Psalm 97:4

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

Psalm 97:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 97:4

His lightnings enlightened the world
Either the doctrines of the Gospel, compared thereunto, because of the swift progress they made, and the large extent of them in the world, in a very little time; by the apostles they were published in all nations, and were the means of enlightening them in the true knowledge of themselves, and of the way of salvation by Christ: hence they are called the "lights of the world", ( Matthew 5:14 ) , as the coming of Christ, in his kingdom and power, by them, is compared to lightning, and so are the arrows of his word, ( Matthew 24:27 ) ( Zechariah 9:14 ) , or else his judgments on the Jewish nation are meant, which were manifest and clear, and obvious to all the world; see ( Psalms 18:14 ) ,

the earth saw, and trembled;
the inhabitants of the earth, of the Gentile world, saw the judgments of God upon the Jews, and were astonished at them; see ( Deuteronomy 29:24 ) , it is usual for lightnings and earthquakes to go together; see ( Revelation 11:19 ) ( 16:15 ) .

Psalm 97:4 In-Context

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.)