Mightier Than The Waterfalls

Psalm 93

Psalm 93 is a short, little psalm, but one which tells a great truth about our great God.  Yahweh, the one true God, reigns over all creation. He reigns over the earth (vs 1-2) and over the sea (vs 3-4). This brief psalm concludes with verifying the Lord’s authoritative revelation in His Word (vs. 5).

In the pagan religions there were multitudes of gods and goddesses, each with their own specialty that they were the god or goddess of. For example, the pagan Greeks believed that Ares was the god of war, Demeter the goddess of agriculture and harvest, Aphrodite the goddess of love, and Poseidon the god of the seas, floods, and earthquakes. The list goes on and on.  Demeter wouldn’t be invoked for war, nor Ares involved with the oceans. This was the same with pagan religions the world over. Our psalmist today, knowing that the pagan gods and goddesses are all false, proclaims that Yahweh, the only true God, is God over all, the earth, the oceans, and everything in them.  He isn’t a limited god, with minimal powers. He is the one, only, all-powerful, true God.

Our psalmist describes in verse 1 the royal majesty of God as King. Many of you may have seen pictures or videos of the Queen or other royal monarchs in their royal robes and crown, either at their coronation, opening of Parliament, or other state functions.  For most monarchs around the world, their position is mostly ceremonial, and they have no real ruling power. That is not the case with the Lord God. He reigns with power, strength, and majesty. His throne is established from time past, and through all eternity (vs. 2).

When I was a child, I went to Niagara Falls.  I remember how extremely loud the waterfalls are.  I also remember how wet we got when riding the Maid of the Mist boat close to the falls.  The Lord God is mightier than those waterfalls, or any other great waterfalls around the world (vs. 3-4).  In the last several years there have been a number of very powerful hurricanes, with their strong winds and surging waves.  People are warned to keep away from the oceans and beaches when there is a powerful storm. Our Lord is more mighty and powerful than these storms.

Yahweh is not a weak god with failings and flaws, like the pagan gods had.  He is perfect in His moral character (vs 5). God will never do anything that is not morally perfect.  Our only suitable response to a holy God should be a desire to be holy, as well. God says for us to be holy, as He is holy (Leviticus 19:1-2; I Peter 1:15-16).

There are some days when we might feel like we are on a small boat or raft, drifting down the river towards those powerful and dangerous waterfalls.  We can hear the roar of the waves, maybe even see the waterfalls in the distance as we drift closer and closer. We are in danger, but we have no way to get safely to the shore before we go over the falls.  God is a mighty God, not just in power and majesty as described in our psalm, but also mighty in His love for us, and power to save us. When we call upon the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, He rescues us from the power of Satan and sin, and eternal damnation.  When we call upon God for help with the trials and problems of our life, some of them as distressing and serious as a looming waterfall, He is there to help us with His mighty power, as well.

As God’s rule over the earth is stable, so His revelation given through Scripture is trustworthy.  Nothing is more powerful than the Lord. Nothing is more steadfast than His reign. Nothing is more sure than His revelation.  Let us trust in our powerful and mighty Savior.