Psalm 93 — August 2

The LORD is king, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed, he is girded with strength. He has established the world; it shall never be moved; your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters, more majestic than the waves of the sea, majestic on high is the LORD! Your decrees are very sure; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.

The Lord is forevermore — from the beginning of everything to the end of all things, the Lord “Is”.

This understanding of course moves beyond our fullest knowing. How can we fathom what was not — before what was? We cannot — at least I cannot. I think this is why I like G-d’s response to Moses — Moses, who in Exodus 3 has this exchange with God: “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

You see, G-d is an action — G-d’s name is a verb. G-d is not a thing — nothing we can actually put an image to — though that has not stopped us throughout the millennia. For example, when we hear the Psalmist say the “Lord is King” — well we know what a king sitting on a throne looks like — so that must be what G-d looks like. But that is a reductionist way to see our King.

I like to think of G-d as Spirit — as Creation — as Redemption — and as Sanctifier. Those are words that move, that demonstrate action, that keep G-d alive and active in my world. Yes, G-d is King — and Jesus is Lord. But they are not static and motionless among us. They are moving and acting in our world today — like the waters of a flood, they cannot be stopped.

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus, triumphant Victor and glorious King, continue to spread Your kingdom on earth, converting the nations from the power of darkness unto Your light. Preserve Your Gospel in its truth and purity to us and to our children in all generations. Grant us to worship You in righteousness and true holiness all our days, and finally receive us into those glorious mansions that You have prepared in the house of Your Father.

Amen.