“In Times Like These”
Psalm 93
Dennis O. Wretlind, Ph.D.
Introduction
You may recall the
old hymn, “In Times Like These,” by George Beverly Shea. The lyrics connect
well with today’s disturbing headlines:
In times like these you need a Savior
In times like these you need an anchor
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
In times like these you need an anchor
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
This Rock is Jesus, Yes He's the One
This Rock is Jesus, the only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
This Rock is Jesus, the only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
In times like these you need the Bible
In times like these, O be not idle
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
In times like these, O be not idle
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
This Rock is Jesus, Yes He's the One
This Rock is Jesus, the only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
This Rock is Jesus, the only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
This old hymn and our text for today
bear an affinity, a connection both to the world in general and to our
individual lives in particular. Our text is Psalm 93, a poetic Psalm with four
movements. Listen and visualize the relationships between the Psalm and the
hymn.
First Movement
The LORD reigns, He is
clothed with majesty;
The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.
Your
throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting.
Second Movement
The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
The floods have lifted up their voice,
The floods lift up their pounding waves.
Third Movement
More than the sounds of many waters,
Than the mighty breakers of the sea,
The LORD on high is mighty.
Fourth Movement
Your testimonies are fully confirmed;
Holiness befits Your house,
O LORD, forevermore.
Let us examine this Hebrew poem and let it orient us who live “In Times
Like These.”
I. Reflect, 1-2
The first movement
of this Psalm, verses 1-2, encourages us to reflect on a truth we need
to keep in the forefront of our minds as we listen to the news or interact with
our friends and neighbors. That truth—God Reigns. No one or no situation
dethrones Him from His sovereign control. Furthermore, He is clothed with
majesty, a word focusing on His eternal attributes; and, in our Psalm, one of
those attributes is God’s infinite power with which He has clothed Himself. As
the eternal King, God reigns and exercises His control over all things whether
we understand what’s going on or not “In Times Like These.”
As we look at or
hear about the various calamities in the world we need to recall this
theological truth that corresponds to God’s reign as the only sovereign King. God
created the world. Yet sometimes we wonder how long it can continue to exist in
its seemingly downward spiral into anarchy, confusion, and eventual death. The
answer to our bewilderment is simple—the world remains and will continue
to remain until its Creator, the Sovereign God, decides otherwise. No one or no
situation can supplant God or His plan for our world. We may not understand why
situations such as the coronavirus outbreak or the economic collapse fits into
God’s plan, but we know He controls all. Therefore, the first movement of Psalm
93 focuses our minds away from the seemingly unsolvable troubles facing us
daily and towards our King who controls everything.
II. Reality, 3
The second movement,
verse 3, introduces us to some of the beauties of Hebrew poetry. Observe the
rising crescendo of placid waters increasing in volume, “The floods have lifted up, O LORD.” Listen to the roar of the flood waters,
“The floods have lifted up their voice.” Hear the waves crashing on the shore,
“The floods lift up their pounding waves.” A marvel of sight and sounds that I enjoyed
when living in Oregon. But the reality of these wondrous sights and
sounds also embody an element of danger.
Psalm 93 is a metaphor
of life. When the storms of life blot out the sun and descend upon us with
increasing strength, it is difficult to calm ourselves and see above the storm
to connect with the sovereign God. Panic sets in. We are consumed by seeking a refuge
from the dangers. The storms take various forms: health issues, financial
concerns, social interactions—all of which affect the Coronavirus patients as
well as he rest of us—and many other pressures of life that cause anxiety,
fear, and depression. Our greatest need is to reflect on God who remains
sovereign even over the storms that descend upon us. But we tend to focus our
minds and emotions on actual or impending disasters.
III.
Refocus, 4
The
third movement of our Psalm seeks to pull us back mentally and emotionally away
from the storm’s realities and upwards towards God. Verse 4 begins with the sounds
of winds and crashing waves on the shores of our lives, but by faith the
Psalmist sees above the storm clouds and recalls that “The Lord reigns!” God knows
all things and controls all things. He sees us cringing amid the storms and wants
to come to us and help us refocus our thoughts and calm our emotions, “More than the sounds of many waters, Than the mighty breakers of the sea, The
LORD on high is mighty.” The storm may still be present but we can see above
the storm and by faith rest in our sovereign God. In time, God’s time, the
clouds will pass and the sun will shine!
IV. Reexamine, 5
Verse
5 is the final movement of Psalm 93. It is
a reminder to reexamine our relationship to this sovereign God who knows
all and controls all. How was the Psalmist able to see above the storm? “Your testimonies are fully confirmed; Holiness befits Your house, O LORD, forevermore.”
He heard the testimonies of God from the Word of God. He believed them. And he understood
that living the way God commanded in Scripture establishes a vital and ongoing relationship
to Him giving him and us the ability to see above the inevitable storms of life
and be at peace “In Times Like These.”
Conclusion and Application
The conclusion and
application of this message was in the Introduction. Listen once again to these
words.
In times like these you need a Savior
In times like these you need an anchor
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
In times like these you need an anchor
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
This Rock is Jesus, Yes He's the One
This Rock is Jesus, the only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
This Rock is Jesus, the only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
In times like these you need the Bible
In times like these, O be not idle
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
In times like these, O be not idle
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
This Rock is Jesus, Yes He's the One
This Rock is Jesus, the only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
This Rock is Jesus, the only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
