Psalm 97

This great Hymn begins “The Lord reigns.”  Several Psalms in the “90’s” begin this way (93,96,97 and 99) while two others make specific reference to the Lord as “King” (95:3; 98:6).  God displayed great wisdom when Israel requested a king.  First He gave them Saul, a man who was everything the nation would have wanted in a king.  Then He gave them David, the man after His own heart.  One disobeyed God; one inquired of God and followed God’s leading.  Thus God reigned over His people through David, as well as all of David’s descendants that walked in David’s footsteps.

Another display of God’s great wisdom and unsearchable ways (Rom. 11:33) is the connection between David and the promised Messiah.  In Christ Jesus both David and God would reign at the same time for He is both Son of David and Son of God (Luke 1:32; Rom. 1:3-4).  God has set His Son on My holy hill of Zion, promising to give to Him the nations for an inheritance and the ends of the earth as His possession (Ps. 2:6-9).  God will reign over the entire of creation when every knee bows to Christ (Phil. 2:9-11).

For all this, it is no wonder that the words The Lord reigns should be attended by the cry, Let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad (97:1)!  And given the world of evil in which we live, it is no wonder that all the earth has not bowed the knee to God.  The distinction is clear between the wicked and the righteous.  And further, to love the Lord is to hate evil.  If it is not this way in our lives then we are clearly in rebellion against the Lord who reigns!

How do we know it is the Lord, YAHWEH/Jehovah, the God of Israel, who reigns?  It is because He is the only real God.  Ps. 97:2-6 describes the awesomeness of God.  Likely the Psalmist has been transported back to Mt. Sinai where all of this was visible to Israel.  The combination of what the Israelites saw (clouds and darkness, fire, lightnings, etc.) and what they received (righteous and just Laws) showed them a God who could be counted on.  Every other so-called god would put to shame those who served them.  From v7 the gods (Heb: elohim) who were carved images (something made by man; Ex. 20:4; Isa. 44:9-20) were mere idols (nothing, empty, worthless).  Only the Lord, YAHWEH, is the most high (Heb: elyown) above all the earth … exalted (Heb: alah) far above all gods.

Here’s something sad to think about.  There is a time coming when all the earth will see the fearfulness of the awesome God, in ways even more powerful than at Sinai.  And the Bible predicts that when men see this they will not repent of their sin (Rev. 16:8-11).  They will not fear God nor give Him glory (Rev. 14:6-7).  They will neither rejoice nor give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name (Ps. 97:12).  What about today?  Will I rejoice in His Kingdom?  Will you?  There is only one way to humble ourselves before God, and it is to humble ourselves before His Son who is the Lord (Jn. 14:6; Rom. 10:9-10).  THE LORD REIGNS!

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Psalm 97, In Light of the Names of God

Again we would like to meditate on one of the Psalms, giving careful thought to the names of God.  As in Ps. 96 (see last Sunday’s post), this Psalm is a call to joy and gladness (v1).  But the description of the LORD is heavy (v2-5).  Clouds and darkness surround Him, righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne, a fire goes before Him to burn up His enemies, His lightnings light the world, the earth trembles, and the mountains melt like wax at His presence.  In a phrase, we are called to rejoice and give thanks when we think of His “holy name” (v12).

The joy is not the result simply of the LORD’s judgment on His enemies.  His enemies are, in fact, called to stop being His enemies, recognize His glory, turn from their idols and worship Him (v6-7).  The fact that the LORD deals with His enemies, who are Israel’s enemies also, brings joy to Zion as He carries out His judgments (v8-11).  Thus, they are called to rejoice in the LORD.

Now consider the references to God in this Psalm.  First, note the reference to “gods” (elohim) and the term “idols” (things that are nothing, that are empty and worthless), both in v7.  We saw this in Ps. 96.  But note the call that is issued in v7: Worship Him, all you gods.  The term elohim means “mighty ones.”  It is used of angels and also of important and powerful men, as well as “gods”, but mostly of God.  Yet, an idle is nothing.  Its “mightiness” is bound up in the person who made it and worship’s it.  That person considers himself to be mighty.  Thus, the call to worship YAHWEH, is given to the mighty one who made the idle; “gods” that are nothing have nothing to offer the LORD in worship.

The most prominent name is YAHWEH (LORD), the God of Israel, appearing six times.  But it is not the only reference.  In v5 we read of the presence of the LORD and the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.  Both refer to the same Person.  He is Israel’s God (LORD); and He is the Master or Strong One (Lord).  The Hebrew is not “Adonai” (only used of God) but “Adown” (used 335 times in the OT, 31 times of God, and the rest to various lords and masters on earth). 

There is another name to note.  In v9 YAHWEH is said to be most high above all the earth.  This is not the name “El Elyon” (God Most High) but simply says He is “elyon” (most high).  The adjoining line has a synonym, that He is exalted far above all gods (elohim).  The root idea of this term is “strength.”  But I found it a bit humorous as in one attempt to define the term the author used the term muchness.  I wasn’t sure there was such a word, although having “googled” it, the British apparently are allowed to use this word for “greatness in quantity or degree.”  I laughed, not because the LORD doesn’t fit such a description, but because, when we are trying to describe the infinite LORD, we sometimes find ourselves out on the far edges of the English language.  He is truly incomprehensible!