Psalm 97 Commentary
The LORD’s Power and Dominion
The word of God can change your life. Read it daily…FOR HELP CLICK HERE
KEY THOUGHT: Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Psalm 97:2 NIV
Kindly read your Bible before going through the commentary!
Boaz and Ruth – a godly couple. Trace their godly and romantic relationship here
Psalm 97 New International Version – NIV
Psalm 97
1 The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad;
let the distant shores rejoice.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him
and consumes his foes on every side.
4 His lightning lights up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all peoples see his glory.
7 All who worship images are put to shame,
those who boast in idols—
worship him, all you gods!
8 Zion hears and rejoices
and the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments, Lord.
9 For you, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.
10 Let those who love the Lord hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light shines[a] on the righteous
and joy on the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous,
and praise his holy name.
Footnotes
a. Psalm 97:11 One Hebrew manuscript and ancient versions (see also 112:4); most Hebrew manuscripts Light is sown
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Psalm 97 Commentary
We see nothing but the terror of evil. Ungodliness is on the increase. Satan seems to have a free lane. Yet Psalm 97 declares the LORD reigns. Consequently, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.
How do you reconcile the two conflicting facts? The terror of abominable evil should terrify, sadden, and worry the saint. The danger is real and present. But the thought that the LORD reigns in the present should make the same saint glad.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. So profound! Given the fact that the LORD reigns in the present, is there any chance that evil can exist under God’s throne? What is more? Fire goes before Him destroying His enemies on every side. Mountains melt like wax before the LORD. His lightning lights up the world.
Is this what the saint has seen and experienced?
The scripture is unfolding a complex picture of God’s reign. It is in the past but also in the present. It is in the future but also happening right now.
We can ask again. Where is the fire? God’s enemies are still very much around. But we are often wrong about the definition and probably also the description of God’s enemies. Many are simply prodigal sons who must find their way back to the palace. Many are sons and daughters lost in their sinfulness who must hear their Father’s call. The saint must deliver the LORD’s goodwill message to the lost.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1 verse 14.
In the LORD Jesus Christ, we find the fulfillment of the visuals presented in this psalm. Remember how He baptizes with fire. All these images beautifully converge and are completed at Calvary. But because the Word is from before the beginning, and because the Word is the final act in the Book of Revelation, we find all the tenses in use. Simply put, the LORD reigns.
In the meantime, let the saint hate evil. But let the saint also rejoice because the LORD reigns. There is more. The LORD guards the lives of His faithful ones. He also delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Hallelujah!
More resources visit www.bibleproject.com
- Psalm 97 Commentary
- Psalm 96 Commentary
- Psalm 95 Commentary
- Psalm 94 Commentary
- Psalm 93 Commentary
- Psalm 92 Commentary
- Psalm 91 Commentary
- Psalm 90 Commentary
- Psalm 89 Commentary
- Psalm 88 Commentary
- Psalm 87 Commentary
- Psalm 86 Commentary
- Psalm 85 Commentary
- Psalm 84 Commentary
- Psalm 83 Commentary
- Psalm 82 Commentary
- Psalm 81 Commentary
- Psalm 80 Commentary
- Psalm 79 Commentary
- Psalm 78 Commentary
- Psalm 77 Commentary
- Psalm 76 Commentary
- Psalm 75 Commentary
- Psalm 74 Commentary
- Psalm 73 Commentary
- Psalm 72 Commentary
- Psalm 71 Commentary
- Psalm 70 Commentary
- Psalm 69 Commentary
- Psalm 68 Commentary
- Psalm 67 Commentary
- Psalm 66 Commentary
- Psalm 65 Commentary
- Psalm 64 Commentary
- Psalm 63 Commentary
- Psalm 62 Commentary
- Psalm 61 Commentary
- Psalm 60 Commentary
- Psalm 59 Commentary
- Psalm 58 Commentary
- Psalm 57 Commentary
- Psalm 56 Commentary
- Psalm 55 Commentary
- Psalm 54 Commentary
- Psalm 53 Commentary
- Psalm 52 Commentary
- Psalm 51 Commentary
- Psalm 50 Commentary
- Psalm 49 Commentary
- Psalm 48 Commentary
Loving Scripture…
LOVING SCRIPTURE 
It has been exciting learning how God can make things happen to his choosen one, God workout something wonderful and fulfils the promises he made to the father of Joseph.
God’s words remains true so are his promises and indeed it has been God working out the salvation of man Kind by Grace through Faith alone.
LikeLike
Quite thought provoking. Thank you for the passage of scripture.
LikeLike
Interesting potion of scripture
LikeLike
Thank you for the passage scripture
LikeLike
Very encouraging
LikeLike
This is powerful
LikeLike
This is powerful and very much encouraging.
LikeLike
Am always inspired
LikeLike
Encouraging 👏👏👏👏
LikeLike
Very refreshing moments Everytime I read and meditate on the scripture readings and comments.
LikeLike
Profound. My life needs a new introduction to God. Not that I have been right, but because God desires to help me… I see an amazing Grace here. Having broken the first commandment, still God looks for me and helps me to build up with him… And live for him. A littles knowledge of the Lord will ignite my passion and desire to serve him. This morning I pledge to seek, live and serve the Lord Jesus Christ and His purposes everyday of my life.
Beautiful lesson
LikeLike
The Lord reintroduces himself and shows Israel, He is all they need. Some boast in horses and others in chariots but we’ll boast in the Lord. He is able and the only one worthy of our trust. Lord teach me how to always look up to you at all times and not focus on my strength or capabilities. This is my prayer
LikeLike
It’s great lesson. We’ll to fully know the Lord and only do what he requires of us.
LikeLike
This far too common today. Just do something that seems like true worship yet it’s intent and actual practice is not even close to the set standard by the Lord. I personally feel challenged of some things we do in our personal lives, the focus of many churches and ministries today. We’ll need to realize the Lord must be worship as he has personally guided. Provides a good start of my reflection today
LikeLike
In those days when there was no King everyone did as they pleased. This is a good reminder to us that we are on own when the King of Kings isn’t leading our lives we’ll be doing what is not right and the results will show clearly how life without Christ looks like. We thank God that even when it looks like he’s not there, he’s behind the scenes working. I have learnt to trust in the Lord always.
LikeLike
Iam seeing this being stressed… There was no King in Israel… So lawlessness is the order of the day. This shows how heartless and wicked man can be with out the right King in his life. He can do anything. May the Lord help us to allow Christ in our lives that every aspect of our lives is changed and we yield ourselves to him alone.
LikeLike
I’m sure as the two daughters in-law stayed in Naomi’s home they learned about the God of Israel and appreciated His works among his people. Ruth’s determination and what she says moves my heart. She’s convinced she must go with Naomi and wants to spend her life with her, this relationship was strong especially between a mother inlaw and a daughter in-law. Yet Ruth stays and how she puts it shows the depth of her heart, I’ll go with with you, your people will be my people, your God will be my God…
LikeLike
Howdy I am so excited I found your blog, I really found you by
accident, while I was searching on Yahoo for something else, Anyways I am here now and would just like to say thank you for a fantastic post and a all round enjoyable
blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the
minute but I have bookmarked it and also included your RSS feeds, so
when I have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up
the excellent b.
LikeLike
Thank you ever thus for you article post.Really thank you! keep writing.
LikeLike