Psalm XCIII

1 The Lord reigneth! He is clothed with majesty!

The Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: The world also is established, that it cannot be moved.

2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.

3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; The floods lift up their waves.

4 The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, Yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

6 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.

From the lips of unfallen Adam might have come the joyful The theme. exclamation, “The Lord is King I” It was true then, yet true no less when he looked on creation fallen, and himself and his posterity I’uined. “God reigneth” was the rainbow of hope. So, also, in every age, God’s people have called this truth to remembrance, and have been of good cheer amid frowning providences. But still, their King was invisible, and his plan of government involved in obscurity. Our Psalm refers to all this, but to more besides.

We have heard the Sabbath-song of the redeemed in the day of “The Rest that remaineth.” Now, the Eternal Sabbath is contemporaneous with the Kingdom. The saints glorified shall enter on the enjoyment of the former in all its manifold phases of positive rest; the saints still on earth shall have their share in the latter when it comes, reigned over by the reigning saints, and by the King to whom these are kings (Rev. i. 6). This is the theme of the Psalm before us.

282 PSALM xciii. — Messiah’s kingdom stii-ling

When the Lord by a prophet anointed Jehu king, we are told how those around him blew the trumpet, saying, “Jehu reigneth!” (2 Kings ix, 13, ^bD as here.) So the Lord’s anointed Messiah is proclaimed king by every voice and heart in his dominions —

“The Lord is King /” His robes are not mere show, nor is his strength merely the power of armies attending him.

“He is clothed icith majesty!
The Lord is clothed!
He hath girded himsel, icith might.’”

Nor is this all that is to furnish matter of wonder and delight and praise. This enthronization of Jehovah in our nature has intimate connection with our world’s felicity.

“The loorld also is established;
It does not totter T (See Psalm lxxxiii. 5.)

That is, if we may be allowed to give a paraphrase of the words,

“It is made stedfast now, after all its shakings; It rests from all its commotions, and totters no more.“”

The throne of Jehovah (once seen in Exod. xxiv. 10 for a few hours), is now stretched over earth, according to God’s ancient purpose, and as they look up to it, they sing,” Thy throne was established of old, Thou thyself art from eternity.’’’

From the height of that immovable throne, the saints, in company with their King, look down on enemies made their footstool. They sing of the past — how these foes gathered together — “The floods, 0 Lord, lifted, up their voice;” but in a moment the universe was witness of their impotency —

“TIieLord is glorious in the height {iv h’^ieroTc, Lukeii. 14,
xix. 38),
More than the voice of majestic waters,
Than billows of the sea.”

The Kingdom has come, the Kingdom so often prayed for, so ardently desired, so long expected; and its coming has realised every hope.

“Thy testimonies are most true.” (Ver. 5).

Our Joshua (Josh, xxiii. ] 4), can call all to witness that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord God spoke, (compare Rev. xxi. 5, and xxii 6). All the glorious things spoken, and all his promises, have been verified, himself being “faithful and true,” (Rev. xix. 11). And the characteristics of his happy government are unlike those that marked all former dominions on earth. His palace, or “house,” (see Psa, xcii. 1 5), is not like the gay, loose courts of earthly kings — holiness is there; it is holiness only that would be suitable there. And, it is added,

“0 Lord (all this shall remain) to eternity

The Septuagint translators felt there was such a real connec- connectiontion between this and the foregoing Psalm, that they entitle ceding i’»aini it, “E,“s rriv riiiiav toZ (sa(yarov ots xccTujzigTai r] jr” “For the Sabbath-day, when the earth has been settled” — referring, evidently, to the title of Psa. xcii., “A song for the Sabbath-day.” But we prefer describing it with a reference to Rev. xi. 15, as being Messiah’s hingdom stilling the uproar of the nations.