Psalm 93English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio
1 The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
2 Your throne is established from of old;
you are from everlasting.
3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
the floods have lifted up their voice;
the floods lift up their roaring.
4 Mightier than the thunders of many waters,
mightier than the waves of the sea,
the Lord on high is mighty!
5 Your decrees are very trustworthy;
holiness befits your house,
O Lord, forevermore.
We were talking about Niagara Falls this weekend at a family gathering. Every one was talking about what they'd seen and we were all excited about Having Seen It.
Like God putting on His strength.
2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline
Paul wrote this to Timothy, yet Paul believed this of himself. 2 Corinthian 11, 12, 13 describes Paul as he was exchanging violence for empathy. A man who wove worldly strength for Christ. Weakness for Jesus Christ. Strength for Jesus.
2 Corinthians 10:10
For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.”
Paul stood before many powerful, historical figures. Before the established men. The men he stood before knew of their own importance: Felix and then Festus, two Roman Procurators of Judaea. Paul stood before King Agrippa and Queen Bernice. Paul was on trial before the Roman Emperor Claudius, who released Paul. And Paul stood before Nero, who sentenced Paul to death.
God was reigning even then.
The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty.
They don't name hospitals after Nero. There are not Churches where Agrippa and Bernice stood. We have no message of enduring hope and salvation brought forth from Claudius.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
How is this helpful to us today?
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
We all desire growth in some areas. Paul grew his self-control. He grew it in faithfulness.
Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Paul never claimed to be utterly weak, or utterly strong; staying in one place. He did claim he had knowledge of Jesus Christ. He saw God using times of worldly importance to boost faith. He saw times people thought him foolish, to endure. He saw God able to use all circumstance. In faith, he shared in God's glory.
2 Corinthians 11:
Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.
Father God, so many dangers Paul faced, we will not face. We would not want to have this happen to us in life. Father God, Paul could do this only because Paul had Your strength.
Sometimes in life, floods will lift up. We will remember the roar of Niagara Falls, the roaring noise and the power surge as the Voice of Our Father. Let us fasten on Your belt of strength. The belt of truth. Let us take up the breastplate of righteousness, having the gospel of peace to carry our feet in Your Ways. We will need Your shield - Faith. Salvation to cover and lift our head. You give us Your Word as our sword. We will pray to You at all times and in Your Spirit in supplication. Let us go forward in the Plans You have for us knowing that in Jesus Christ I can do all things. Amen.
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Other Scripture for Today Blogspot readings on Psalm 93: May 3, 2008
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