August 20, 2025 - Wednesday

Reminder to God’s People #

Psalm 97

Introduction

Verse 1 as is often the case in the Psalms, gives us the scope, and idea of this Psalm. It introduces Jehovah God, as well as the earth beneath him. Gladness is mentioned in this verse, but then is not brought up again until verse 6. Matter of fact, there is quite a contrast, because doom, gloom, and judgement are mentioned in the next 4 verses, before rejoicing is again brought up. In reading that again, it becomes evident, and noticeable.

Verse one shows us the Reigning of the LORD, and the Rejoicing of the earth. There is a step in between those two that is covered in the Psalm. However, it introduces us the two primary objects of focus. The Lord, and the earth.

Some things you don’t get the first time through the Bible… that is why meditation, focus, and study is required to see some things in the Bible.

We find a great reminder for God’s people. When you are struggling, and going through a hard time, this is one of those Psalms that can be a blessing and help to you. Let’s notice a few things out of this Psalm.

I. The Execution of Judgement (2-5) #

A. Cloudiness of God to those under judgement (2) #

i. The world has a clouded view of God #

ii. They can’t see past his judgement! #

B. Consumption of his enemies (3) #

i. This is what the law says about God! #

Deuteronomy 4:24 - “24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” Hebrews 12:29 - “29 For our God is a consuming fire.”

ii. There is an aspect, of God, as a consuming fire! #

C. Control over the earth (4-5) #

i. Electric - Lightning – man still cannot control, manage, or harvest it. #

ii. Earth Quakes (4) trembled #

iii. Extreme heat - “hills melted like wax” – #

    1. LORD = Jehovah God
    2. Lord – master as in the master of the whole earth!

Micah 1:4 - “4 And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.”

Nahum 1:5 - “5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.”

II. The Exaltation of Jehovah (6-9) #

A. Communication (6) “heavens declare” #

Psalm 19:1 - “1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” Psalm 50:6 - “6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.” Psalm 89:5 - “5 And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.”

i. God’s Glory #

ii. God’s Righteousness #

B. Confounding (7) #

C. Cheerfulness (8) – God’s people rejoice at his exaltation! #

D. Commendations (9) #

Three psalms in a row, brings up the fact that God is above EVERY god!

Psalm 95:3 - “3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” Psalm 96:4–5 - “4 For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.”

III. The Exhortation of the Justified (10-12) #

A. Condemnation of sin (10) “hate evil” #

i. Love the LORD #

Matthew 6:24 - “24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

ii. Hate Evil #

Proverbs 8:13 - “13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”