Psalm 93: 1-2, 5

The responsorial psalm for this week comes from Psalm 93, a hymn celebrating the kingship of God.

Four very important themes converge in these few verses to describe God’s kingship: a military theme, a creation theme, a legal theme, and a cultic theme. Together these themes present a holistic view of God’s kingship, aligning beautifully with the feast of Christ the King, where Christ’s reign encompasses power, creation, justice, and worship.

The LORD is king,

Adonai malakh: literally, “the LORD reigns.”

This phrasing highlights the active, dynamic nature of God’s kingship.

in splendor robed; robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.

The imagery of royal garments emphasizes God’s glory and authority; the fact that he is “girded with strength” shows him to be a warrior-god. God’s kingship is active and victorious.

And he has made the world firm, not to be moved. 

This portrait of God shifts to his role as Creator and Sustainer. The order that God has established in creation is stable and unshakable.

Your throne stands firm from of old; from everlasting you are, O LORD.

God’s reign is eternal and unchanging, unlike the transient powers of earthly rulers. God’s kingdom can be trusted to endure.

Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed; 

God’s decrees are trustworthy and immutable. He is the ultimate lawgiver whose commands are just and reliable.

holiness befits your house, O LORD, for length of days.

“Holiness” and “house” introduce a cultic element, pointing to the temple as the earthly symbol of God’s presence. The psalmist connects God’s reign with worship, emphasizing that these primordial and cosmic feats of the LORD are celebrated in the temple, where the decrees of God are remembered and revered.

“This house is the Church. To remain standing forever what it needs above all is holiness. As truth is at the heart of Christ’s testimony, so holiness is at the heart of his house” (St. Eusebius of Caesarea, Commentaria in Psalmos, 92).