It is assumed by some scholars that this psalm was written on the occasion of a prince ascending to the throne, perhaps in the face of rebel opposition. But on a higher level, this psalm also points to a time when the almighty God will rule over all the nations of the earth, and those who rebel against Him will be brought into subjection.

1 Unto Thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto Thee do we give thanks:
for that Thy name is near Thy wondrous works declare.
2 When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.
3 The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved:
I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.
4 I said unto the fools, “Deal not foolishly,”
and to the wicked, “Lift not up the horn.”
5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.
6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
7 But God is the judge: He putteth down one and setteth up another.
8 For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red;
it is full of mixture, and He poureth out of the same:
but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.
9 But I will declare forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off;
but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

Let’s compare this psalm to what has been revealed to us in the book of Revelation concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Praise to the Lord for His wondrous works (v. 1).

Revelation 1:4-6 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loves us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, And has made us a kingdom and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

2. The King is invested with authority, to judge uprightly (v. 2).

Revelation 1:7-8 Behold, He comes with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also who pierced Him: and all tribes of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen. “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,” says the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.

3. The earth is filled with disorder and confusion (v. 3).

Beginning in chapter 4, and continuing through chapter18, we see the destruction of the earth and the people who forget God.

4. Warning given to the authors of confusion (vv. 4-8).

Revelation 10:11 And he said unto me, “You must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”

They are warned, but they will not listen. They even see others being destroyed, and still they continue in their idolatrous ways.

Revelation 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk.

5. The power of evil is broken, and the power of righteousness is established (vv. 9-10).

Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever.”

Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Revelation 21:1-7 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

This prophecy will be fulfilled in the end times. It is certain. And it is sooner than we think. Who will be in the Holy City?

Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no way enter into it anything that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

My final question for you today is this: Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? Mine is.

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Photo courtesy of Maarten van den Heuvel and Unsplash