The title I have given to our study this evening is The Sovereign King and His Conquering Kingdom. The Sovereign King and His Conquering Kingdom. Embedded within the five verses of this psalm, the psalmist provides us with six descriptive declarations of God as the eternal king and the triumph of his spiritual kingdom. Let me walk you through the passage highlighting what the author of this psalm is so captivated by as he contemplates truth about the God who is, and the God he knows, and the God he worships. If you're taking notes this evening, beginning in verse one, I want you to partake in the psalmist's gaze upon the king. Verse one. The Lord reigneth. He is clothed with majesty. The Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself. The world also is established that it cannot be moved. Now from this one verse, I want you to carefully notice what the king of the psalm is like. The psalmist tells us first that he, the king, is sovereign. He begins by declaring him as Lord. And the word Lord here in all caps in our English Bible translations is the Hebrew name Yahweh. which is the name emphasizing God as he is in his unique superiority and power as well as the covenant God of Israel. You will remember that the Shema, which is the central Jewish prayer taken from Deuteronomy chapter six involves declaring God the creator as the Lord. Capital L, capital O, capital R, capital D. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our possessive God is one Lord. The Lord, who is the sovereign ruler over his creation and over his people, is one, absolute, self-existent, eternal, and immutable being. He, the Lord, is the God of all gods. He, the Lord, is the Lord who has always been and who will always be. Remember what God told Moses when Moses was sent to go to Israel. God tells Moses to tell God's people that I am has sent you. Moses said, well, how can I convince Israel that this truly is a word given from the Lord? Moses, when you go, make sure you tell them that I am, that I am has sent you. And by way of emphasizing this one truth, With another repetitive truth, the psalmist says that this sovereign Lord who has always been reigns. Meaning that he is acting as the influence over all things. He as king resides as the ruling sovereign one over heaven and earth. This is the first truth being contemplated and declared by the psalmist about the Lord here in verse one. The first truth is that he is the exclusive king. Picture him as this. He is the king. The psalmist tells us second that he as the king is sublime. This is the second attribute highlighted about the king. Not only is he the ruling authority over all, not only is he the king, but as king, he is sublime. Verse one says, the Lord the king is clothed with majesty, just as earthly kings in times past would wear royal robes to display their authority over others. So the psalmist says that the Lord who reigns is clothed with magnificence. The Lord who reigns is most excellent. He is most beautiful. He is most glorious. As you picture the high and holy one, as you picture the king, picture him in his infinite beauty. This king is majestic. The psalmist tells us, third, that the king is strong. First, he is sovereign. Second, he is sublime. Third, He is strong. We're still in verse one. The Lord is clothed with strength, with power, with might. He, as the sovereign Lord, by the word of His power, spoke all things into existence. And He, as the sovereign Lord, at this very moment, continues to hold all things by the power of His word. He, the Lord, said, Genesis 1, let there be light, and in a moment there was light. His sovereign power in an instant was on display. No one was the counselor of the Lord. No one was the instructor of the Lord, telling him what to do or how to do it. The Lord did whatever pleased Him because He is the Lord. So the psalmist adds there at the end of verse one, that the world also is established, that it cannot be moved, it cannot be altered. The Lord, who sovereignly created and upholds the world, cannot be overthrown and destroyed by the power of weak, finite men. For the Lord is King, so it cannot be moved. Psalm 46 exemplifies this very truth. Though the world be destroyed as it were, though the nations quake and shake, the world cannot be altered apart from the power of God. This leads us to the fourth truth being declared about the king, which is his self-sufficiency. The psalmist tells us fourth that the king is self-sufficient. Notice it. The Lord is clothed with string, wherewith he hath girded himself. In other words, no man, no God gave God this string. No man taught the Lord what he ought to be. He, God, the Lord, the King, clothed Himself with power, majesty, and strength. So this teaches us He, the Lord, the King, does not need created beings to make Him what He is. He already is what He is. He, the Lord, the king, does not need sinful men to establish his authority in heaven and earth. He already is the authority in heaven and earth. So let's recap, who is the king who has captured the attention of the author of this psalm? Number one, he is a king who is sovereign. Number two, he is a king who is sublime. Number three, he is a king who is strong. Number four, he is a king who is self-sufficient. The first statement declared in the psalm centers around the king, namely who he is and what he is like. The second statement declared in the psalm centers around the king's kingdom. In verse two, the psalmist declares that this king has a kingdom. Notice it, verse two. Thy throne is established of old, thou art from everlasting. Well, this is rational. If the king is eternal, then his kingdom is eternal. If there was never a time in which the Lord as king did not reign as the absolute sovereign one, then this means there was never a time that his kingdom did not exist. This means that God has always had a kingdom appointed and prepared for him. If He, the Lord, the King, is eternal and spiritual in nature, then it is only reasonable that His kingdom is eternal and spiritual in nature, because that which is physical has not always been. That which is physical was created. Everything physical had a time, had a moment of beginning, but the King and His kingdom have always existed. Earthly kings, earthly kingdoms are not from everlasting. Earthly kings and kingdoms came as a result of being created by God, by the king, the eternal one. But God, the king, God, the Lord has been king from eternity past and his kingdom has always existed as it relates to his eternal plan and purpose. This is the second truth that is declared by the psalmist in verse two. Verse one, we hear a royal proclamation about the king. Verse two, we hear a royal proclamation about the king's kingdom. And then verse three, we hear a royal proclamation about the king's enemies. This is the third statement declared in the psalm that is centered around the king. Again, picture it in your mind. This king has a kingdom. And this king who has a kingdom also has strong enemies. What king and kingdom doesn't? And you will notice in the psalm that his enemies are depicted by the psalmist as dangerous waters. Verse three, the floods have lifted up, O Lord. The floods have lifted up their voice. The floods lift up their waves. What is the psalmist speaking about? Is he speaking about a forecast of rain? Is he talking about physical waters coming and flooding the land or something else? Well, in our comparing scripture with scripture, we find that the mentioning of floods, waves, and waters often illustrate other nations and the multitude of people who marched together as a troop. Interestingly enough, the prophet Jeremiah, Jeremiah 46, describes the nation of Egypt as a flood of waters. The prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 8 describes the nation of Assyria as strong and mighty waters. So the poetic references to floods, noisy waves, and dangerous waters which cause disaster, destruction, and despair are the surrounding kingdoms of men who are being destroyed or being controlled by Satan himself. You see, this world in the kingdom of men is nothing more than an ocean filled with raging waters, raging people who are seeking to drown out the causes of God. The kingdoms of earth, influenced by Satan, are seeking to steal, kill, and to destroy the work of God. Psalm 2 says that the heathen, the unbelievers, those who do not know Christ, rage in their hearts. The heathen rage against God and against God's anointed. Since the beginning of time, the majority of people in this world have withstood the authority of God in their life, and they have often approached God's people as a dangerous way. Psalm 2, but he who sits in the heavens, who stands watch as the sovereign lifeguard of his people shall laugh. when he sees such waves coming to destroy. Because verse four says, the Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. In other words, he who created the waves, he who created the nations can cause the ferocious waves to be still at the command of his word. This leads us to the fourth statement declared in the psalm. The fourth statement declared in the psalm is the king's might. Having heard the royal proclamation about the king, his kingdom, and the king's enemies, the psalmist wants us to know in verse four that the king is full of power over his enemies. lest you be frightened and scared about the dangerous waves that come into our world and sometimes flood our soul. The psalmist would have us know something of the king's might. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. Specifically, the king's might over the might of other kingdoms is greater. So let's tie all the truths of the psalm together so that we might see this one amazing glorious truth. The king who is sovereign, sublime, strong, and self-sufficient has a kingdom that is eternal. And though the kingdoms of men rage against his kingly authority and his kingdom that is established on earth, he, the king, is stronger than all the nations of men put together and all the powers of hell that can be energized in its fullest effort. Take all the wicked men of this world, take all the powers of darkness sent from hell itself, and the king is stronger. Compared to the sovereign Lord, as Martin Luther says in A Mighty Fortress, one little word shall fail him. Doesn't take a big word from the Lord, just a little. One little snap of the finger can silence Satan's rumblings. One little glance towards the defeated feline can send that raging lion to us, walking away like a scared little kitty cat with its tail tucked between its legs. That's how great our God is. He may seem like a lion to us, Satan, but he seems just as a little bitty kitty cat to the lion of Judah. You've got the picture in your head? The king is mighty. He is mightier than the noise of many waters. He is mightier than all the tyrannical leaders of the world. He is mightier than all the hosts of hell. There's nothing too hard for the king. Psalm 147, five, he, the Lord is great and abundant in power. He, the Lord who is king is in the heavens and he does whatever pleases him. No one can hold back God's hand from working. No one can prevent his will from being done. This leads us to consider what is said at the beginning of verse number five, which includes truth about the king's word. At the beginning of verse five, we are told that this king speaks. This king communicates with men, and he speaks that which is true. This is the royal proclamation, number five. Royal proclamation number five involves truth about the king's word. Notice it, the psalmist says that the king's testimonies are very sure. I love the wording of the word of God. They are not only sure or certain, but they are very certain. You say, how can this be? Well, this can be because the king is not a man that he should lie. The king is not tainted by sin as we are. Earthly kings in this world, can you believe this? Earthly kings sometimes lie. Earthly leaders do not always tell the truth. Even the best of them, even the best of men are men at best. But this king is, by nature, the expression of truth. He is a God of truth. Everything that comes from him is true, which means that anything he says is firm, reliable, and can be confirmed as true. He, as the king, says what he means, and he means what he says. His promises are yea and amen. Not one of his words fall to the ground. And where is the place in which the king's word is heralded from? Stay with me, look at the end of verse five. Not from a castle, not in a palace, Not in a chamber of parliament. The king's word is heralded from his house, where his people gather. Oh, the rich nature of God's word. Proclamation number six is the king's house. The psalmist says, thy testimonies are very sure. Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, forever. You've got the picture of the king in your head? The king has a house. In the house are people. We looked at this last week, Psalm 92. His people are those who are planted in his vineyard, in his sheepfold, and in his temple. His house is the place where God is worshiped as the sovereign king. Are you seeing it yet? Who is this king? David back in Psalm 24 asks the same question. David in Psalm 24 asks, who is the king of glory? Who is the sovereign king who has an eternal kingdom greater than the kingdoms of David and Solomon? The descriptions of the King given in the psalm can only find their perfect fulfillment in the promised Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. He, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the Lord of hosts and the King of glory. The King who is being pleasantly proclaimed by the psalmist in Psalm 93 is King Jesus. Go back to verse one and work your way through every line and you will see King Jesus as he is. Jesus Christ reigns. He is clothed with majesty. He is the great I am. In fact, Jesus said seven perfect times, I am, I am, I am, I am, I am, I am, I am. I am the door. I am the way, the truth, and the life. I am the bread of life. I am the resurrection and the life. I am the vine. I am the good shepherd. I am the light of the world. What is he getting at? Before Abraham was, I am. His throne, Jesus' throne has been established of old. We looked at the outworking of this Sunday night from Colossians 1. Who is Jesus Christ? He is the image of the invisible God. He's the firstborn of every creature. By him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created by him and for him. And he, Jesus, is before all things, and by him all things consist. Jesus Christ is the only wise potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus Christ is altogether lovely and majestic. Jesus Christ is clothed with strength and honor. All power has been given to him in heaven and in earth. His kingdom is spiritual and everlasting. It will never fade away. Does Jesus have any enemies? Have His enemies sought to overthrow His purposes and His people throughout the centuries? Have the enemies of God, the enemies of Christ, lifted up their voices, lifted up their swords, and lifted up their power as mighty waves? Have they been successful to destroy the cause of Christ? No, why? because Jesus Christ is mightier than noisy floods. He is greater than all the earthly kings combined. Who is the king that is mentioned by the psalmist? Is this not the king who's mentioned at the beginning of Matthew who was born in a manger and worshiped by wise men? This is the king of the Jews who was mocked and crucified by his own people who, three days later, rose again. Stay with the psalm. Does the king speak to others? Verse five. Is there a place where his testimonies are recorded? Does the king have a house? Does the king have a people among his house? Without question. The King's testimonies have been given to us in the Word of God. The Word of God is all about one person. It's all about King Jesus. The King's house is his church. His church consists of his true sons and daughters, ketchet, those who have been made kings and priests by the pardoning blood of the Prince of Peace. In Christ's church, Christ's perfect, faithful, absolute word is magnified by his people. In fact, Paul says that the king's house is the pillar and the ground of truth. Oh, but the raging floods sometimes lift up against the church. The noise of many waters sometimes frighten God's people. Satan himself is doing all that he can to distract, destroy, defile, and devour Christ's church. Is there any hope? Christ the King has promised to build his church. Christ the King has promised to conquer the evil one who seeks to attack his house. Jesus says, I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Wait, we're not done. The Bible records that this same king has promised to bring his children to his eternal kingdom. If you are born again, you will see the kingdom of God with your own eyes. This is Jesus' message to Nicodemus. You must be born again if you are to see and experience the kingdom of God. If you have been made a joint heir with Jesus Christ, Christ right now is preparing a place for you. Don't take my word for it. Listen to what King Jesus says in John 14. Jesus says, let not your heart be troubled. Well, what's there to be troubled about? Jesus is speaking to disciples who are troubled at the fact that he's leaving, and he's going to leave them in the midst of evil men. And the Romans are conquering Israel. Let not your heart be troubled. What's there to be troubled with? A lot. Don't let your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you, I go and prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there you may be also. Are the truths vibrating in your heart? The King is coming back. And when he does, the kings and kingdoms of the earth will be conquered and he, the Lord, will triumph over all. And this is the concluding message of John's revelation. The conquering message of the Apostle John in Revelation is King Jesus is coming. That's his royal proclamation. The psalmist is looking forward to the coming king. John is continuing that, in one hand saying the king has come, he has conquered death, and he is coming again to take care of all of this at once. King Jesus is coming. He's coming to gather his people from the four corners of the world. He's coming to defeat his enemies, and when he comes, he's coming to make all things new. Do you see the King? Jesus Christ is the King. He is the eternal sovereign Lord. He is the Lord Jesus Christ. So identifying Him as the King of the psalm. In conclusion, I have five practical pleas. In light of Jesus Christ, being the sovereign king of kings and Lord of lords, number one, I plead with you to surrender your heart to him. Surrender your heart to him. Bow before his authority. Confess him as Lord. whosoever shall confess him as Lord and truly submit to him as Lord in your heart shall be saved. Lay down your sword of rebellion and commit the keeping of your soul to him. This is application number one. If you keep fighting with your authority and your sword, you will be destroyed by that king. It's not worth it. You will lose if you do not submit to him. So, lay it down and bow before him. He's not a cruel king. He's a gracious king. He's a loving king. He's a trustworthy king. He's a King who is mighty to save. He's able to save to the uttermost those who commit the keeping of their soul to Him. He's a King who can conquer your sin. He's a King who can conquer the devil's influence in your life. He's a King who can command the sinful and anxious waves that crash upon your heart to be still. Be still and know that He is God. So my first plea for unbelievers here tonight is surrender your heart to Him. Confess Him as Lord. My second plea is to trust His word. Trust His word. As the psalmist reminds us, His testimonies are not only sure, they are doubly sure. They are very sure. They are surer than sure. So when you hear the fighting kings and the kingdoms of this earth raging, when the prince of hell comes at you strongly, wanting to cause you to doubt the king's word, do not fear. Take up the king's word. Take up the king's testimonies and fight the good fight of faith by trusting in his perfect word. Do you want to know the king in an intimate way? Do you want to know what his will is for your life? Well, turn to his word and let his word be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path. The king has given us a royal map, a royal map that will lead us safely to his kingdom, but you have to follow it. You have to follow the king's way. lest you be destroyed. Trust in the king's word. Practical plea number three is to pray for the kingdom of God to advance. Pray for the king's kingdom to advance. Actually, the king told his disciples that this is exactly how they should pray. Matthew chapter five, when they pray, they should pray that his kingdom should come. that His cause would advance, that others would come to know Him as King. Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy kingdom come. The prayer is that others would come to submit to His authority. And actually, the author of Hebrews tells us that the King's place of pleading, the King's place of prayer is called a throne of grace. So when you go to the throne of grace as we will be doing tonight, remember first and foremost to pray that God would conquer the stubborn hearts of men. Practical plea number one, surrender your heart to Him. Practical plea number two, trust His word. Practical plea number three, be fully absorbed in His kingdom. Be fully absorbed in His kingdom. The King, King Jesus says, Matthew 6, 33, but seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. The King does not say, seek ye first the kingdom of men. The King does not say, seek first the kingdom of sports. The King does not say, seek first the kingdom of politics. The king does not say seek first the kingdom of secular employment. He says seek ye first the kingdom of God and Christ's righteousness. The meaning is let everything else in this life be secondary to the cause of the king and his kingdom. Let everything take a back burner, a back row seat. to you knowing Christ the King and making Him known as King in this world. Be fully absorbed in His kingdom. Don't put one foot in and one foot back in the world. No, put both feet into the kingdom and seek Him above all. And then finally, my fifth and final practical plea is to praise Him. Praise Him. If Jesus Christ is King, praise Him. Praise Him in your heart. Praise Him in song. Praise Him throughout the day. Praise Him for His grace. Praise Him for His provisions. Praise Him for His protection. Praise Him for who He is. Praise Him, praise Him. Jesus, our blessed Redeemer, heavenly portals loud with Hosanna's ring. Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever. Crown Him, crown Him, prophet and priest and king. Christ is coming. over the world victorious. Power and glory unto the Lord belong. Praise Him, praise Him, tell of His excellent greatness. Praise Him, praise Him, ever in joyful song. Why should we praise Him? We should praise Him because He alone is worthy to be praised. He is the king.