Psalm 93:1, “The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty.”
So often in the church today the doctrine of God’s sovereignty is a point of contention. Discussions of the issue tend to narrow to the so-called ‘Five Points of Calvinism.’ In Scripture, however, the truth of God’s sovereignty is much broader. The Bible declares that God is in control of both the grand things and the small things, from the creation of the universe to the falling of a sparrow; from the storms and the floods to the hairs on our head; from the raising up and bringing down of empires to the salvation of individual sinners (Genesis 1:1-2:3; Matt 10:29-30; Psalm 104; Daniel 3:34-35; Rom 9:1-29; Eph 1:3-14; Prov 16:1, 9; 21:1).
But it is also important for us to grasp the pastoral purpose of this teaching. That is to say, often in the Scriptures the truth of God’s sovereignty is set forth not as a point of debate, but rather as grounds for comfort. Take Psalm 93 for example. This psalm centers on the theme of the LORD’s reign: “The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt (v. 1).” In vv. 3-4, God is said to be mightier than the seas and the storms: “Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty.”
The question I want us to consider in this devotional, however, is ‘why’? Why does the Psalmist declare God’s majesty? What is his point? Or to put it another way, what is the ‘so what’ of this Psalm? There are two phrases in the psalm that answer this question: first, in v. 1, “Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved” (v. 1b); and secondly, in v. 5, “Your decrees are very trustworthy” (v. 5a). The world shall never be moved. The world in which we live is not subject to chance, fate, and random events. Simply put, God is in control. God is mighty. He is powerful. He is sovereign. He is mightier than the storms and the waves. And furthermore, His decrees – his word, his law, his promises – are trustworthy. But, dear reader, we live in a world stained by sin and groaning under the curse (Genesis 3; Rom 8:20-22). And what this Psalm gloriously proclaims is that in the midst of the uncertainty, there is one who is certain. In the midst of the chaos, there is one who is sure. In the midst of the instability, there is one who provides stability. And that one is the LORD. He shall never be moved. He is our rock and anchor in the storms of life. The sovereignty of God is not simply an academic teaching to be debated and studied under a microscope, but rather it is a teaching of inestimable comfort.
Brothers and sisters, let us rejoice and rest in the sovereignty of God this day! May we take to heart that whatever today or tomorrow may bring – whether joy or sorrow – God is in control! He is over all, and he works through all, for our good and for his glory!
– Rev. Robert Arendale,