Ps 93: Sovereignty of God

93:1-5 The King acclaimed. The affirmation of vs 1-2 moves into the picture of vs 3-4 and the solemn consequence for the Lord’s people (5); vs 1-2 work downwards from the securely enthroned Lord to the derivative security of the world he rules; vs 3-4 work upwards from the turbulence of earth’s ‘forces’ to the serene might of his exaltation. The earth is a safe place to live in because he reigns; and even when it is at its most turbulent he is still on the throne. 1 emphasizes the Lord’s clothing: robed...robed... armed, ‘has girded himself’. As a motif, ‘clothing’ indicates character and intent (e.g. Jos. 5:13-15; Is. 59:16-18). The Lord wears the garb of royalty because he is, and intends to act as, king. Why the world is firmly established we are not told, but the fact that this truth is sandwiched between the Lord’s reign (1) and his throne (2) speaks volumes. While he reigns earth remains stable. 3-4 use the restless seas to portray all the forces of destruction and hostility in the created order—whether violent storms themselves, or the turbulence of nations (Ps. 2) or even (as pagans thought) the ceaseless warfare of spiritual forces of chaos against the Creator. No matter what the turbulence, the LORD on high is mighty. 5 matches v 2 in the structure of the psalm. There, God who is by nature eternal occupies his eternal throne; here the God who lives in his house among his people has spoken his unchanging word and makes holiness his unchanging requirement.