Psalm 93:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring.

NIV: The seas have lifted up, Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.

NASB: The floods have lifted up, Lord, The floods have lifted up their voice, The floods lift up their pounding waves.

CSB: The floods have lifted up, Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their pounding waves.

NLT: The floods have risen up, O Lord. The floods have roared like thunder; the floods have lifted their pounding waves.

KJV: The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.

NKJV: The floods have lifted up, O Lord, The floods have lifted up their voice; The floods lift up their waves.

These references to water (Psalm 93:4) imply several different ideas. Moving water is incredibly powerful: over time, it wears down the strongest rocks and bursts through the thickest walls. Many Scriptures use the metaphor of a flood as an example of an unstoppable force (Job 27:20; Psalm 69:2; Revelation 12:15). God's power is even stronger than these.

Water—specifically, the sea—is also a symbol of chaos and ignorance (Psalm 65:7; Isaiah 57:20). This is tied to the Jewish perspective on Gentile nations. Non-Jewish cultures are often represented by their bodies of water, such as the Nile for Egypt (Zechariah 10:11) or the Euphrates for Assyria (Isaiah 8:7–8). These, as well, are subject to the power of the Lord. Even when these nations band together against God (Psalm 2:2–3) they have no hope of victory (Psalm 2:1; 46:6). In the book of Revelation, the sea is tamed and calmed by God (Revelation 4:6; 15:2).

Psalm 93:3–5 compares the power of God to that of seas and rivers. These references to water also imply the Gentile—non-Jewish—nations. Those are powerful, but the Lord is far stronger. God is the very definition of might. The Lord is also faithful and reliable. What God says is entirely true; His obvious power proves He can be trusted.

The psalm opens with praise to the Lord. The focus is on His magnificence and incredible power. Because He is eternal and sovereign, the world which He created cannot be destroyed by any other being. Even the power of flood, rivers, and oceans is nothing compared to the power of God. God's power and knowledge should inspire trust in all He has said.

Several psalms are considered "enthronement" or "theocratic" passages. Other than this chapter, these include Psalms 24, 47, and 95—99. Some consider Psalm 15 an appropriate addition to the list. These songs celebrate the rule of God over the entire earth. Many look forward to the end times, when Jesus Christ, the Messiah, will govern the world personally for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 12/18/2024 1:13:24 PM