeway onto the island and water rising above flood levels. The skies were black, the wind unbelievable, and the world around me was truly in tumult.
Enter into this picture the glorious, Eternal Creator God, holding all power and strength in His hands and ready to use that authority if need be in battle. NOW, go beyond the picture and recognize that His is the Reign of Righteousness. God’s true glory is not merely strength- it is of character. Verse 5 speaks of ” your statutes”- literally ” your testimonies of affirmations” – terms that indicate that this scriptural portrait rests on the integrity of God ( see Psalm 119) who vouches for it’s promises, warnings, statements and commands. God is his own guarantor of surety- it is because of Who He is that we can trust in what He says.
His holiness is a thing of beauty. It is an integral part of the picture we are seeing of Him. God is the source and the artist, the King and the creator, the central figure in this portrait from which we cannot tear away our eyes .
A portrait, an announcement, an acknowledgement of His Glory- and from us a cry- a psalm of praise!
Hi!
If you have read this psalm/devotional, would you please just sign in and say, “hi”?
I would like to have an idea who is reading each week and my analytic account doesn’t give me very specific information.
Thanks so much,
Heidi
What a beautiful, awesome, breathtaking portrait! Thank you! You know how sometimes you really need an image, some encouragement, some eternal truth and you get it? And you know how sometimes you are fine and God is good and big and you know you’re blessed and THEN you get some more glimpse of the divine? That just happened to me, while reading this post. Thank you for that.
And–you said (wrote, which is just as fun) Nor’easter again! Love you! 😉
Heidi, thank you…
I’m here reading too and I thank you! Have a safe, enjoyable trip.
Elizabeth- I’m so happy to hear that you saw that glimpse of the divine! This psalm just transports me to a pre-diluvian wrld where you can see God in his Glory- it gives me goosebumps everytime I read it!
And Celia- I am so glad you come to these Psalm posts!
I love cooking, baking, gardening, knitting, reading, but the Scriptures are my passion. And I love to share them with all of my friends!
Thanks for coming-
Heidi
Hi Lilly!
Thanks for logging in- we are pulling a trailer this time so the Penn. Turnpike just got a little scarier!
And Elizabeth- You noticed my insertion of my favorite word- Nor’easter! I’m sure I’m not done with those yet, either!
Thanks for sharing.