Psalms 97

The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice

he Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.a ²Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.b ³Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side.c

⁴His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. ⁵The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.d ⁶The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory.

⁷All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols— worship him, all you gods! ⁸Zion hears and rejoices and the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments, Lord. ⁹For you, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.e

¹⁰Let 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.f ¹¹Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.g ¹²Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.h

Commentary

Psalm 97 is a royal psalm celebrating the Lord's reign over all creation and all nations. It opens with a call for the earth to rejoice because YHWH reigns, then describes his coming in a theophany of clouds, fire, and lightning that melts mountains and exposes the shame of idols. T

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Bible Dictionary· Psalms 97(7)

Fire Foundation Hand Light Throne Wax Worship

References· Psalms 97

a: v.1 — Psalms 96:10-11, Psalms 99:1, Colossians 1:13, Psalms 98:4-6, Psalms 93:1, Revelation 11:17, Mark 11:10, Isaiah 49:13, Isaiah 24:14-16, Isaiah 51:5
b: v.2 — Psalms 89:14, Exodus 19:9, Proverbs 16:12, Hebrews 1:8-9, Nahum 1:3, Genesis 18:25, Psalms 99:4, Deuteronomy 4:11-12, Psalms 18:11-12, Psalms 45:6-7
c: v.3 — Psalms 50:3, Psalms 18:8, Hebrews 12:29, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, Malachi 4:1, Daniel 7:10, Psalms 21:8-9, Nahum 1:5-6, Deuteronomy 32:22, 2 Peter 3:10-12
d: v.5 — Nahum 1:5, Micah 1:3-4, Isaiah 24:19-20, Isaiah 64:1-2, Habakkuk 3:6, Psalms 47:2, Psalms 46:6, Judges 5:4-5, Joshua 3:11, Psalms 83:18
e: v.9 — His foretold exaltation: Acts 1:11, Ephesians 1:20; Psalms 95:3, Psalms 83:18, Exodus 18:11, Philippians 2:9-11, Jeremiah 10:10, Psalms 135:5, Ephesians 1:21, Psalms 96:4, Jeremiah 10:8, Psalms 115:3-8
f: v.10 — Proverbs 8:13, Romans 12:9, Jeremiah 15:21, Psalms 145:20, Psalms 34:14, Daniel 3:28, 2 Thessalonians 3:2, Amos 5:15, Psalms 31:23, Proverbs 2:8
g: v.11 — James 5:7-11, John 12:46, Proverbs 4:18, Isaiah 60:1-2, Job 22:28, Psalms 126:5-6, Psalms 112:4, Micah 7:9, Revelation 21:23, Esther 8:16
h: v.12 — Psalms 30:4, Philippians 4:4, Psalms 32:11, Hebrews 12:10, Psalms 60:6, Habakkuk 3:17-18, Zephaniah 3:14-17, Habakkuk 1:12-13

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