Today’s enthronement Psalm is a simple song that extols the greatness of God and His authority over the world.
As an exercise today, really try to think like a person who lived up to 3,000 years ago. Living at that time, when you thought of what was powerful in your world, what would most come to mind?
In the realm of human dynamics and interactions, you would think of kings and powerful nations and empires.
In our day, apart from the security details and secret service that precedes and surrounds every step that a president takes, there would be nothing to distinguish him from anyone else in a crowd of people. (I don’t mean to make any reference here to Obama specifically.) He is not dressed or clothed in any fashion that would particularly catch the eye.
This would not be so in ancient times. There was no mistaking who the king was, even from a significant distance. He was clothed with the finest attire that would be very distinctive.
The strongest empires were those that lasted a significant period of time. Weaker empires and nations had a continual sort of battle that went on between rival factions—preventing centralization of power and authority. The great nations and empires were dynasties.
And so in this 93rd Psalm, God is spoken of as a great sovereign who is clothed in something beyond this world – in majesty and strength. And it is this way forever.
Back into your sandals – what would you think of as the ultimate natural power on the planet, the least tamable element? You might think of wind and storms, or perhaps earthquakes or floods; but all of these more or less come and go. The least conquerable and vast power on the planet really is the ocean. Its voice and power are heard in the thundering sound of angry waves.
But God is mightier than the seas.
His power, authority, and truth (statutes) are from eternity to eternity.
As I write this, I do so on the day of a large funeral in which I participated as one of a number of speakers. A couple of the others talked about the brevity of life – speaking of the “dash” … you know, that symbol between the year someone is born and the year they die. Our lives are a simple dash.
It really is small by comparison. So why do we so often focus all of our energies on maximizing a “dash” when we compare it to being properly aligned with the eternity that is to follow.
The oft unspoken, but presumed theme and application of the enthronement / praise Psalms is that such greatness solicits and even requires our alignment with it – with God. The Lord is not going to align with us and our small, personal ideas about what is best. We need to get in step with him, and the good news is that doing so leads us to success and satisfaction in life.
Psalm 93
1 The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.
2 Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.
3 The seas have lifted up, 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, Lord, stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days.
Seriously 