“The Lord reigns”
[Psalms 93]
Our God is the Creator and the Ruler of all nature (Ps. 8:1, 3, 6). In other words, our God created and governs man and is in charge of man's life and death (vv. 3, 6). Our God is the God who not only created all things in the universe, but also governs and operates them to continue the history (121:1-6), that is, who governs all things in the universe (103:19). So, what should we do as believers in God's sovereign choice and rule when there are many painful things in our lives? Based on the words of Romans 8:28, we must not be shaken and convinced that if everything is done by God's independent choice and sovereign rule, eventually everything will work together to achieve good. How should we believers who are chosen by God and saved and ruled by God maintain our relationship with God? Based on the words of Psalms 23:1-6, we must maintain the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep. When the sheep follow the shepherd and obey, the shepherd leads them to the shore where they can rest in the green pasture. The path of following the good shepherd must go on forever and dwell in the Lord’s house forever. So, we have no choice but to obey the words of Psalms 103:22 – “Bless the LORD, all you works of His, In all places of His dominion; Bless the LORD, O my soul!” (Internet)
If we look at Psalms 93:1, this is what the Bible says: “The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.” I would like to receive the grace given by meditating on the three aspects of God's reign under the heading, “The Lord reigns,” centering on Psalms 93.
The first aspect of God's rule is “God's authority”.
Look at Psalms 93:1a – “The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty ….” Here, God's own “authority” refers to the glory and dignity of the ruler of the universe (Park). Our responsibility is to obey this divine authority. In other words, it is our responsibility to obey God's authoritative Word. We should not question God's authority. The reason is because God’s authority is absolute. God's children who submit to that absolute God's authority have the responsibility to listen to and obey His authoritative word. How can we reveal God's authority? For example, in order for me to reveal God's authority as the head of the family, I can reveal God's authority at home when I obey God's authoritative word. As a pastor in the church, I can stand up to God's authority when I obey God's word. However, if I don’t obey the word of God, but live a hypocritical life that doesn’t obey His word and doesn’t try to obey the word, it is inevitable to become an authoritarian pastor who abuses God's authority, not revealing His authority. Even in my home, if I don’t obey God's authoritative word, but speak only the Bible words and don’t obey His words, then I become an authoritarian husband and father. In order for Christians, who are children of our God, to reveal God's authority in this world, we must live a life of obedience to God's authoritative word. Among His words, God's authority must be revealed through our lives as we obey Jesus' two commandments, that is love our God and love our neighbor.
The second aspect of God's rule is “the power of God”.
Look at Psalms 93:1b, 4 – “… The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. … More than the sounds of many waters, Than the mighty breakers of the sea, The LORD on high is mighty.” Here, “strength” is natural or supernatural power to sustain the created world (Park). When we refer to this power of God, we say 'the might of God.' This attribute of God refers to the infinite power that can accomplish whatever God wills. For example, we can see the omnipotence of God in nature. In other words, we can say the creative power of God who created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1, Heb. 11:3), and the power of God who maintained the created heaven and earth (Col. 1:17). We can also see God's omnipotence in the spiritual world. In other words, God's omnipotence controls not only his holy angels (Dan. 4:35) but also Satan and evil spirits (Job 1:12). That is why the psalmist says, “More than the sounds of many waters, Than the mighty breakers of the sea, The LORD on high is mighty” (Ps. 93:4). How can this power of God be revealed in our lives? We can find the answer in 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” God's power is revealed through our weaknesses. Therefore, like the apostle Paul, we must boast of our weaknesses. God has chosen the weak people like us to shame the strong (1 Cor. 1:27). When the power of God is revealed through our weaknesses, we will stand firm and not shake. The psalmist says that because of the power of God, “the world is firmly established, it will not be moved” (Ps. 93:1). Because God reigns with His power, the world stands firm and doesn’t shake. If God rules us, we too will stand firmly and not be shaken (vv, 1, 2). If God rules our homes by His power and rules our churches, our homes and churches will stand firmly and not be shaken.
The third and last aspect of God's rule is “the holiness of God”.
Look at Psalms 93:5 – “Your testimonies are fully confirmed; Holiness befits Your house, O LORD, forevermore.” God rules all things in the universe, but with His authority and power. Also, God reveals His holiness because He rules the world through His justice. Heavenly Father is holy. His authority is holy authority. His power is also a holy power. In the end, the Holy Trinity God is revealing His holiness through His authority and power. How can we reveal this holiness of God? We can find the answer in 1 Peter 1:16 – “for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” Because we are holy, we can reveal God's holiness by living in this unholy world. Therefore, we must seek the holiness of God. In order to pursue His holiness, we must be faithful to the Word and prayer life, longing for the sanctification of the Holy Spirit more and more. And our responsibility is to put our efforts to obey the word of truth.
Among the American gospel songs, there is a song “Ruler over my soul”. As I meditated on the Word today, I remembered this song. And I made that song the subject of my prayer and sang it to God. May God rule my soul. May the Lord rule my family. And I pray that the Lord will govern our church. Therefore, I hope and pray that God's authority, power, and holiness will be revealed.
As a God’s creation who is under Creator God’s control,
James Kim
(With heart of praising the hymn “How Great Thou Art”)