Psalm 97
Psa 97:1 The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
The earth will certainly rejoice when God’s laws are upon the earth again. We put some thoughts about this in our Psalm 96 study, but another thought to go along with that is how in God’s law to Israel the land was treated. It was not stripped and raped for everything it had to offer, but it was cared for and nourished.
I am reminded of this prophecy to Israel before the captivity that has End Time implications:
Isa 5:7-10 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. 8 Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! 9 In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant. 10 Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.
Here because of the prophesied trouble coming up on Israel for their disobedience, God would make the land desolate and the unable to yield crop. They could have 10 acres of vineyard that would only produce about 7 ½ gallons of wine, and if they planted 8 bushels of seed, they would only get 3 pecks (4 pecks makes a bushel) of produce. So they would plant 8 and get less than one out of it.
Psa 97:2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
God has always been obscured by clouds and darkness. In the wilderness with Israel, God’s presence was in the cloud.
Paul says, “Now we see through a glass darkly” that is our spiritual vision is impaired. God is so beyond us, we just can’t understand Him or His ways with our puny mind. He is even more obscured by darkness when we limit Him by all the myriads of false doctrines concerning Him.
It is hard to find the Love and mercy, when on the other hand we say He condemns billions to eternal torment. It is hard to find the justice (the foundation of His throne), when as “saved” Christians we think God doesn’t care about the rampant fornication, hatred of our brethren and hypocrisy that taints Christianity. Christians are guilty of making God in their own image to wink the eye at all their sins, yet cast the honest unbeliever into eternal torment because they could not accept Jesus (because of the example and testimony of the hypocrites).
Psa 97:3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
Who are God’s enemies that He destroys? What does God hate?
Pro 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
I have heard some Christians say, “Interesting that Adultery isn’t in this list.”
Look at these 7 things—they are all heart conditions.
All of these characteristics will lead to a variety of sin. When we get to the last one, we notice “brethren”. Israel was a brotherhood as they were all from the 12 sons of Jacob, but the Church is also a brotherhood and this list should hit home. Instead of projecting it to another group—project it to yourself and those you fellowship with. These heart conditions are among those that profess Christ. God hates this. This will make us an enemy of God and He will destroy us. Think about it.
He also promises to destroy any who have set themselves against Israel. Think about that also as we see antisemitism at an all-time high since the Holocaust. Churches are protesting and boycotting Israel. Universities celebrate hatred of Israel. Think about it.
We do not want to be found supporting something that God has condemned. God has condemned Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots (Catholic Church and those just like it). He says
Rev_18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
There is a point of no return when it comes to our association with this false system. Once the plagues begin, there is no coming out and we will be partakers of her sins—that is we will share her guilt and go down with that ship. Think about it.
Psa 97:4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
Psa 97:5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
Amo_9:13 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.
Nah_1:5 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.
2Pe_3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe_3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
This is not a literal burning or melting, not a destruction of the physical earth. The earth and those on it cannot stand in the presence of God or His judgements. We see when Moses was in the mount with God, the mount shook or trembled. We are also told that there will be an earthquake during the time of Jacob’s trouble that will equal the one in the days of Uzziah.
Zec 14:2-6 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity [exile], and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. 6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
The Great Tribulation will be a horrible time. Much like the time before Noah’s flood. The fallen angels will be released from their chains of darkness (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6) and they will be causing all sorts of destruction now that they are no longer restrained or forbidden to materialize. It will seem like all is lost and that the end of humanity is here, but God promises to stop this trouble lest no flesh be saved (Matt. 24:22; Mark 13:20). God will stop that avalanche of evil and destruction in its tracks. The hills or mountains which can pictures governments human or satanic are not match for God when He says, “enough is enough.” They are soft like butter or melted wax in God’s presence—they cannot stand, they have no strength.
Psa 97:6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
Those who are saved from destruction in Jacob’s Trouble will know it is God Himself that saved them.
Matthew tells us that there will be signs in the heavens at this time, so all will know it is God who authored the plan of salvation for all of mankind.
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Isa 18:3 All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.
The Holy Remnant will be the first to recognize and see the glory of God, when He fights for them as in days of old. The surviving forces of Gog will also see God’s glory and understand that they have been fighting against God and will have a Paul like conversion when they see and understand His glory.
Psa 97:7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
Those that put their faith in false gods will lose that faith because their gods cannot save them.
Psa 97:8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.
Zion being the church is glad and the daughter’s of Judah—the Holy Remnant of Natural Israel rejoiced because of thy judgments. The judgements against the forces of Gog at Jacob’s Trouble, when He fought for Israel as in days of old.
Psa 97:9 For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
We see God’s glory, and that He is above all gods---who are these other gods? Certainly not false gods—because we know they are not really gods.
Jer 16:20 Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?
Jehovah God acknowledges that there are other true gods, but He is far far above them. So let’s take a look at those other gods:
Psa 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
Joh 10:34-35 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
God is far above all gods. Though God grants to the Bride of Christ immortality and to sit in Jesus’ throne—He is still so far above them that there is no comparison. He is also so far above Jesus who is exalted above all his fellows.
Psa 45:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Consider this verse:
Deu_4:35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
God is not saying there are no other gods (mighty ones) but that there are not equal to him.
Psa 97:10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
While Christians can take comfort in this promise, because of context it actually applies to the Holy Remnant of Israel.
The wicked coming down is the forces of Gog (Eze. 38,39), The Lord’s Great Army (Joel), Jacob’s Trouble (Jer. 30). We see in Isa. 4:3 that the remnant who God delivers is holy. They sought the Lord in meekness and righteousness and they were hid and saved. Zeph 2:3
Psa 97:11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
This is a general principle and is applicable to all the righteous. They will see the light---get the necessary knowledge from God if they are faithful to what He has already given them.
They will also have peace in their hearts because they know God’s plan and have the utmost faith in it.
The Holy Remnant will have heard that Jesus is Messiah, but it will take a conversion like the Apostle Paul for them to really understand. Zechariah tells us that they will look upon him whom they have pierced…. Once they understand how Jesus fits into Judaism they will be glad.
Psa 97:12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Like the Israelites who left Egypt with their backs against a wall or a sea, they had nowhere to go till God opened the way. Just so with the Holy Remnant, they will always remember how Jehovah (YHWH) saved them from utter extinction.
Jesus tells us that God will stop the Great Tribulation before all flesh is destroyed (Matt 24:22)—that means there will be people who survive the Great Tribulation and see the inauguration of the Kingdom all Christians pray for.
Isaiah tells us that the remnant of Jews who survive will be holy (hence the Holy Remnant, Isa. 4:3), but the non-Jews who survive will also be righteous. God will use the Great Tribulation to wipe out all who have such hard characters. They still get a resurrection, but not until after everything is set up on the earth for the earthly phase of the reign of The Christ head and body. Jesus and his Bride will work first with those who did seek meekness and righteousness in that day. The earth will have to be cleaned up and Ezekiel’s Temple (see Ezek 40-47) built as well as a capital for the Ancients (Heb. 11) to work out of as they will be the earthly representatives of the Spiritual (Jesus and the Bride---God having something better for us).
After all have been resurrected and they are in the ages beyond the Kingdom when the Kingdom has been handed back to the Father that He may be All in All—all on earth will be righteous (having passed the Little Season—Rev. 20:3), when they look back at the history of mankind from the fall of Adam, to the Ransom of Christ, to the End Times, they will rejoice and see that God’s way was truly the best way and praise His Holy Name!
The earth will certainly rejoice when God’s laws are upon the earth again. We put some thoughts about this in our Psalm 96 study, but another thought to go along with that is how in God’s law to Israel the land was treated. It was not stripped and raped for everything it had to offer, but it was cared for and nourished.
I am reminded of this prophecy to Israel before the captivity that has End Time implications:
Isa 5:7-10 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. 8 Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! 9 In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant. 10 Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.
Here because of the prophesied trouble coming up on Israel for their disobedience, God would make the land desolate and the unable to yield crop. They could have 10 acres of vineyard that would only produce about 7 ½ gallons of wine, and if they planted 8 bushels of seed, they would only get 3 pecks (4 pecks makes a bushel) of produce. So they would plant 8 and get less than one out of it.
Psa 97:2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
God has always been obscured by clouds and darkness. In the wilderness with Israel, God’s presence was in the cloud.
Paul says, “Now we see through a glass darkly” that is our spiritual vision is impaired. God is so beyond us, we just can’t understand Him or His ways with our puny mind. He is even more obscured by darkness when we limit Him by all the myriads of false doctrines concerning Him.
It is hard to find the Love and mercy, when on the other hand we say He condemns billions to eternal torment. It is hard to find the justice (the foundation of His throne), when as “saved” Christians we think God doesn’t care about the rampant fornication, hatred of our brethren and hypocrisy that taints Christianity. Christians are guilty of making God in their own image to wink the eye at all their sins, yet cast the honest unbeliever into eternal torment because they could not accept Jesus (because of the example and testimony of the hypocrites).
Psa 97:3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
Who are God’s enemies that He destroys? What does God hate?
Pro 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
I have heard some Christians say, “Interesting that Adultery isn’t in this list.”
Look at these 7 things—they are all heart conditions.
- Pride, haughty (full of self)
- Lying tongue (liars also think everyone else lies just like them)
- Hate (those that shed innocent blood--murders)
- Heart full of wickedness (nothing good can come from this)
- Troublemakers (always getting into some sort of trouble)
- False Witness (A different kind of liar—these cause trouble for others)
- Discord—strife (always trying to keep the brethren at odds or agitated)
All of these characteristics will lead to a variety of sin. When we get to the last one, we notice “brethren”. Israel was a brotherhood as they were all from the 12 sons of Jacob, but the Church is also a brotherhood and this list should hit home. Instead of projecting it to another group—project it to yourself and those you fellowship with. These heart conditions are among those that profess Christ. God hates this. This will make us an enemy of God and He will destroy us. Think about it.
He also promises to destroy any who have set themselves against Israel. Think about that also as we see antisemitism at an all-time high since the Holocaust. Churches are protesting and boycotting Israel. Universities celebrate hatred of Israel. Think about it.
We do not want to be found supporting something that God has condemned. God has condemned Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots (Catholic Church and those just like it). He says
Rev_18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
There is a point of no return when it comes to our association with this false system. Once the plagues begin, there is no coming out and we will be partakers of her sins—that is we will share her guilt and go down with that ship. Think about it.
Psa 97:4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
Psa 97:5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
Amo_9:13 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.
Nah_1:5 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.
2Pe_3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe_3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
This is not a literal burning or melting, not a destruction of the physical earth. The earth and those on it cannot stand in the presence of God or His judgements. We see when Moses was in the mount with God, the mount shook or trembled. We are also told that there will be an earthquake during the time of Jacob’s trouble that will equal the one in the days of Uzziah.
Zec 14:2-6 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity [exile], and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. 6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
The Great Tribulation will be a horrible time. Much like the time before Noah’s flood. The fallen angels will be released from their chains of darkness (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6) and they will be causing all sorts of destruction now that they are no longer restrained or forbidden to materialize. It will seem like all is lost and that the end of humanity is here, but God promises to stop this trouble lest no flesh be saved (Matt. 24:22; Mark 13:20). God will stop that avalanche of evil and destruction in its tracks. The hills or mountains which can pictures governments human or satanic are not match for God when He says, “enough is enough.” They are soft like butter or melted wax in God’s presence—they cannot stand, they have no strength.
Psa 97:6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
Those who are saved from destruction in Jacob’s Trouble will know it is God Himself that saved them.
Matthew tells us that there will be signs in the heavens at this time, so all will know it is God who authored the plan of salvation for all of mankind.
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Isa 18:3 All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.
The Holy Remnant will be the first to recognize and see the glory of God, when He fights for them as in days of old. The surviving forces of Gog will also see God’s glory and understand that they have been fighting against God and will have a Paul like conversion when they see and understand His glory.
Psa 97:7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
Those that put their faith in false gods will lose that faith because their gods cannot save them.
Psa 97:8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.
Zion being the church is glad and the daughter’s of Judah—the Holy Remnant of Natural Israel rejoiced because of thy judgments. The judgements against the forces of Gog at Jacob’s Trouble, when He fought for Israel as in days of old.
Psa 97:9 For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
We see God’s glory, and that He is above all gods---who are these other gods? Certainly not false gods—because we know they are not really gods.
Jer 16:20 Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?
Jehovah God acknowledges that there are other true gods, but He is far far above them. So let’s take a look at those other gods:
Psa 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
Joh 10:34-35 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
God is far above all gods. Though God grants to the Bride of Christ immortality and to sit in Jesus’ throne—He is still so far above them that there is no comparison. He is also so far above Jesus who is exalted above all his fellows.
Psa 45:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Consider this verse:
Deu_4:35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
God is not saying there are no other gods (mighty ones) but that there are not equal to him.
Psa 97:10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
While Christians can take comfort in this promise, because of context it actually applies to the Holy Remnant of Israel.
The wicked coming down is the forces of Gog (Eze. 38,39), The Lord’s Great Army (Joel), Jacob’s Trouble (Jer. 30). We see in Isa. 4:3 that the remnant who God delivers is holy. They sought the Lord in meekness and righteousness and they were hid and saved. Zeph 2:3
Psa 97:11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
This is a general principle and is applicable to all the righteous. They will see the light---get the necessary knowledge from God if they are faithful to what He has already given them.
They will also have peace in their hearts because they know God’s plan and have the utmost faith in it.
The Holy Remnant will have heard that Jesus is Messiah, but it will take a conversion like the Apostle Paul for them to really understand. Zechariah tells us that they will look upon him whom they have pierced…. Once they understand how Jesus fits into Judaism they will be glad.
Psa 97:12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Like the Israelites who left Egypt with their backs against a wall or a sea, they had nowhere to go till God opened the way. Just so with the Holy Remnant, they will always remember how Jehovah (YHWH) saved them from utter extinction.
Jesus tells us that God will stop the Great Tribulation before all flesh is destroyed (Matt 24:22)—that means there will be people who survive the Great Tribulation and see the inauguration of the Kingdom all Christians pray for.
Isaiah tells us that the remnant of Jews who survive will be holy (hence the Holy Remnant, Isa. 4:3), but the non-Jews who survive will also be righteous. God will use the Great Tribulation to wipe out all who have such hard characters. They still get a resurrection, but not until after everything is set up on the earth for the earthly phase of the reign of The Christ head and body. Jesus and his Bride will work first with those who did seek meekness and righteousness in that day. The earth will have to be cleaned up and Ezekiel’s Temple (see Ezek 40-47) built as well as a capital for the Ancients (Heb. 11) to work out of as they will be the earthly representatives of the Spiritual (Jesus and the Bride---God having something better for us).
After all have been resurrected and they are in the ages beyond the Kingdom when the Kingdom has been handed back to the Father that He may be All in All—all on earth will be righteous (having passed the Little Season—Rev. 20:3), when they look back at the history of mankind from the fall of Adam, to the Ransom of Christ, to the End Times, they will rejoice and see that God’s way was truly the best way and praise His Holy Name!
