Psalm 97 - The Majestic Lord Reigns. Worship and Live Accordingly

Introduction

We are currently studying the ten commandments during Sunday services, resuming after our usual Advent detour. We have already looked at the first four commandments, which detail how Israel is to relate to her God. The second of these commandments deal with the making of graven images, or idols. In examining this text we asked the question, ‘Is the God you serve just like you?’ We made the point that we are to worship Yahweh the way he requires. This requires, among other things, having a correct understanding of who God is. We need to know the nature of the God we are dealing with. This is why the theophany of Exodus 19 is so significant. After the people told Moses they would obey all the LORD’s commands (Ex. 19:8), the LORD manifested Himself on Mt Sinai (Ex. 19:16-19) to Moses and the people. This was necessary so the people could have a proper understanding of the God whom they are dealing with. This was not a God to be treated lightly, rather He is to be worshipped and obeyed. We have a similar message in Psalm 97.

Background

Psalm 97 is an enthronement psalm. It proclaims and praises Yahweh’s awesome majesty and calls us to worship and obey. We don’t have a specific historical background, but we do have allusions to prior acts in redemptive history. We than have a call for the hearers to worship and live rightly. We have break this psalm into 3 parts:

The nature of the majestic God (vs. 1 - 6)

The call to worship and the response (vs. 7 - 9)

The way to live in light of who God is (vs. 10 - 12)

Exposition

Verse 1 - 6 : The psalm writer begins with the affirmation that the LORD reigns. It is interesting that the editor(s) of the books of psalms decided to put all these psalms together. It seems they wanted to drive the point home that Yahweh is the unquestioned Sovereign of heaven and earth. Not only does He rule, but this rule extends everywhere. Whether you are in the promised land or not He reigns. Regardless of who is in power in a nation, the LORD reigns and His kingdom shall be the one that stands in the end. Matthew Henry puts it this way: “but let all the earth rejoice in his elevation; for the kingdoms of the world shall, more or less, sooner or later, become his kingdoms”[1] His knowledge and understanding far surpass our own.[2] This is a reason for all the earth to rejoice. His rule is righteous and extends over all the earth. This is good news to all creation.

So majestic is this God that he can’t be viewed by mere creatures in His full glory. To do so would bring death. This is why the LORD instructed Moses to put a barrier around Mt. Sinai so the people wouldn’t come to close. So magnificent is His presence even the angels must cover their faces with two of their wings (Is 6:2). The Reign of Yahweh is founded upon truth, impartial judgment, and his righteous character. The LORD is also a consuming fire (Ex 24:17, Heb 12:29) which destroys those whom oppose him (Deut 9:3). The coming of the LORD is like, even greater than, a fierce storm which causes the heavens to shine and the world to take notice. As at Sinai, the earth itself shakes as its creator comes into its midst (Ex 19:18, cf Hab 3:10, Mic 1:4, Nah 1:5). Charles Spurgeon put it this way: “Men cannot move the hills, with difficulty do they climb them, with incredible toil do they pierce their way through their fastnesses, but it is not so with the Lord, his presence makes a clear pathway, obstacles disappear, a highway is made, and that not by his hand as though it cost him pains, but by his mere presence, for power goes forth from him with a word or a glance. O for the presence of the Lord after this sort with his church at this hour! It is our one and only need.”[3]

The glory of the LORD is manifested in His creation (Ps 19:1), therefore all peoples have beheld it. Whether they accept it or not, none can claim ignorance of who Yahweh is or the obligation to worship Him (Rom 1:20-21).

Verses 7 - 9: The revelation of the greatness and majesty of Yahweh should bring shame to those who serve any other so called ‘gods’. These ‘gods’ are worthless, the literal meaning of the Hebrew word translated idol, profiting nothing to the devotees. Rather the psalmist calls all these ‘gods’, and by extension their worshippers, to worship Yawheh the one true God. The heavenly host are to do the same. In the end Yahweh shall rule in heaven and earth. In response the people rejoice and are glad at the manifestation of the God of Israel, specifically His judicial actions on their behalf, which are always good. There is question as to what this refers too in Israel’s past. Yet it will absolutely be true at the end of days.[4] The LORD alone is God and far above all other powers in creation. There is no comparison to Him in heaven and earth (Ps 89:6-8)

Verses 10 - 12: In response to who Yahweh is, those whom love Him are called not just to turn from evil but to hate it. John Calvin wrote: “He shows from the very nature of God, that we cannot be judged and acknowledged to be his servants unless we depart from sin, and practice holiness.”[5] This is a process. The closer we grow to God, the more we will hate what He hates, including things inside ourselves. They can rest in the reality that the LORD preserves and delivers the souls of those who serve Him. They are delivered from destruction by the wicked. The righteous will enjoy the light of redemption and a new world devoid of evil due to the triumph of Yahweh from evil. The people are called to be glad and worship, thanking God for His wonderful works.[6]

Bibliography

1. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 884). Peabody: Hendrickson.

2. Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (2015). Psalms: Chapters 42–106 (Vol. II, p. 346). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

3. Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 88-110 (Vol. 4, p. 196). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.

4. Boice, J. M. (2005). Psalms 42–106: An Expositional Commentary (p. 793). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

5. Calvin, J. (1998). Psalms (electronic ed., Ps 97:10). Albany, OR: Ages Software.

6. VanGemeren, W. A. (2008). Psalms. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms (Revised Edition) (Vol. 5, p. 729). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.