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 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 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 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!

Consider this truth of God's reign as you celebrate the beginning of another year.  He reigns!  May I be a testimony this year to the joy of this truth.