Psalm 93

Psa 93:1

HISTORICAL CONTEXT: Many details link with the days of Hezekiah. Even the allusions to the Song of Moses at the Red Sea (Exo 15) are appropriate as recalling the close resemblances between that first Passover deliverance and the Passover deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrians. (Psa 93 was appointed by the Jews for use in the Temple on Passover.)

(NT) The feeding of the 5,000. The multitude sought to make Jesus king (Joh 6:15), but he refused. This brought an acute crisis in the loyalty of the Twelve. So that night Jesus came to them, walking on the stormy waters (Joh 6:18,19) -- thus asserting his own power to fulfill Psa 65:7; 77:19; 93:3,4. But the latter context is: "The Lord is King" (v 1). And so Peter was the first to respond to this slowly dawning, but as yet unspoken, truth -- that Jesus was the Holy One, the Son of the living God (Joh 6:69, RV; Mat 14:28).

THE LORD REIGNS: Cp Isa 52:7, which primarily concerns the salvation of God coming to Jerusalem in Isaiah's day. So also Isa 24:23 similarly. Even more impressive is Psa 47:7,8, since Psa 46-48 are unquestionably "Sennacherib" psalms.

HE IS ROBED IN MAJESTY: Suggesting Isa 6:1: "His train filled the temple."

(NT) Official coronation ceremony. While God has always reigned in the general sense, this psalm suggests a formal undertaking of something new: ie the Kingdom of God upon earth once again! And certainly it will be a new undertaking for Christ!

ARMED WITH STRENGTH: A mighty man preparing himself for battle.

STRENGTH: Along with "established" (v 2), allusions to "Boaz" (Strength) and "Jachin" (Established), the great brazen pillars of the temple (1Ki 7:21). Cp Psa 90:17; 96:10. The pillars, in turn, are emblematic of those who are firmly grounded "in Christ" (Gal 2:9; Rev 3:12).

THE WORLD IS FIRMLY ESTABLISHED; IT CANNOT BE MOVED: Ct Psa 82:5 (from the same period). Hezekiah's world had apparently crumbled into ruin, but now with God's authority asserted, all is well.

Psa 93:2

The language of 2Sa 7:16 (hence the phrase "long ago" in v 2).

Psa 93:3

THE SEAS...: Isa language for the Assyrian army (Isa 8:7,8; 17:12,13; 27:1). "Nachar" three times in this v -- means a great river, one which can overflow its banks.

THE SEAS HAVE LIFTED UP THEIR POUNDING WAVES: "The floods have lifted up their voice" (AV). A fig allusion to the boastful Assyrian propaganda in Isa 36; 37.

Yahweh's victory over the "sea", is compared to Canaanite sea myths: see Lesson, Leviathan.

Psa 93:4

"The Lord on high is mightier than the noise (thunder: NIV, RSV) of many waters" (Psa 89:9). This represents the contest which went on between the gods of Assyria and the God of Israel: Isa 36:18-20; 38:16,17,20.

(NT) This, with v 1, is quoted in Rev 19:6 -- at the beginning of Messiah's reign.

Psa 93:5

FIRM: More exactly, made sure, verified. Isaiah's repeated declarations of a divine salvation were fully confirmed by experience: Isa 8:2 (sw); Isa 19:20; 43:9,10; 44:8,9; 55:4.

HOLINESS ADORNS YOUR HOUSE: "We must be solid and consistent from outer surface to inner core. If we relax into foolishness or fleshiness in our non-ecclesial activities, our 'holiness' is a sham and a delusion. True saints are saints at all times, under all circumstances, or they are not saints at all. Holiness cannot be donned or shed at whim or convenience" (GVG).

(NT) "We must be solid and consistent from outer surface to inner core. If we relax into foolishness or fleshiness in our non-ecclesial activities, our 'holiness' is a sham and a delusion. True saints are saints at all times, under all circumstances, or they are not saints at all. Holiness cannot be donned or shed at whim or convenience" (GVG).

Thus Isa 6:3 is brought to fruition: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."

When Yahweh truly reigns (v 1), then all will be holiness to Him (v 5; Zec 14:20,21; cp Psa 97:12; 99:9). But it is also true that, even now, God's spiritual House is -- or should be -- holy (1Co 3:17).