John Calvin Commentary Psalms 93:1

"Jehovah reigneth; he is clothed with majesty; Jehovah is clothed with strength; he hath girded himself therewith: The world also is established, that it cannot be moved." — Psalms 93:1 (ASV)

Jehovah has reigned. We see here what I have recently referred to: in God's power, a basis for confidence is presented to us. Our failure to attribute to God the power that belongs to him, as we should, and thus wickedly stripping him of his authority, is the source of the fear and trembling we very often experience.

This, it is true, we dare not do openly. But if we were well convinced of his invincible power, that would be an invincible support for us against all the assaults of temptation. Everyone verbally admits what the prophet teaches here, That God reigns; but how few there are who use this shield against the hostile powers of the world, as they ought to do, so that they may fear nothing, however terrible.

In this, then, consists the glory of God: that he governs humanity according to his will. It is said that he clothes himself with majesty and strength; not that we should imagine that there is anything in him that is derived from another, but it is intended by its effect and undeniable experience to show his wisdom and righteousness in the governance of humanity.

The Psalmist proves that God will not neglect or abandon the world from the fact that he created it. A simple survey of the world should in itself be enough to attest to a Divine Providence.

The heavens revolve daily, and, immense as their structure is and inconceivable the speed of their revolutions, we experience no concussion—no disturbance in the harmony of their motion. The sun, though varying its course every daily revolution, returns to the same point annually. The planets, in all their wanderings, maintain their respective positions.

How could the earth hang suspended in the air if it were not upheld by God’s hand? By what means could it remain unmoved, while the heavens above are in constant rapid motion, if its Divine Maker did not fix and establish it? Accordingly, the particle אף , aph, denoting emphasis, is introduced—Yea, he has established it.