Bible Commentaries

1. The Lord reigneth—See Psalms 96:10; Psalms 99:1. This is the keynote to the psalm.

Earth—The word might signify land—the land of Palestine, but, more probably, the nations generally.

Multitude of isles—The foreign nations, particularly the maritime nations, sea coasts, or nations beyond seas, as to the Hebrews, or those of whom the Hebrews had no knowledge but by commerce. See Psalms 72:10; Psalms 45:12

2. Clouds and darkness—The imagery is Sinaitic. Psalms 97:2-6. Comp. Exodus 19:16-20; Exodus 20:18. God appears as judge, wrapped in “clouds and darkness” as symbols of severity and as the robe of his judicial office.

Righteousness and judgment—The former denoting the principle, and the latter the administration, of justice.

Habitation of his throne— Foundation, or support, of his throne, according to the radical meaning of the word, and its use in Psalms 104:5; Psalms 89:14; Ezra 2:68; in which latter it is translated place. In those passages where it is translated dwellingplace, the idea is not always synonymous with “habitation,” but often denotes that whereon the “habitation” rests. See 2 Chronicles 6:2; Psalms 33:14. Support is the truest idea of the word here.

3. A fire goeth before him—To herald his coming. If the word of God is one of mercy to those who love and obey him, it is also one of judgment and terror to those who despise him. The figures are still borrowed from the scenes of Sinai. (See Deuteronomy 4:11; compare Isaiah 66:15-16; Hebrews 12:29; Revelation 4:5.) God is represented in Psalms 97:2-6 as the universal ruler, passing through the nations of the earth, visiting judicial judgments on his enemies, and dispensing pardon and peace to his willing and submissive subjects. These rejoice, (Psalms 97:1,) those tremble, (Psalms 97:4.)

4. Earth saw, and trembled—As an affrighted servant. Even Moses said: “I exceedingly fear and quake.” Hebrews 12:21

5. At the presence—Literally, from before the face. See, in a humbler sense, the terror of countenance, Matthew 28:3-4

6. The heavens declare his righteousness— “As far as the heavens extend, so far shall his righteousness be made known.”—Tholuck. In the most public manner, before the universe, shall the rectitude of the Judge and Sovereign be proclaimed.

All the people see his glory—So, in Psalms 97:4, the “earth saw, and trembled.” The “glory” of the Lord is not only the power and majesty which attend his appearance, but especially the purity and righteousness of all his acts, whether of law or grace, judgment or mercy. This the nations of the world shall see and confess, whether they obey or rebel.

7. Confounded—Put to shame, or confusion. The word denotes that confusion or perplexity of mind which results from a misplaced confidence, or the consequences of a wicked course now at length arrested and brought to judgment.

Idols—See on Psalms 96:5, where the same word occurs, but nowhere else in the Psalms.

Worship him, all ye gods— “Gods,” here, is, in Hebrew, Eloheem, the name of the one living and true God, which generally occurs in the plural form. It is sometimes, as here, applied to kings and magistrates, on account of their office as representatives of God, (see note on Psalms 8:5,) and the psalmist calls on such to abandon their “idols” and worship Him who is “over all, God blessed for ever.” In Hebrews 1:6, (where see note,) the apostle quotes from the Septuagint, and applies to Christ, “And let all the angels of God worship him,” which is generally admitted to refer to these words of the psalmist. The Septuagint of Deuteronomy 32:43 has the same words: “Rejoice, ye heavens, with him, and let all the angels of God worship him.” But these words are not in the Hebrew, and it is inadmissible to suppose the apostle would quote an interpolation of a version to support a fundamental doctrine. He refers obviously to Psalms 97:7, and it is the clearest instance in Scripture of the translation of eloheem by angels. Professor Stuart supposes there was “a usus loquendi among the Jews” which allowed it, though not clearly brought out in the Scriptures, which appears probable. This quotation of the apostle determines our psalm to be Messianic in a high degree, and ranks it with Psalms 2, 110

8. Zion heard, and was glad—The form of the verbs (Kal preterit) in this verse, together with the historic facts alleged, namely, the “rejoicings,” and the “judgments,” clearly point us to some occasion of the signal interposition of God in behalf of the nation.

Daughters of Judah—A poetical title for cities of Judah. See on Psalms 48:11

10. Ye that love the Lord, hate evil—Learn to abhor it from this example of divine judgments against idolatry.

11. Light is sown—Prosperity and hope are diffused. Psalms 1:6; Proverbs 2:8.

For the righteous—And for none other. The discriminating qualification excludes the opposite character, and proves that for them there is no hope, while for the righteous there is assured blessedness. All such passages contain the germ of immortality and future judgment.