Psalm 97 - Let The Earth Rejoice

If you haven't noticed yet, I am currently working through the book of Psalms.  I have read that book in its entirety several times, but this time I decided to take it slow and even re-read over verses a few times just so they really sink in.  And every once in a while, I like digging into a chapter, one verse at a time, and then bringing it all together as a whole.  This is one of those times. 

  

The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

Right out of the gate, Psalm 97 hits with force. Following this verse is a call to attention...like a thunderclap over the whole earth.

Let’s walk through it verse by verse and dig into the Hebrew, the context, and the stuff that doesn't show up just by skimming through it. 

V1: The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

“The LORD reigneth” (Hebrew: YHWH malak).

It means God is King. His rule isn't up for debate. He’s not running for office. HE REIGNS! 

“The multitude of isles” think of it as distant lands - places beyond Israel, the edges of the map. The WHOLE Earth! 

V2: Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

I wouldn't think “clouds and darkness” are signs of confusion here..... they’re signs of majesty. Remember at Sinai? God's presence was hidden in storm and smoke. 

“Righteousness and judgment” aren’t just behaviors...they’re the foundation (or habitation) of His throne. He doesn’t bend laws or play politics. His rule is clean and unbreakable. 

V3: A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.

I don't feel that "fire" here is just judgment - I think it's holiness in motion. 

Fire purifies and consumes. 

God's enemies aren’t random people....they’re anything and anyone that stands in the way of His justice and glory.

V4: His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.

“Lightnings enlightened the world” .... highly unlikely this is just referring to the weather.

In the Hebrew writings, lightning represents sudden and undeniable revelation. 

God doesn’t whisper here....He flashes across the sky. 

EVERYONE sees it.

“The earth saw, and trembled” - All of creation responds. Years ago (about 23 years ago!), while watching a video that Sis. Ruth Reider (now Ruth Harvey) put out, she made a comment that "creation screams His name".  That one comment has stuck with me through all of these years, and it is so powerful.  The idea is: when God acts, the whole world takes notice, and nothing stays calm.

V5: The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

“The hills melted like wax” - DON'T SKIP OVER THIS! 

Hills were symbols of strength and false gods (like Baal who was believed to dwell in the heights). So this isn’t "just" a weather report. It’s a takedown! Nothing stands when God shows up.

“At the presence of the LORD” -notice how that phrase repeats?  When I see something repeated in the Bible, I read it carefully and will sit on it for a while.  Repetition in Hebrew poetry is emphasis. 

When God comes close, creation doesn’t chill. It trembles.

V6: The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.

“Declare” ...to MAKE KNOWN....to TELL...to PROCLAIM.  

"Declare" is a courtroom term. The heavens are testifying.....not just showing beauty, but making a case for who God is!

“All the people”.... ahhh yes, this theme returns: global audience, not just Israel. 

God's glory isn't private. It's on display for everyone to recognize.......or reject.

V7: Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.

“Confounded” means put to shame, caught off guard, exposed, to confront.  One source (vocabulary.com) defines it as "to face a situation that makes you uncomfortable."  

I think it's safe to explain this verse as the spiritual collapse of idol worshipers. 

“All ye gods” ... THIS is powerful! It could mean earthly rulers, spiritual beings, or even false gods. 

Regardless, the message is the same: Everyone bows to the One and ONLY GOD. 

V8: Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.

Zion rejoices not because God is safe, but because He’s just. He doesn’t let evil win. That’s the root of their joy.

V9: For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.

Again .....“high above all gods” is declaring Him to be the One over all.

V10: Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

“Hate evil” — the Hebrew word for "hate" here is "sane".  It's absolute. No middle ground. If you love God, you must hate what’s evil. Period. This verse also makes a promise...God keeps the souls of His saints. That doesn’t mean no trouble. It means He keeps them safe IN trouble....from the wicked, not from the storm.

V11: Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

What comes to mind when you hear/read the word "sown"?  Seed, right?

“Sown” implies delay. God plants light now.....you might not see the full harvest yet, but it’s coming. I think this verse speaks of hope in a poetic sense. 

V12: Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Joy is the final word, but it doesn't look like shallow hype. 

There's joy in “the remembrance of his holiness”. There's joy in being mindful that God is set apart and perfect

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After reading this, it was clear that Psalm 97 isn’t just another psalm. 

It’s a thunderstorm of truth, cloaked in beauty and warning. 

It calls out the idols and demands a response. It also declares the reign of the TRUE KING!

GOD REIGNS! 

The entire world must decide what to do about it.