Podcast Introduction

Today we will complete the book of Psalms 93-95. I’ll have comments on both chapters after the reading, and I’m calling today’s episode “Surf’s Up Part 2.”

Comments on Psalms 93-95

Psalm 93

I don’t know about you, but I can’t help but get excited when I read chapters like these. Psalm 93 declares that God is king, then proceeds to illustrate in great, majestic language how this is true.

But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,
mightier than the breakers on the shore—
the Lord above is mightier than these!

Psalm 93:4 NLT

When I read this verse, I am immediately taken back to a morning when I was about seventeen or eighteen years old.

It was a beautiful, sunny, southern California day. I was at a spot right on the border of Huntington Beach and Newport Beach. My friends and I called it “the jetty”. And the waves were pumping that day. The sets were coming in at about twelve feet. And they were perfectly shaped for surfing. Nice tubes. The biggest waves I had ever been in. It was truly a rare day.

And I was terrified.

Sure, they were great waves, and guys were getting spectacular rides, but I had never ridden waves this big. I was used to the average waves that come through…two to four feet. I had ridden hundreds, if not thousands of those waves. But these 12 footers were a completely new experience. Just paddling out was a challenge. Even though I was in great shape, having been a competitive swimmer for about ten years, with a lot of first place finishes, I was having a hard time making progress as I tried to paddle out. These waves were stronger than anything I had ever experienced.

I felt completely helpless.

But finally there was a lull between the sets, and I was able to paddle out to where the other guys were waiting to grab a ride when the next set came through. As we waited, I was able to rest and regain my strength. The fatigue in my shoulders faded, my breathing relaxed, and I watched the horizon, waiting for signs of the next set.

I didn’t have to wait very long.

Pretty soon I could see the color of the horizon get darker and rise as the swell rushed in toward the shore. I turned my board around to face the beach and began to paddle as hard as I could. And before I knew it, the swell began to lift me up and push me faster and faster. And the wave began to break. The tube was just beginning to form as I stood up, and I looked down the face of the biggest wave I had ever been on. In that moment, it felt like I was on the top of a careening freight train. But I was in the wrong spot on the wave, and all of a sudden I found myself being thrown from my board like a rag doll.

The next thing I knew I was under water, being pushed down and tumbling helplessly, holding my breath and waiting for the force of the wave to release me. And then I felt a sharp pain on my left arm, just below the shoulder as the rail, or edge of my board struck me as the turbulence of the wave had control of both of us.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, it released me and I was able to make it to the surface. I was about 75 yards from the beach, where I could see my board already on the shore. I swam in, humbled, still feeling the pain in my arm, and found that my board had also suffered an injury. There was a brand new ding on rail, about an inch deep and four inches long.

The bruise on my arm healed, but even after repairing the ding, my surfboard carried a scar that always reminded me of the power of that wave.

But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,
mightier than the breakers on the shore—
the Lord above is mightier than these!

Psalms 94

Psalm 94 opens by referring to Him as the God of vengeance. This is an interesting word. I think that, to many people, vengeance has a negative connotation. And in the hands of man, vengeance can be an ugly and negative thing, but that’s because man’s vengeance is often not based on perfect justice. But listen to the definition of the word as the Oxford Dictionary has it: Punishment inflicted or retribution exacted for an injury or wrong.

Now, who better than the author of all that is right and good, to be the One to exact vengeance? Who better to judge those who injure or wrong the innocent? Psalm 94 implores God to let His glorious justice shine forth, to give the proud what they deserve, to punish the evil who kill widows and murder orphans. 

Our culture often doesn’t like to hear that there truly is evil in the world. Or if they do, many do not think that the ultimate punishment (death) should be meted out. “We don’t have the right to kill another human being, no matter how bad they are or what they have done,” they say. Perhaps. But God does have that right, and that is what the author of this Psalm is calling for. We certainly do not have the right to play God, but God does.

Psalm 95

This psalm is a call for us to sing and shout joyfully to the Lord, the Rock of our salvation. It shows Him as our shepherd, and us as the flock under his care. This is a call to us to kneel before Him, trusting that we will be safe as He watches over us.

I for one am amazed and humbled that this Holy and Righteous God, creator of everything that is, takes note of me at all. I am nothing in the grand scheme of things. When I ponder the vastness of the universe, when I think of my failures, when I look at His infinite greatness, I have to ask myself why this God would care about me. But then I am reminded of the scripture that says simply, “God is love.” 1 John 4:8. And John 3:15-18, “16“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.18“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him.”

How wonderful is His name! 

Your thoughts? Scroll to the bottom of the page and let me know.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 93-95 NLT

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The Team

Transcript Correction: Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Denise
Podcasting 2.0 Chapters: Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Sean of San Pedro and Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Michael Haner
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