The central message of this psalm is the declaration and description of the coming universal judgment: God is Judge. This Judge, the only Ruler, will guarantee and restore the broken order of the world, just as He has done as the Creator. This coming judgment will divide the wicked and the righteous—one side facing destruction, the other receiving salvation.

The psalm opens in the setting of public worship with thanksgiving offered to God, emphasizing the “we” who give thanks and the reason for it: “We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds” (verse 1). God’s name is not merely His title, but reveals His character. The nearness of His name means His personal presence. Therefore, we give thanks to God for His nature, His presence, and His works.

Verses 2–3 proclaim God as Judge and Creator, who holds absolute sovereignty and at His appointed time executes righteous judgment: “At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity. When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars. Selah”. In this passage God Himself speaks, using the subject “I” twice, underscoring His absolute sovereignty and power.

Verses 4–8 reiterate the theme: God is the Judge, with absolute sovereignty to judge the wicked. “But it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another” (verse 7). Therefore, the arrogant must not boast, nor “lift up their horn.” The “horn” is a symbol of dignity, strength, and success. The warning is clear: do not rely on one’s own success or ability, for honour and exaltation come only from God.

In verse 9 the voice shifts from the corporate “we” to the personal “I”. It is a personal response of worship and commitment to proclaim God’s works forever. Verse 10 again emphasizes the psalm’s theme: God is the Judge.

We live in an age that exalts the self—my decisions, my needs, my feelings, my rights, my success, and my abilities are magnified. The self becomes the ultimate authority and ruler of one’s world: “My life, my way.” Yet this psalm reminds us that it is God who rules the world, He who is the highest authority in our lives, holding absolute sovereignty and power. We are called to humbly depend on Him, to praise Him for His name, His presence, and His works, knowing that He alone is the Judge.

Prayer:

Dear God, give me a heart that depends on You. Reign once more on the throne of my life, leading me in all circumstances. May I live with humility, hope, and gratitude, knowing that You are the righteous Judge and sovereign Ruler. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.