Psalm 97--The LORD Reigns

Psalm 97
English Standard Version

The LORD Reigns
97 The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
    let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
    righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him
    and burns up his adversaries all around.
4 His lightnings light up the world;
    the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
    before the LORD of all the earth.

6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
    and all the peoples see his glory.
7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,
    who make their boast in worthless idols;
    worship him, all you gods!

8 Zion hears and is glad,
    and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
    because of your judgments, O LORD.
9 For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;
    you are exalted far above all gods.

​10 O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
    He preserves the lives of his saints;
    he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous,
    and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
    and give thanks to his holy name!

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"God is King and you are not" is one of the main truths of Scripture.  The LORD is high and lifted up, seated on His heavenly throne.  From there He sees all the man says, does, thinks and feels Nothing is hidden from Him, yet He is hidden from us.  Dark clouds veil Him from our sight so that we might not glimpse upon His holiness and die.  From this throne, He is ready to sit as judge over all creation.

The foundations of His throne are righteousness and justice.  That is to say that all His decrees are both right and just.  Vengeance belongs to Him and His perfect judgment consumes all of His enemies with fire.  The storms listen to Him and announce His coming judgment so that whole earth (even the mighty mountains) shake and tremble.  Everything from this creation will melt away like wax when the time comes for the LORD to put an end to this creation and to make all things new.

The heavens declare the glory of God!  The universe seems to be designed in such a way where we are at the perfect place to look out and observe all the other stars and planets.  If we were in a slightly different place in the Milky Way, we wouldn't be able to survive, nor would be we be able to see the band of stars that we call the Milky Way in the night sky.  God gave us the wonders of the heavens to let us know that He is Creator and Ruling Sustainer of all.  We know this not only from the big things, but also the little things.  We know the same thing from looking at atoms and sub-atomic particles.  We can't fully understand them, but God does, and He makes them hold together to make the building blocks of His creation.

All those who worship false gods and idols will be put to shame because their gods do not have knowledge, wisdom, power, glory or majesty like our God.  "Our God is greater; our God is stronger.  God, You are higher than any other.  Our God is Healer, awesome in Power, Our God!"  Even these demons that other people worship will have to bend the knee and worship their Creator and Judge one day.  Then all men who foolishly worshiped them will see that they had nothing to offer, and they certainly cannot save men from the consequences of their sins or the wrath of God.

The people of God (represented by those from Mount Zion) rejoice at the coming of the LORD.  The same event that sparks fear for the enemies of God brings joy for the people of God.  Those who fear Him as Savior need not fear Him as Judge as He has already judged His Son, Jesus, in our place.

Therefore, we should live in a way where we both love the LORD and hate evil.  Recognize that life is in the hands of the LORD and He is both the one who gives and takes away.  "The LORD giveth, and the LORD taketh away.  Blessed be the Name of the LORD."  The LORD's people live in the kingdom of His marvelous light, while those who rebel against Him imagine that they live in darkness that conceals them, but darkness cannot hide you from the light.  Light always wins against darkness, and the LORD will always win over evil.  We rejoice because the LORD will be victorious, He will save us, and He will execute His righteous judgment and justice will be done.  For all these reasons and more, we praise the LORD.