Psalms 97:1-7

1 The Lord is King, let the earth have joy; let all the sea-lands be glad.

2 Dark clouds are round him; his kingdom is based on righteousness and right judging.

3 Fire goes before him, burning up all those who are against him round about.

4 His bright flames give light to the world; the earth saw it with fear.

5 The mountains became like wax at the coming of the Lord, at the coming of the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens gave out the news of his righteousness, and all the people saw his glory.

7 Shamed be all those who give worship to images, and take pride in false gods; give him worship, all you gods.

Psalms 97:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

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.''