God Is In Control - Psalm 93
God Is In Control - Psalm 93
By Pastor Lee Hemen
September 2, 2007 AM
We may at times wonder if God is in control when tragedy strikes. When airliners are taken over by madmen bent on pursuing their insane theology of God by flying jetliners into skyscrapers and killing thousands of innocent people in the process. We may wonder when a hurricane batters a city and washes it almost away, after the dikes protecting it collapse. We may wonder when a young teenage girl is brutally raped and murdered by two illegal aliens who were friends of her uncles. Does this mean that God is not in control? The Psalmist would say, “NO! God is in control!” Let’s discover how we can find comfort and wisdom in knowing this during times of tragedy in our lives.
READ: Psalm 93
Human beings like to think they control their destiny, but the longer we live we learn that this is simply not true. We lose loved ones, businesses, friends, and family at a moments notice. What was once here one day is gone the next, like chaff being blown away in the wind. Just when we think there is nothing and no one in control we discover that…
I. God is always in control! (vv. 1-2)
1. He is clothed with majesty and strength! Indeed, “The LORD reigns, He is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed in majesty and is armed with strength.” God sits as King, exalted higher than the waves that rise above us, deeper than their immeasurable depths, greater than their strongest surge. The storm is in His all-powerful hands: “The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved,” for His rule over it was “established long ago… from all eternity.” God told Jeremiah, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13) We can take heart for our lives, God is always in control. In its darkest moment, as their leader was dying, Moses reminded Israel, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) God is always in control.
EXAMPLE: Rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix led a promiscuous life, indulging in drugs and behaving outrageously on and off the stage. At the end of a concert in 1970, Jimi smashed his guitar. According to Robert McGee and Donald Sapaugh in the book “Search for Peace,” the audience screamed and applauded, but suddenly the frenzied applause stopped. Jimi had fallen on his knees and was staying in that position motionless. He broke the stillness by asking, “If you know real peace, I want to visit with you backstage.” But apparently nobody responded to his startling invitation. Several days later he died from an overdose of drugs. Peace, real peace, eluded Jimi Hendrix. Do you know real peace? Have you discovered, as that rock star did, that fame, money, and self-indulgence don't bring inner serenity? Prayerfully, then, you need to make another discovery. Only through a trustful commitment to Christ can you experience peace with God. Open your heart in faith to the Prince of Peace, inviting Him to come into your life and take control of it. Then, underneath all of life's agitation, you can know the peace of God--the very tranquility of heaven in the depths of your soul “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7). God is always in control.
There is a famous photograph that later was made into a painting taken of a French lighthouse whereby it depicts an enormous wave crashing over it. If you look closely at the photograph, which was originally a series of three taken in quick succession, you can see a lone lighthouse keeper standing on the leeward side of the light as the wave crashes completely over. While the storms of life rage we often wonder if we can survive, yet it passes and we do. We discover that within the storm…
II. God’s power is seen and felt in His presence! (vv. 3-4)
1. The strength of God is our strength! We know from life that trouble comes our way, according to Psalm 93, in relentless waves that surge and pound against our very souls and break upon them with furious force. We feel it to our very depths, yet in the midst of this violence is the power of God Almighty! The ocean in its dark deep mystery is no match for the Creator who made it. “The seas have lifted up, O LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.” The tides of life cover us but we know that “Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea—the LORD on high is mighty!” Nothing on earth is greater than our God! In the Old Testament the sea is sometimes seen as a symbol of hostility. It is huge, deep, and can swallow a boat in moments. Very few who were lost on its surface returned. Often those who do not understand the power of God fail to see it or hear it when it comes by. Elijah was told by God to “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then we find that “a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” And it is there we discover the power of God, for like Elijah and our Psalmist discovered, we too learn that God’s power is seen and felt in His presence.
EXAMPLE: In October of 1991 a storm stronger than any in recorded history hit the coast off of Gloucester, Massachusetts. This "Perfect Storm" — so called because it was three storms combined into one — created an almost apocalyptic situation in the Atlantic ocean, where boats encountered waves of 100 feet (30 meters) — the equivalent of a ten-story building. These storms are some of the strongest and most terrifying manifestations of nature's strength. The crew of a swordfish boat the Andrea Gail was lost at sea and only a few small pieces of wreckage were ever found. Such power and might is amazing to see in person. I guess this is why many folks head to the beach when they hear a strong storm is coming ashore. They want to experience it for themselves. However, anyone who has ever been out at sea would not want to experience 100 foot waves in a small 72 foot fishing boat. As powerful as the wind and waves of the sea are, God’s power is seen and felt in His presence.
Conclusion:
Nations will go to war against one another, kingdoms will rise and fall, yet the majesty of the Lord remains. Isaiah tells us that “Oh, the raging of many nations—they rage like the raging sea! Oh, the uproar of the peoples—they roar like the roaring of great waters!” Yet the Psalmist understood that 1) God is always in control! And 2) God’s power is seen and felt in His presence! Why is this true? The Psalmist tells us that God’s “statutes stand firm.” His truth is sure. As Jesus related to His disciples, “if it were not so, I would have told you!” (John 14:2) God is in control and we can trust Him with our lives.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
September 2, 2007 AM
We may at times wonder if God is in control when tragedy strikes. When airliners are taken over by madmen bent on pursuing their insane theology of God by flying jetliners into skyscrapers and killing thousands of innocent people in the process. We may wonder when a hurricane batters a city and washes it almost away, after the dikes protecting it collapse. We may wonder when a young teenage girl is brutally raped and murdered by two illegal aliens who were friends of her uncles. Does this mean that God is not in control? The Psalmist would say, “NO! God is in control!” Let’s discover how we can find comfort and wisdom in knowing this during times of tragedy in our lives.
READ: Psalm 93
Human beings like to think they control their destiny, but the longer we live we learn that this is simply not true. We lose loved ones, businesses, friends, and family at a moments notice. What was once here one day is gone the next, like chaff being blown away in the wind. Just when we think there is nothing and no one in control we discover that…
I. God is always in control! (vv. 1-2)
1. He is clothed with majesty and strength! Indeed, “The LORD reigns, He is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed in majesty and is armed with strength.” God sits as King, exalted higher than the waves that rise above us, deeper than their immeasurable depths, greater than their strongest surge. The storm is in His all-powerful hands: “The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved,” for His rule over it was “established long ago… from all eternity.” God told Jeremiah, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13) We can take heart for our lives, God is always in control. In its darkest moment, as their leader was dying, Moses reminded Israel, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) God is always in control.
EXAMPLE: Rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix led a promiscuous life, indulging in drugs and behaving outrageously on and off the stage. At the end of a concert in 1970, Jimi smashed his guitar. According to Robert McGee and Donald Sapaugh in the book “Search for Peace,” the audience screamed and applauded, but suddenly the frenzied applause stopped. Jimi had fallen on his knees and was staying in that position motionless. He broke the stillness by asking, “If you know real peace, I want to visit with you backstage.” But apparently nobody responded to his startling invitation. Several days later he died from an overdose of drugs. Peace, real peace, eluded Jimi Hendrix. Do you know real peace? Have you discovered, as that rock star did, that fame, money, and self-indulgence don't bring inner serenity? Prayerfully, then, you need to make another discovery. Only through a trustful commitment to Christ can you experience peace with God. Open your heart in faith to the Prince of Peace, inviting Him to come into your life and take control of it. Then, underneath all of life's agitation, you can know the peace of God--the very tranquility of heaven in the depths of your soul “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7). God is always in control.
There is a famous photograph that later was made into a painting taken of a French lighthouse whereby it depicts an enormous wave crashing over it. If you look closely at the photograph, which was originally a series of three taken in quick succession, you can see a lone lighthouse keeper standing on the leeward side of the light as the wave crashes completely over. While the storms of life rage we often wonder if we can survive, yet it passes and we do. We discover that within the storm…
II. God’s power is seen and felt in His presence! (vv. 3-4)
1. The strength of God is our strength! We know from life that trouble comes our way, according to Psalm 93, in relentless waves that surge and pound against our very souls and break upon them with furious force. We feel it to our very depths, yet in the midst of this violence is the power of God Almighty! The ocean in its dark deep mystery is no match for the Creator who made it. “The seas have lifted up, O LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.” The tides of life cover us but we know that “Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea—the LORD on high is mighty!” Nothing on earth is greater than our God! In the Old Testament the sea is sometimes seen as a symbol of hostility. It is huge, deep, and can swallow a boat in moments. Very few who were lost on its surface returned. Often those who do not understand the power of God fail to see it or hear it when it comes by. Elijah was told by God to “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then we find that “a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” And it is there we discover the power of God, for like Elijah and our Psalmist discovered, we too learn that God’s power is seen and felt in His presence.
EXAMPLE: In October of 1991 a storm stronger than any in recorded history hit the coast off of Gloucester, Massachusetts. This "Perfect Storm" — so called because it was three storms combined into one — created an almost apocalyptic situation in the Atlantic ocean, where boats encountered waves of 100 feet (30 meters) — the equivalent of a ten-story building. These storms are some of the strongest and most terrifying manifestations of nature's strength. The crew of a swordfish boat the Andrea Gail was lost at sea and only a few small pieces of wreckage were ever found. Such power and might is amazing to see in person. I guess this is why many folks head to the beach when they hear a strong storm is coming ashore. They want to experience it for themselves. However, anyone who has ever been out at sea would not want to experience 100 foot waves in a small 72 foot fishing boat. As powerful as the wind and waves of the sea are, God’s power is seen and felt in His presence.
Conclusion:
Nations will go to war against one another, kingdoms will rise and fall, yet the majesty of the Lord remains. Isaiah tells us that “Oh, the raging of many nations—they rage like the raging sea! Oh, the uproar of the peoples—they roar like the roaring of great waters!” Yet the Psalmist understood that 1) God is always in control! And 2) God’s power is seen and felt in His presence! Why is this true? The Psalmist tells us that God’s “statutes stand firm.” His truth is sure. As Jesus related to His disciples, “if it were not so, I would have told you!” (John 14:2) God is in control and we can trust Him with our lives.
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