Psalm 97: Yahweh’s Reign Brings Joy to His People

The author of this Psalm is not known. Psalm 97 is also a Hymn psalm in a section of Enthronement Psalms. These ancient songs teach that Yahweh (the LORD) is sovereign over all the earth. He rules the world. He delivers His people simultaneous with punishing the pagan nations who are mistreating His people. His visitation provides them immediate relief from suffering. All these psalms refer to the king of heaven in His role as judge of mankind. The N.T. reveals that this task is assigned to Jesus the Messiah (John 5:22). These psalms also note the Messiah’s return will involve a judgment on the nations, probably a very direct judgment during the large battle of the nation's coming against Israel. 

  I. Yahweh’s glorious reign on earth and fiery presence at His appearing (vs. 1–6)

     A. When Jesus has dealt with His enemies in the Jezreel valley and comes to Jerusalem, He                 will arrive to institute His direct reign over the earth

     B. The righteous reign of Jesus during the Millennium will cause many peoples throughout                 the earth to rejoice. Government corruption will cease (Rev 20:6)

     C. The Islands, the remotest outposts of human habitations will join in the celebration that                  takes place on the larger continents (See Isa 24:15, 40:15, 41:5, 42:4)

     D. The righteous, just, and faithful rule of Yahweh will bring order to the earth

 “Isaiah said these things because he saw His [Jesus’] glory and spoke about Him. (John 12:41 HCSB) 

          Yahweh is God, Yeshua, Jesus is God, in some passages Yahweh is Yeshua, God the Son                          (Isa 6:1–5), in other texts God the Father is Yahweh (Ps 110:1)

     E. There will be worldwide liberation from oppressive, selfish, and evil rulers

     F. The figures here show a supernatural manifestation of the presence of God

On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. (Exod 19:16 ESV)

 Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke because the LORD came down on it in fire. Its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. (Exod 19:18 HCSB)

 . . . for our God is a consuming fire. (Heb 12:29 ESV)

     G. Clouds and thick darkness, lightening, God is here, a theophany, a Day of Yahweh (Joel 2:2)

     H. He is here to judge. His throne, His judgeship is based on His true righteousness and His                true justice (Zeph 1:15; Rev 11:5)

which God will bring about in His own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, the only One who has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom none of mankind has seen or can see, to whom be honor and eternal might. Amen. (1Ti 6:15–16 HCSB)

     I. His holy fire is a judgment on the wicked

His winnowing shovel is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn. But the chaff He will burn up with fire that never goes out. (Mat 3:12 HCSB)

     J. The majestic mountains are flattened and melt like candle wax from God’s fire

     K. Yahweh (the LORD) is the Master [adonai] (Lord) of the earth He is judging

     L. All nature and men see Jesus’ glory at the second coming (Psa 19:1; Isa 40:5; Rev 1:7)

 II. The command for all beings to worship Yahweh exclusively (vs. 7)

      A. Is it a shameful thing to worship anything other that the invisible God of the Bible

      B. When Yahweh shows up to judge His enemies, your idols cannot protect you

      C. All supernatural beings are commanded to worship only Yahweh

III. Zion’s worship and exaltation of Yahweh, the Most High God (vs. 8–9)

      A. The people of God rejoice in the rule of Yahweh, Adonai, el elyon, Jesus

      B. Jerusalem and Judah will rejoice when David’s son, the Lord is ruling and because they                  have been delivered from those marching to destroy them (Ps 48:11)

      C. The Most High God, Melchizedek used this title for God (Gen 14:18) 

      D. The second coming of Jesus brings immediate relief to those suffering persecution

Therefore, we ourselves boast about you among God's churches--about your endurance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you endure. It is a clear evidence of God's righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God's kingdom, for which you also are suffering, since it is righteous for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to reward with rest you who are afflicted, along with us. This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His powerful angels, taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who don't know God and on those who don't obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of everlasting destruction, away from the Lord's presence and from His glorious strength,1in that day when He comes to be glorified by His saints and to be admired by all those who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed. (2 Thess 1:4–10 HCSB)

IV. Yahweh’s true servants are full of joy and of praise for Him (vs. 10–12)

      A. Those who are lovers of Yahweh are commanded to hate evil

      B. There is a price to pay when you stand against evil in this world

      C. Yahweh brings relief of His persecuted people

But as it is written: What no eye has seen and no ear has heard, and what has never come into a man's heart, is what God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Cor 2:9 HCSB)  

      D. He preserves, guards, watches over their lives—He must allow their home going

      E. He delivers them out of the hands of the wicked (Dan 3:17)

      F. His radiance provides the righteous ones light, the light “dawns” on them (morning joy)

 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Ps 30:5 ESV)

      G. His relationship with them provides them great joy

      H. Believers are to find their joy in God

       I. Believers are to praise God’s holy name, Yahweh, and thank Him for His wonderful                       deliverance, preservation, salvation

Lessons to live by:

• No man can serve two masters; he will hate one and serve the other

• Joy and the removal of guilt are both blessing of genuine salvation. If you really belong to Jesus, He will be your greatest treasure and your greatest joy. If Jesus was not in heaven, it would be hell to you, because you love Him and hate sin.

• Since all the un-fallen and unredeemed creatures in heaven worship God, how much more, should we, who have been bought with the blood of Jesus, redeemed how I love to proclaim it, redeemed by the blood of the lamb!

• We are to exalt, adore, love, and praise the God of the Bible

• When we long for relief from persecution while patiently enduring it and praying for our enemies we display the patience of God. When He judges the enemies of Israel and of the Church on earth, we will experience a great liberation from wicked men