Psalm 97
The Lord Reigns!
When I open up my news app in the morning right now, I do it with trepidation, wondering what new conflict will have opened up. The world seems to be in chaos.
This week’s Psalm is good for my own heart and I hope for your’s too. My prayer is that you might be reminded that God is still on the throne and his reign and justice will never be thwarted!
1 The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;
let the distant shores rejoice.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him
and consumes his foes on every side.
4 His lightning lights 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 peoples see his glory.7 All who worship images are put to shame,
those who boast in idols –
worship him, all you gods!8 Zion hears and rejoices
and the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments, LORD.
9 For you, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.
10 Let those who love the LORD hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light shines on the righteous
and joy on the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous,
and praise his holy name.
1-7
In the days before his crucifixion, Jesus announced to his disciples, “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out” (John 12.31). Through his death on the cross, Jesus neutered the power of the deceiver and when Christ returns in glory, he will crush satan’s head.
The opening half of this Psalm celebrates this victory of God through Christ.
And we are invited to revel in this good news, rejoicing that truly God reigns!
Notice first that this is global news (1). This is not just for one small subsection of the earth. It’s not for one nation or people of one ethnicity. This good news is for the whole world, from the sandy beaches of the outer Hebrides to the shorelines of the Fijian islands. It is a call for all to hear it, trust in the God who reigns, and be glad in him. It’s good news for us. In a world of turmoil, we can be sure that as Sam Gamgee said, “Everything sad is going to come untrue.” That’s good news for you today.
Why? Because God’s fiery might brooks no rivals. He is matchless and peerless. Anyone who stands against him will not just cower but crumble. There are echoes of Exodus reverberating in this Psalm, reminding us that in the same way God defeated Pharaoh and his army, so any who rebel against God will be overwhelmed by his volcanic power.
The call then is for all of creation, from mountains to the heavens, from humanity to divine beings to bow down before God and give him the glory (7). For he is the superlative God, unequalled and incomparable. And he deserves our praise and devotion.
8-12
The second half of the Psalm then is primarily about our response to the power, justice and faithfulness of God.
All of God’s people are gladdened at the judgements of God (8). Their hearts are cheered because God is going to purge all sin from his world, expelling the evil and hypocrisy that corrupts the nations.
In a world of injustice, we don’t need to hear a philosophical treatise about how all things are relative. We long for one who is righteous to make fair judgements. And we also yearn for one who cares about the plight of the downtrodden and the outcasts. And we have that in the Lord God. He is the one over and above all (9). That means he has the authority to eradicate the darkness that distorts God’s creation. But it also means that he sees all and knows all and will deal with it all.
All those who have trusted in Jesus have been called out of the darkness and into the marvellous light (11; see 1 Peter 2.9). This is the wonder of salvation. No longer are we destined for decay and death in the domain of darkness, but our future is light, life and love in the presence of the Lord.
This has two implications for us as followers of God:
First, we must hate evil as the God of light also does (10). We are to turn away from it and turn towards God, following the narrow path that Jesus has laid out for us. We do this in the confidence that our God by his Holy Spirit will travel with us on that path, protecting and providing for us.
Second, let’s rejoice, for we have been fully saved and are forever secure with Jesus.
Glory be to God the Father, whose throne is founded on righteousness and justice.
Glory be to God the Son, who reigns in heaven above.
Glory be to God the Spirit, who guards us on the path of life.
Ever three and ever One!
Home Group: Luke 12.35-59
In this opening parable, which servants are those who will be blessed (37)? How is the Master’s behaviour surprising and what does that teach us about Jesus? What two things are followers of Jesus meant to do while waiting for his return (39-40)?
In response to Peter’s question, what does Jesus warn his listeners against (45-48)? What does it look like then for us as the church to wait well for Christ (43-44)?
What time does Jesus say it is (49-53)? How can we interpret the time properly? What lesson is Jesus teaching us with the story of settling with an accuser?