Psalms 97:1

PSALM 97

GOD VISITS EARTH IN THE FIRST AND SECOND ADVENTS;

THE POWER AND DOMINION OF GOD

Some of the opening words of this psalm were quoted by James A. Garfield on that night when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, as Garfield sought to quiet a restless mob on Wall Street, New York City. He concluded his remarks by saying, "God reigns, and the government in Washington still stands."

"God as Creator and the source of all righteousness and truth is again emphasized and amplified in Psalms 97. Here God is described: (1) as the Supreme One before whom creation itself is ever on the verge of dissolution; and (2) then as the Faithful One whose goodness and holiness are always being disclosed to all peoples through Zion."[1]

The dissolution of the earth mentioned here (Psalms 97:5), "Is possibly a reference to both the First and Second Advents of Jesus Christ,"[2] a figurative reference to the First, and a literal reference to the Second, when "Every mountain and every island shall be moved out of its place" (Revelation 6:14).

"The Latin Vulgate assigns this psalm to David, `when his land was restored;'"[3] but it is not clear exactly what occasion was meant by that. "The Ethiopic and Arabic versions carry the same ascription; and the Syriac has `A Psalm of David in which he predicts the advent of Christ (i.e., in the flesh) and through it, his last appearing (i.e., in judgment).'"[4]

We include these evidences of Davidic authorship as worthy of scholarly attention, although, again to quote Adam Clarke, "Still, the name of the author remains uncertain. Much of this psalm is in the Spirit of David's finest compositions, and yet many learned men suppose it was written to celebrate the Lord's power and goodness in the restoration of the Jews from their Babylonian captivity."[5]

"Hebrews 1:6 quotes a part of Psalms 97:7 here, applying it to Christ,"[6] according to Adam Clarke, but we do not believe that "all the angels of God," mentioned in the Hebrews quotation is the same as "all ye gods" of Psalms 97:7. This is undoubtedly a designation of judges and other high officials of Israel. See my extensive discussion of "gods" in Psalms 82:6.

THE REIGN OF JEHOVAH IN NATURE

In July of 1991, as this is written, a mighty volcano has forced the evacuation of an American Army Base in the Philippines; and not long ago, the awesome eruption of Mount St. Helens in the state of Washington provided a similar demonstration of the fearful powers of the natural world. Such things naturally turn the thoughts of men toward the Creator. In a similar way, "The ancients thought of God as `the God of fire and tempest, earthquake and volcano.'"[7] The psalmist in this chapter mentions "the clouds and darkness," "the lightnings," and the "melting mountains."

Can mountains "melt"? This morning's news release tells us that a tremendous dome of "molten rock" has formed in the crown of that threatening volcano in the Philippines, which the experts assure us will shortly erupt.

Psalms 97:1-2

"Jehovah reigneth; let the earth rejoice;

Let the multitude of isles be glad.

Clouds and darkness are round about him:

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne."

"Let the earth rejoice" (Psalms 97:1). "When Almighty God condescends to come to earth, the earth is bound to rejoice."[8] This, of course concerns the First Advent, when God's visitation of our sinful earth was indeed a matter of good news and universal rejoicing. It will not be so at the Second Advent, because then, "All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him" (Revelation 1:7). The greatest glory of the human race is simply this: "The Dayspring from on High has visited us, to shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:78-79).

"Clouds and darkness are round about him" (Psalms 97:2). The unfathomable mysteries of God, his ways which are higher than our ways, the secret things which belong to God - all these are symbolized by the darkness mentioned here. Also, as noted above, God's presence in the dark clouds of a great storm is suggested.

"Righteousness and justice ... the foundations of his throne" (Psalms 97:2). Although, not a quotation, the word in Hebrews is, "The sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of thy kingdom (Hebrews 1:8)."