Psalm 97

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 97

This psalm dwells upon the same subject, and is set to the same tune, with the foregoing psalm. Christ is the Alpha and the Omega of both; they are both penned, and are both to be sung to his honour; and we make nothing of them if we do not, in them, make melody with our hearts to the Lord Jesus. He it is that reigns, to the joy of all mankind (Ps. 97:1); and his government speaks, I. Terror to his enemies; for he is a prince of inflexible justice and irresistible power, Ps. 97:2-7. II.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 97:1-7

What was to be said among the heathen in the foregoing psalm (Ps. 96:10) is here said again (Ps. 97:1) and is made the subject of this psalm, and of Ps. 99:1-9. The Lord reigns; that is the great truth here laid down. The Lord Jehovah reigns, he that made the world governs it; he that gave being gives motion and power, gives law and commission, gives success and event. Every man's judgment proceeds from the Lord, from his counsel and providence, and in all affairs, both public and private, he... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 97:8-12

The kingdom of the Messiah, like the pillar of cloud and fire, as it has a dark side towards the Egyptians, so it has a bright side towards the Israel of God. It is set up in spite of opposition; and then the earth saw and trembled (Ps. 97:4), but Zion heard and was glad, very glad, to hear of the conversion of some and of the confusion of others, that is, the conquest of all that stood it out against Christ. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! for behold thy king comes unto thee, Zech. 9:9.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 97 This psalm is ascribed to David by the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions. It is of the same argument, and upon the same subject, as the preceding, the coming and kingdom of Christ; and that it respects his first coming into the world, when angels were called upon to worship him, appears from Psalm 97:7 compared with Hebrews 1:6 though it is expressed in such language as seems to agree with his second coming; and, perhaps, both are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:1

The Lord reigneth ,.... He has reigned, now reigns, will and must reign until all enemies are made his footstool; See Gill on Psalm 93:1 ; see Gill on Psalm 96:10 , let the earth rejoice : not the land of Judea only, and the inhabitants of it, to whom the King Messiah came; for there were but few among them that received him, and rejoiced at his coming; but the whole earth, the vast continent, as distinguished from the isles after mentioned, and they that dwell upon it; the Gentiles,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:2

Clouds and darkness are round about him ,.... Either as a garment; so Apollinarius paraphrases it, "near is the King clothed with a cloud and tempest;' and it is usual with the Heathens to represent their deities as surrounded or clothed with a cloud F19 "Et Venus aethereos inter dea candida nimbos", Virgil. Aeneid. 8. "Venus circumdata nimbo", ib. Aeneid. 12. "Nube candentes humeros amictus augur Apollo", Horat. Carmin. l. 1. Ode 2. so Homer. Il. 5. v. 186. : here the allusion is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:3

A fire goeth before him , Not the fiery law, which went forth from his right hand on Mount Sinai; but rather his Gospel, which, as it enlightens, warms, comforts, and refreshes his people, searches, torments, and destroys his enemies, and is the savour of death unto death to them; see Jeremiah 23:29 . Some apply this to the gifts of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, signified by cloven tongues of fire; but then no such effect followed as mentioned in the next clause: it seems best to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:4

His lightnings enlightened the world ,.... Either the doctrines of the Gospel, compared thereunto, because of the swift progress they made, and the large extent of them in the world, in a very little time; by the apostles they were published in all nations, and were the means of enlightening them in the true knowledge of themselves, and of the way of salvation by Christ: hence they are called the "lights of the world", Matthew 5:14 , as the coming of Christ, in his kingdom and power, by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:5

The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord ,.... Kimchi interprets the "hills" of the kings of the wicked; and it was verified in Herod and his nobles, and the citizens of Jerusalem, who, when they heard of the coming of the Messiah, of the birth of the King of the Jews, were exceedingly moved and troubled; their hearts melted like wax within them, Matthew 2:1 , so when he appeared, in the power of his Gospel, in the Gentile world, and went forth in the ministration of it,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:6

The heavens declare his righteousness ,.... His justice in punishing his enemies; the lightning and the thunder in the heavens, the tokens of his wrath, and instruments of it; his wrath itself, which is revealed from heaven, Romans 1:18 , or the inhabitants of heaven, as Aben Ezra; the angels of heaven; so the Targum, "the angels on high (or of heaven, as in the king's Bible) declare his righteousness"; see Revelation 16:5 , it is true of the ministers of the Gospel, who are Christ's... read more

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