Psalms 97

Yahweh’s Glorious Reign

1 Yahweh is king! Let the earth rejoice; let many coastlands be glad.

2 Cloud and thick darkness [are] surrounding him; righteousness and justice [are] the foundation of his throne.

3 Fire goes before him, and devours his enemies round about.

4 His lightnings light [the] world; the earth sees and trembles.

5 [The] mountains melt like wax at the presence of Yahweh, at the presence of the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.

7 Let all who serve an image be ashamed, those who boast about idols. Worship him, all you gods.

8 Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments, O Yahweh.

9 For you, O Yahweh, [are] most high over all the earth. You are highly exalted above all gods.

10 You who love Yahweh, hate evil. He protects the lives of his faithful; he delivers them from [the] hand of [the] wicked.

11 Light [is] sown for the righteous, and joy for [the] upright in heart.

12 Be glad in Yahweh, [you] righteous, and give thanks {to his holy name}.

Psalms 97 Commentary

Chapter 97

The Lord Jesus reigns in power that cannot be resisted. (1-7) His care of his people, and his provision for them. (8-12)

Verses 1-7 Though many have been made happy in Christ, still there is room. And all have reason to rejoice in Christ's government. There is a depth in his counsels, which we must not pretend to fathom; but still righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. Christ's government, though it might be matter of joy to all, will yet be matter of terror to some; but it is their own fault that it is so. The most resolute and daring opposition will be baffled at the presence of the Lord. And the Lord Jesus will ere long come, and put an end to idol worship of every kind.

Verses 8-12 The faithful servants of God may well rejoice and be glad, because he is glorified; and whatever tends to his honour, is his people's pleasure. Care is taken for their safety. But something more is meant than their lives. The Lord will preserve the souls of his saints from sin, from apostacy, and despair, under their greatest trials. He will deliver them out of the hands of the wicked one, and preserve them safe to his heavenly kingdom. And those that rejoice in Christ Jesus, and in his exaltation, have fountains of joy prepared for them. Those that sow in tears, shall reap in joy. Gladness is sure to the upright in heart; the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment. Sinners tremble, but saints rejoice at God's holiness. As he hates sin, yet freely loves the person of the repentant sinner who believes in Christ, he will make a final separation between the person he loves and the sin he hates, and sanctify his people wholly, body, soul, and spirit.

Footnotes

• [a]. This word for idols suggests something worthless or insignificant
• [b]. Hebrew "very"
• [c]. Literally "to his holy remembrance" or "to his memorable holiness"

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 97

This psalm is ascribed to David by the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions. It is of the same argument, and upon the same subject, as the preceding, the coming and kingdom of Christ; and that it respects his first coming into the world, when angels were called upon to worship him, appears from Ps 97:7 compared with Heb 1:6 though it is expressed in such language as seems to agree with his second coming; and, perhaps, both are included, with various things between the one and the other; or it respects the kingdom of Christ, from his first to his second coming; to which agrees the inscription of the Syriac version, which is

``a Psalm of David, in which he prophesies concerning the coming of the Messiah, and again he intimates in it his last appearance.''