Psalm 93:1-2, 4 (NKJV)
The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The Lord is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength. Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved. Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea.
When the President of the United States enters a formal function, the military band is there to play, “Hail to the Chief.” Everyone comes to their feet out of respect for the political office held by the most powerful person on the planet. When a judge enters the courtroom, everyone stands. The symbolic purpose is to show the heightened status of the judge. Whether you respect him/her or not is irrelevant. At the end of the day, the judge is the one calling the shots, so it is symbolically important for everyone to make a showing of deference at the outset of the proceedings. If you refuse to stand, you do so at your own peril.
Pontius Pilate did not know who had entered the room. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” (Jn. 19:9-10). In the natural, it seemed like a fitting question, but in reality, it was absolutely preposterous. Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above” (Jn 19:11a). Pilate was clueless, as are most inhabitants of the planet, both then and now. It was not Pilate who had the ability to set Jesus free, but Jesus who had the ability to set Pilate free—free from sin and death and hell.
The history of the world is told in the tales of kings and kingdoms, people grappling for and/or holding onto power. The authority God invested in Adam is twisted into abuse and domination, with everyone doing what is right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). Even the best of Israel’s kings were a far cry from the perfect ruler the people longed for. We need a king. Someone to put things right. Someone to lead us. Why do you think our presidential elections have such a powerful impact, not only on America, but on the rest of the world? We are clamoring for—hoping and praying for—a person who can set things right and get us back on track. In short, the world is looking for a King AND a Savior. We posture and run and make the case for various earthly rulers, but there is already a Sovereign Ruler over everything. He is not running for office and he doesn’t need your vote.
Reflecting on the first verse of Psalm 93, Spurgeon wrote, “The LORD reigneth, or Jehovah reigns. Whatever opposition may arise, his throne is unmoved; he has reigned, does reign, and will reign for ever and ever. Whatever turmoil and rebellion there may be beneath the clouds, the eternal King sits above all in supreme serenity; and everywhere he is really Master, let his foes rage as they may. All things are ordered according to his eternal purposes, and his will is done.”
Not only should this reality help us to have a healthy fear of the Lord, but it should also give us great comfort, courage, and boldness. The Sovereign King of the Universe came after YOU! He laid down his earthly life for yours in order to secure your salvation which allows you to come into His presence forever and ever…because He WANTS to have you with him forever and ever! And when you are spending time in the valley of the shadow of death (Ps. 23:4), you need not worry, for He is with you! The King of All Things is YOUR King, and His goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life, and you will dwell in His house, forever (Ps. 23:6).
Amen and Amen.
