Psalm 97 - The LORD who reigns

Claim: The LORD reigns; He will judge His enemies and preserve the lives of His faithful ones.

Focus: The powerful imagery of God, and answering the question of His justice and His mercy.

Function: To encourage the congregation to praise God and to fear Him for His greatness.

INTRODUCTION

What is the most amazing thing you have ever seen? Something that simply took your breath away?

The True God (v1-6)

The LORD reigns - present tense. “Not just a fact, but an act” - He is presently and actively presiding and reigning over all things and all people at all times. Far from being the uninvolved god of deism that simply pressed the ‘START’ button on all of creation, what we see throughout Scripture and also in this Psalm, is a God who is intimately involved and concerned with the activity of His creation.

Judgement imagery (v2) clouds and thick darkness, Ex. 19:16-18, Judges 5:5, Hebrews 12:28, Zeph. 1:14-18 - pillar of fire; don’t mess with God - OT events/pictures

What kind of God is this?

Fearful picture, but He is good (this picture is meant to make us rejoice, because righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne - i.e., the very place from which He judges is not one of a tyrant (bad example of ‘God’s Playing Field’ - an old online computer game where 'you get to play God’ and wantonly destroy stick figures and cars etc as they appear onscreen - what does this say about the creator’s view of God???)

The false gods (v7)

The false gods are put to shame and the response ought to be put away the (worthless) idols and worship the true God

who are the ‘gods’? world leaders? or idols/imaginary gods? heavenly beings?

Response to the True God (v8-12)

Worshipping God for His judgement? (v8) - strange thing to worship the LORD for? (when He judges guilty)

He is exalted above over gods (v9) (link back to v7)

He guards the lives of His faithful ones (v10) - supremely in the gospel

Ref. Jesus, Strong and Kind?

Light shines on the righteous (v11) - you who are righteous (v12), defined as righteous by God Himself by believing in Jesus

Jesus deals with the justice imagery of v1-6. (Hebrews 12:18-29), no longer approach Him in fear and trembling. Who can withstand? (1 Sam. 6:19-20) He overcomes the terror of the LORD

Preserves His people in an end-timesy sort of way, not that no harm will come to them ever ever!