◄ Psalm 93:5 ►














Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
God In Revelation The Same As God In Nature
Psalm 93:5
R. Tuck
Thy testimonies are very sure. The use of this word "testimonies" in other psalms suggests that God's witness to man in his revealed Word is meant by it. The unity of the psalm would, however, be preserved if we regarded the "testimonies" here as those which God makes to man through nature. The point of the verse is usually set forth in such a way as this: "The permanence of the covenant, and of the outward signs that attest it, is to the Israelite proof of the superiority of the Divine power over the forces of nature." "The moral Law is a truer evidence of the existence of God than the uniformity of natural law."

I. REVELATION NEVER CONTRADICTS NATURE. When there are seeming contradictions, it is necessary to inquire whether we have the testimony of nature clear or confused. For man, interfering with Nature's order, has confused her witness. And so it is necessary to inquire whether we have the revelation pure and simple, since there is often a material difference between what God has revealed, and what man makes of that which is revealed. The contradictions belong to the man mark put on revelation and nature. Both are from one hand and mind, and are in absolute harmony.

II. REVELATION CONFIRMS NATURE. Set out an orderly scheme of nature religion; carefully fix its principles; and you will surely find they are the first principles of revelation. Indeed, revelation only comes to support primary principles of nature religion, because men overlay them with manufactured religious systems. Nature worship is quite a different thing from natural religion.

III. REVELATION ENLARGES UPON NATURE. Nature sets forth mainly what may be called the physical attributes of God - power, wisdom, etc. In a general way it shows God's goodness, and, declaring that qualities attach to actions, prepares for the realization of God as Judge, Rewarder, and Punisher. Revelation deals fully with God's moral qualities and relations; and has for its climax the disclosure of the Divine redemptive purpose, which, as wrought out, upholds every primary attribute of God that nature exhibits. - R.T.

Biblical Illustrator
Thy testimonies are very sure.
Psalm 93:5
Things that are sure
G. W. McCree.
Men love things that are sure. Uncertainty is painful, and often maketh the heart sick. We cannot live upon shadows and clouds. It is no use building a house upon the sand.

I. THE PROTECTION OF GOD (Psalm 18:2; Psalm 125:2). God is our strength, our shelter, our shield, our sun, and for ever. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my Father's love shall be my portion, my joy, my immortal life. This is enough; I ask no more.

II. THE FULFILMENT OF HOLY SCRIPTURE. The ruins of Tyre, Babylon, and Nineveh attest that there was in ancient years a sure word of prophecy, and, as time passes on, the Word of the Lord continueth to be its own witness. It needs no defence. The Bible, in the march of daily events, is fulfilled to the letter. Sooner shall the Nile cease to flow, to rise and fall, than the word of prophecy fail. So with the promises of the Bible. They are renewed every morning.

III. THE CONFUSION OF SLANDERERS. Let loose talkers remember (Proverbs 19:5). And if the liar and gossip should have annoyed you, let your soul find hope in this gracious promise (Proverbs 16:7). Go on your way, then, with a light step and a brave heart, and the Lord in whom you trust will deliver and comfort you.

IV. THE HARVEST TIME. Science teaches you that the earth's fertility is boundless. Cultivate it wisely, and it will blossom as the rose. And what saith the Scripture of God, and the earth which He made (Genesis 8:22; Psalm 145:15; Psalm 23:1)? Fear not, then, to ask God for your daily bread. He hath promised it; He will give it.

V. THE REWARD OF TRUE SERVICE. God is a good paymaster. He will not be debtor to any man. His reward will be abundant. Be brave and true, then, in the service of God.

VI. THE REMISSION OF SINS. This salvation is free. You need bring no silver, gold, or precious stones. This salvation is full. It is for every soul and for every sin. This salvation is everlasting. It begins on earth, and is continued in heaven.

VII. THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST.

(G. W. McCree.)

Holiness becometh Thine house, O Lord, for ever
The house of the Lord
E. J. Robinson.
I. THE NECESSITY OF HOLINESS.

1. The ministers of God's house must be holy in manner, motive, life, doctrine.

2. They must preach holiness.

3. All in the Lord's house are called to holiness. It is profitable to meditate beforehand on the glorious majesty and might of the Eternal Sovereign to whose palace we are going. It is dangerous to .engage in worldly conversation, or irrelevant thoughts, up to the sacred porch.

II. THE METHOD OF HOLINESS. They do not show an intelligent appreciation of the holiness of the house of the Lord who are indifferent to the order and symmetry of its services. One step in public and united worship rests on another. If the first be missed it is not easy to reach the second. Be in time! There is a calm preliminary exercise indispensable to those who would be in time for the entire service. Looking round to know what people are coming in and going out is not the business of everybody. Let your thoughts be directed continually to the Lord.

(E. J. Robinson.)

The beauty of holiness
W. H. Harwood.
Beauty is a strong and deep word, capable of the fullest possible meanings. There is nothing which appeals to the finer side of our emotional nature which may not be included in the word beautiful. Well, we find that God has added to His wisdom and power that great adornment which we call "beauty"; in all our natural relations with Him we are constantly meeting with it and being uplifted by it. It is the allurement which is ever seeking to draw us to better and noble ideals; it seems to give us glimpses into worlds of enjoyment which are in the nature of God Himself; it is the music which accompanies the march of knowledge, the glow and enthusiasm which dignifies the colder toils of mere science. Beauty! it is God's mark upon the world. Well, but the inquirer asks, in my other relationship to God, the moral relationship, is there any adornment or accompaniment which may be said to be parallel to this? if God has adorned the work of His hands with this wonderful beauty, is there anything in the moral world corresponding, and the answer is, Yes. You have it again and again in the Hebrew phrase, "the beauty of holiness." "Holiness becometh thine house." The real beauty of religion gathers about the personal character; the adornment of a house of prayer is in the lives of the people who worship in it. Men and women who during the week have lived beautiful lives — just and honest, merciful and kind, intelligent and refined — if they gathered in the plainest meeting-house ever erected, and their worship was devoid of all ritual, would there not be a beauty in it which nothing sensuous could ever create, a spirit in it which would be an inspiration to all who were present? But for this worship they must come together. Solitary worship is impossible to most men; we must feel the common pulse of sympathy, and so coming together we make the reality of the worship. "Holiness becometh thine house." They who bring into it the earnest desire to find the inspiration for the best and noblest life will bring with them the secrets of a beautiful worship. We shall utterly fail to accomplish this unless we seek to grow familiar with the beautiful aspects of God's own will and character. It is an unfailing law that you grow like that with which you are most familiar. We carry about with us the manners of the place which commands most of our time and affection. Let our religion be the mere letter, the lifeless creed, the rigid formalism, and whatever fidelity and strength there may be about us, our life and our worship, there will have no beauty. We shall repel where we ought to attract. We shall wonder why others are so joyous and why to us there is so much constraint in religion. But we have to cultivate the other side, and it is the earnest endeavour of some of us to seek in our teaching always to discover that side — the side which allures, attracts by the noblest means. And we can hardly do that without striving to show the dangers and imperfections of the merely formal side of religion. To preach against a dead creed is not to say a word against a living, a beautiful belief. To denounce the orthodox uncharitable is not to say a word against the loving, vital theology of one whose beliefs are all warm with the love of God and of men. To point out the dangers of mere artistic performance in worship is not to deny to any man the right to express the sense of adoration in the way which seems to be most suitable. But we must stand by the living belief and the sincere worship, and they are inseparable from character, and character is fed by the living truths of God. Let us be quite frank with ourselves. Are we earnestly striving to be better men and women? Do we come to this act of worship with the honest desire to gain strength to conquer all our evil, and to become truthful, right-doing, brave, compassionate men and women? If that is our aim we bring the best adornment — a beauty greater than any of art or music — the holiness which becomes the house of God.

(W. H. Harwood.)

Holiness becomes the worship and service of God
A. B. Grosart.
In the temple, every "little" ornament even of the mighty structure that crowned the cliffs of Zion was "holy" to the Lord. Not the great courts and inner shrines and pillared halls merely, but all. Not a carved pomegranate, not a bell, silver or golden, but was "holy." The table and its lamps, with flowers of silver light, tent and staves, fluttering curtain and ascending incense, altar and sacrifice, breastplate and ephod, mitre and gem-clasped girdle, wreathen chains and jewelled hangings — over all was inscribed "Holy," while within, in the innermost shrine, where God manifested Himself above the mercy-seat, was the Holiest. Thus the utter holiness of that God with whom they had to do was by every detail impressed upon the heart and conscience of ancient Israel.

(A. B. Grosart.).

O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth... show Thyself.
Psalm 94
Persecutors and their victims
Homilist.
I. THE AWFUL CONDITION OF THE WICKED PERSECUTOR. The persecutors referred to (vers. 1-10) are represented as "proud," speaking "hard things," as "workers of iniquity," as "breaking in pieces" the people of God, as "slaying the widow and the stranger," and "murdering the fatherless." Every age and country has abounded with such oppressors, they are rife even in this land of liberty.

1. They are prayed against by their godly victims (vers. 1, 2).

2. They are understood by their godly victims, who saw in their hearts —

(1)Atheism (ver. 7).

(2)Brutality (ver. 8).

(3)Folly (vers. 8-10).

II. THE BLESSED CONDITION OF THEIR PIOUS VICTIMS. These victims regarded their persecution —

1. As a Divine chastisement (ver. 12). All afflictions even when they come by the cruel persecution of men are employed by the Almighty Father as chastisements and corrections. Although He does not originate the evil He directs it and uses it for good.

2. As a Divine chastisement that would come to an end (ver. 13). The afflictions will not continue for ever, a long and blessed repose will ensue. The persecutors will fall into the pit which they have dug. The sinner is ever his own destroyer; with every crime he is sinking his own dark bottomless pit into which he must fall.

3. As a chastisement under which they were guaranteed Divine support. The pious victims experienced

(1)Divine help (vers. 17, 18).

(2)Divine consolation (ver. 19).

4. As a Divine chastisement that would end in the ruin of their enemies (vers. 20-23).

(Homilist.)

People
Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Adorns, Becometh, Befits, Comely, Confirmed, Decrees, Endless, Evermore, Firm, Forevermore, Fully, Holiness, Holy, Length, O, Stand, Statutes, Stedfast, Sure, Testimonies, Witness
Outline
1. The majesty, stability, power, and holiness of Christ's kingdom.

Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 93:5

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Library
February 15 Evening
The floods lift up their waves.--PSA. 93:3. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.--O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it? When thou …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

The Need of Scripture, as a Guide and Teacher, in Coming to God as a Creator.
1. God gives his elect a better help to the knowledge of himself--viz. the Holy Scriptures. This he did from the very first. 2. First, By oracles and visions, and the ministry of the Patriarchs. Secondly, By the promulgation of the Law, and the preaching of the Prophets. Why the doctrines of religion are committed to writing. 3. This view confirmed, 1. By the depravity of our nature making it necessary in every one who would know God to have recourse to the word; 2. From those passages of the Psalms …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to Christians to be Holy. By John Bunyan.
Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.'--[Psalm 93:5] London, by B. W., for Benj. Alsop, at the Angel and Bible, in the Poultrey. 1684. THE EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. This is the most searching treatise that has ever fallen under our notice. It is an invaluable guide to those sincere Christians, who, under a sense of the infinite importance of the salvation of an immortal soul, and of the deceitfulness of their hearts, sigh and cry, "O Lord of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Foundation of the House of St. Joseph. The Observation of Holy Poverty Therein. How the Saint Left Toledo.
1. When I was staying with this lady, [1] already spoken of, in whose house I remained more than six months, our Lord ordained that a holy woman [2] of our Order should hear of me, who was more than seventy leagues away from the place. She happened to travel this way, and went some leagues out of her road that she might see me. Our Lord had moved her in the same year, and in the same month of the year, that He had moved me, to found another monastery of the Order; and as He had given her this desire, …
Teresa of Avila—The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus

A Canticle of Love
It is not only when He is about to send me some trial that Our Lord gives me warning and awakens my desire for it. For years I had cherished a longing which seemed impossible of realisation--to have a brother a Priest. I often used to think that if my little brothers had not gone to Heaven, I should have had the happiness of seeing them at the Altar. I greatly regretted being deprived of this joy. Yet God went beyond my dream; I only asked for one brother who would remember me each day at the Holy …
Therese Martin (of Lisieux)—The Story of a Soul

The Chorus of Angels
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour and glory, and blessing! I t was a good report which the queen of Sheba heard, in her own land, of the wisdom and glory of Solomon. It lessened her attachment to home, and prompted her to undertake a long journey to visit this greater King, of whom she had heard so much. She went, and she was not disappointed. Great as the expectations were, which she had formed from the relation made her by others, …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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