Reflections on Psalm 97

 

Psalm 97 (Contemporary English Version)


1. The LORD is King! Tell the earth to celebrate and all islands to shout.
   
2. Dark clouds surround him, and his throne is supported by justice and fairness.
   
3. Fire leaps from his throne, destroying his enemies,
   
4. and his lightning is so bright that the earth sees it and trembles.
   
5. Mountains melt away like wax in the presence of the LORD of all the earth.
   
6. The heavens announce, "The LORD brings justice!" Everyone sees God's glory.
   
7. Those who brag about the useless idols they worship are terribly ashamed, and all the false gods bow down to the LORD.
   
8. When the people of Zion and of the towns of Judah hear that God brings justice, they will celebrate.
   
9. The LORD rules the whole earth, and he is more glorious than all the false gods.
   
10. Love the LORD and hate evil! God protects his loyal people and rescues them from violence.
    
11. If you obey and do right, a light will show you the way and fill you with happiness.
    
12. You are the LORD's people! So celebrate and praise the only God.

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This psalm is said to fall within a group of psalms (95-100) that "seem to have been composed with reference to the same occasion, and may have been designed to be used together." (Albert Barnes) God is sovereign, says this psalm, which should cause the earth to rejoice. The foundation of His throne is laid in righteousness and justice. A lot is said about justice these days, but much of it refers to only a part of God's justice - justice for the downtrodden - and, in fact, seems intentionally to ignore and even to argue against much of the rest of His justice. But God's justice also includes judgment on those who are God's foes and who do evil. It is that part of God's justice referred to in this psalm. It is God's foes who do not rejoice because of God's sovereignty because for them fire goes before God and burns them up. "The heavens proclaim His righteousness." Evil cannot forever exist within God's reign. These are the topics of verses 1-6.

God confounds all idol images and gods, says verses 7-9. All other objects of man's worship will be put to shame and God exalted above them. Eventually everything and everyone will worship God, even the other supposed gods, because He is the Most High over all the earth. Verses 10-12 go on to tell us that those who love the Lord cannot also love evil. The two are incompatible. God's justice does not allow evil and those who love Him can only hate evil. It is those who are upright who will be glad in the Lord and who will praise His holy name.