Psalm 97:2

2 Cloud, and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the establishment of his throne.

Psalm 97:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 97:2

Clouds and darkness are round about him
Either as a garment; so Apollinarius paraphrases it,

``near is the King clothed with a cloud and tempest;''

and it is usual with the Heathens to represent their deities as surrounded or clothed with a cloud ^F19: here the allusion is to the tabernacle and temple, when reared up and dedicated, ( Exodus 40:34 ) ( 1 Kings 8:10-12 ) and to other appearances of God, or Christ, in a cloud, ( Exodus 19:9 Exodus 19:16 ) ( Matthew 17:5 ) , it may denote the obscurity of his divine nature at his first coming; he appearing in the form of a servant, and in the likeness of sinful flesh, so that few discerned his glory as the glory of the only begotten of the Father; as also the darkness and blindness of the Jews concerning him, who could not perceive him to be the Messiah; notwithstanding all the characters of him; clouds and darkness were about him to them; as they were, in a literal sense, when he hung on the cross; the sun withdrew and hid itself, and darkness was upon the face of the earth for three hours; Christ was enveloped in it; and a greater darkness surrounded his soul when his divine Father hid his face from him: dark providences attended the first setting up of his kingdom, and the ministration of his Gospel in the world; the apostles, the first preachers of it, were persecuted by their own countrymen the Jews; the whole Gentile world was against them; the Roman empire, emperors, and governors of provinces, opposed them; wherever there was an open door, there were many adversaries, so that things looked very unpromising: nevertheless these clouds were dissipated, and the difficulties got over; though this has sometimes been the case since, and will be again, ere the kingdom of Christ is in all its glory; he now sits enthroned in heaven, surrounded with clouds and darkness, and unseen to us; whose being and perfections are inscrutable to us, his providences unsearchable, and his ways past finding out; and when he comes a second time, it will be at midnight, and in the clouds of heaven:

righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne;
the seat, basis, and support of it; he sits on a throne doing right, and by it his throne is established; (See Gill on Psalms 89:14).

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 "Et Venus aethereos inter dea candida nimbos", Virgil. Aeneid. 8. "Venus circumdata nimbo", ib. Aeneid. 12. "Nube candentes humeros amictus augur Apollo", Horat. Carmin. l. 1. Ode 2. so Homer. Il. 5. v. 186.

Psalm 97:2 In-Context

1 The Lord reigns, let the earth exult, let many islands rejoice.

2 Cloud, and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the establishment of his throne.

3 Fire shall go before him, and burn up his enemies round about.

4 His lightnings appeared to the world; the earth saw, and trembled.

5 The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

6 The heavens have declared his righteousness, and all the people have seen his glory.

7 Let all that worship graven images be ashamed, who boast of their idols; worship him, all ye his angels.

8 Sion heard and rejoiced; and the daughters of Judea exulted, because of thy judgments, O Lord.

9 For thou art Lord most high over all the earth; thou art greatly exalted above all gods.

10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil; the Lord preserves the souls of his saints; he shall deliver them from the hand of sinners.

11 Light is sprung up for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

12 Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks for a remembrance of his holiness.