Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Psalms 5 (4)
Pray Psalm 93.3, 4.
The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
The floods have lifted up their voice;
The floods lift up their waves.
The LORD on high is mightier
Than the noise of many waters,
Than the mighty waves of the sea.Sing Psalm 93.3, 4.
(Trinity: Come, Thou Almighty King)
What, though the floods arise, raising their voice to the skies,
strong though they be, God on His mighty throne,
drowns out their fearsome drone, hasting to save His own,
eternally.
Read Psalm 93.1-5; meditate on verse 5.
Preparation
1. What threat does the psalmist cite?
2. How does he deal with that threat?
Meditation
The psalmist looked out on his life, at all the “floods” that could arise to sweep him off his feet and wash him away. We all feel this way at times—floods of doubt threaten, likewise of fears, anxieties, weaknesses, troubles, temptations, disappointments, and failings. And our world is flooded with lies, godlessness, wicked purposes and schemes, wars and violence and evil of every sort.
What’s the source of all this flooding?
It’s the death rattle of the devil, his desperate, dying attempt to hold on to his domain in the face of the plundering and pounding of Christ, enthroned in glory (cf. Rev. 12.1-15). The devil would flood the world to destruction rather than give up his household to the Strong Man Jesus (Matt. 12.22-29). But his floods cannot prevail. Our Lord Jesus is enthroned in the heavens, clothed with majesty and girded with strength (Ps. 93.1). He keeps the earth and everything in it—including us—in the place in His plan where He has established it (cf. Heb. 1.3; Ps. 119.89-91).
And for us, our great comfort and means of flood control is the unfailing Word of the Lord (v. 5). Our calling, as Jesus buoys us above every flood (Ps. 32.6, 7), is to press on in holiness, our eyes fixed on Jesus, our hearts longing for our heavenly home, and our minds and bodies set on doing the work before us each day. Our King is on high, and His Kingdom is coming on earth as in heaven. No flood of wickedness can prevail against the Lord in glory or against us, His people.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood, and the LORD sits as King forever” (Ps. 29.10).
“The LORD reigns…” (Ps. 93.1).
“Alleluia! For the LORD God Omnipotent reigns!” (Rev. 19.6)
The “unfailing” Word of God enables us to embrace the truth of His forever reign.
It is “our great comfort and means of flood control”, when we, like Jonah, begin to sink in the water and feel swallowed by the big fish of our hard and multiple circumstances:
“I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, and He answered me.
Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice.
For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the floods surrounded me;
all Your billows and Your waves passed over me.
Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
The waters surrounded me, even to my soul;
the deep closed around me;
weeds were wrapped around my head.
I went down to the moorings of the mountains;
the earth with its bars closed behind me forever;
yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD, my God.
When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the LORD; and my prayer went up to You,
into Your holy temple” (Jonah 2.2-7).
“The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea” (Ps. 93.4).
When a windstorm arose, and mighty waves beat against and flooding waters came into the boat that Jesus and His disciples were traveling in, they cried out to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
But of course, He did care, so He rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind stopped blowing, and the waves stopped beating against, and “flood control” was in the boat.
“And there was a great calm.” When the storm had abated, Jesus’ greater concern was for their souls. And He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (Mk. 4.36-40).
The LORD of glory sits enthroned over every Flood that comes our way. He does not want us to be fearful, but to trust Him completely. He reigns forever, His “throne is established from of old; [He] is from everlasting” (Ps. 93.2). As He heard Jonah, and the psalmist, He also hears us.
“I love the LORD because He has heard my voice and my supplications…” (Ps. 116.1).
“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles” (Ps. 34.17).
“Our King is on high, and His Kingdom is coming on earth as in heaven.
No flood of wickedness can prevail against the Lord in glory or against us, His people.”
Jesus, Lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high:
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last!
(Charles Wesley, 1740)
Reflection
1. How do you experience the devil’s “floods” assailing you?
2. What do you think of when you read that the Lord is clothed in majesty?
3. What is our responsibility for “buoying” one another when floods threaten?
The Lord might have displayed only his justice, holiness, and awful power, in his dealings with villainy men; but he has been pleased to display the riches of his mercy, and the power of his renewing grace. In this great work, the Father has given all power to his Son, the Lord from heaven, who has made atonement for our sins. He not only can pardon, but deliver and protect all who trust in him. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Psalm 93
Pray Psalm 93.1, 2, 5.
Thank the Lord that His Word is reliable and sure. Call on Him to help you trust it more, so that you might be more like Jesus, in righteousness and holiness of truth.
Sing Psalm 93.1, 2, 5.
(Trinity: Come, Thou Almighty King)
The LORD in majesty reigns, girded and clothed in strength!
Earth stands secure: Nor shall it e’er be moved;
God on His throne above set it in place with love—
His reign is sure!
Almighty God on high, Your Word can never lie!
Your truth is sure—holy and just are they
who tread Your holy way; Yours shall they ever stay,
LORD, evermore.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
For more teaching about the subject of this series, “Jesus throughout the Scriptures”, download our free ReVision study, “We Would See Jesus”, by clicking here.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
