Psalms 97

1 The Lord hath reigned, the earth make full out joy; many isles be glad. (The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad.)

2 Cloud and darkness in his compass; rightfulness and doom is [the] amending of his seat. (Clouds and darkness surround him; righteousness and justice be the foundation of his throne.)

3 Fire shall go before him; and shall enflame, either set afire, his enemies in compass. (Fire shall go before him; and shall set his enemies aflame, all around him.)

4 His lightnings shined to the world; the earth saw, and was moved (the earth saw it, and trembled).

5 Hills as wax floated down from the face of the Lord; all earth from the face of the Lord. (The hills flowed down like wax before the Lord; before the Lord of all the earth.)

6 Heavens told his rightfulness; and all peoples saw his glory. (The heavens told out his righteousness; and all the peoples saw his glory.)

7 All they that worship graven things, or images, be shamed, and they that have glory in their simulacra; all ye angels of the Lord, worship him. (All those who worship carved images, be put to shame, and they who have glory in their idols; and all ye gods, worship him.)

8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah made full out joy, for thy dooms, Lord. (The people of Zion heard, and were glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced, for thy judgements, O Lord.)

9 For thou, Lord, art the highest on all earth; thou art greatly enhanced over all gods. (For thou, Lord, art most high over all the earth/For thou, Most High, art lord over all the earth; thou art exalted far above all gods.)

10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil (Ye who love the Lord, hate evil); the Lord keepeth (safe) the souls of his saints; he shall deliver them from the hand of the sinner.

11 Light is risen to the rightful man; and gladness to rightful men of heart. (Light hath risen for the righteous; and gladness for those with upright hearts.)

12 Just men, be ye glad in the Lord; and acknowledge ye to the mind of his hallowing. (Ye righteous, be glad in the Lord; and give ye thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.)

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.

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.''