Psalms 97:4 - Exposition

His lightnings enlightened the world. Here the tenses change from present to past—not, however, that any past event is alluded to, but merely to mark prophetic certainty. The psalmist, rapt in vision, sees the future as past. Lightnings play a part in almost' all theophanies ( Exodus 19:16 ; Job 37:1-5 ; Psalms 18:13 ; Psalms 77:18 , etc.). The earth saw, and trembled (comp. 5:4 ; Psalms 68:8 ; Psalms 114:7 ).