Psalm 97:1-12 ASV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 97:1-7

What was to be said among the heathen in the foregoing psalm (Ps. 96:10) is here said again (Ps. 97:1) and is made the subject of this psalm, and of Ps. 99:1-9. The Lord reigns; that is the great truth here laid down. The Lord Jehovah reigns, he that made the world governs it; he that gave being gives motion and power, gives law and commission, gives success and event. Every man's judgment proceeds from the Lord, from his counsel and providence, and in all affairs, both public and private, he... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 97:8-12

The kingdom of the Messiah, like the pillar of cloud and fire, as it has a dark side towards the Egyptians, so it has a bright side towards the Israel of God. It is set up in spite of opposition; and then the earth saw and trembled (Ps. 97:4), but Zion heard and was glad, very glad, to hear of the conversion of some and of the confusion of others, that is, the conquest of all that stood it out against Christ. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! for behold thy king comes unto thee, Zech. 9:9.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:1

The Lord reigneth ,.... He has reigned, now reigns, will and must reign until all enemies are made his footstool; See Gill on Psalm 93:1 ; see Gill on Psalm 96:10 , let the earth rejoice : not the land of Judea only, and the inhabitants of it, to whom the King Messiah came; for there were but few among them that received him, and rejoiced at his coming; but the whole earth, the vast continent, as distinguished from the isles after mentioned, and they that dwell upon it; the Gentiles,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:2

Clouds and darkness are round about him ,.... Either as a garment; so Apollinarius paraphrases it, "near is the King clothed with a cloud and tempest;' and it is usual with the Heathens to represent their deities as surrounded or clothed with a cloud F19 "Et Venus aethereos inter dea candida nimbos", Virgil. Aeneid. 8. "Venus circumdata nimbo", ib. Aeneid. 12. "Nube candentes humeros amictus augur Apollo", Horat. Carmin. l. 1. Ode 2. so Homer. Il. 5. v. 186. : here the allusion is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:3

A fire goeth before him , Not the fiery law, which went forth from his right hand on Mount Sinai; but rather his Gospel, which, as it enlightens, warms, comforts, and refreshes his people, searches, torments, and destroys his enemies, and is the savour of death unto death to them; see Jeremiah 23:29 . Some apply this to the gifts of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, signified by cloven tongues of fire; but then no such effect followed as mentioned in the next clause: it seems best to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:4

His lightnings enlightened the world ,.... Either the doctrines of the Gospel, compared thereunto, because of the swift progress they made, and the large extent of them in the world, in a very little time; by the apostles they were published in all nations, and were the means of enlightening them in the true knowledge of themselves, and of the way of salvation by Christ: hence they are called the "lights of the world", Matthew 5:14 , as the coming of Christ, in his kingdom and power, by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:5

The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord ,.... Kimchi interprets the "hills" of the kings of the wicked; and it was verified in Herod and his nobles, and the citizens of Jerusalem, who, when they heard of the coming of the Messiah, of the birth of the King of the Jews, were exceedingly moved and troubled; their hearts melted like wax within them, Matthew 2:1 , so when he appeared, in the power of his Gospel, in the Gentile world, and went forth in the ministration of it,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:6

The heavens declare his righteousness ,.... His justice in punishing his enemies; the lightning and the thunder in the heavens, the tokens of his wrath, and instruments of it; his wrath itself, which is revealed from heaven, Romans 1:18 , or the inhabitants of heaven, as Aben Ezra; the angels of heaven; so the Targum, "the angels on high (or of heaven, as in the king's Bible) declare his righteousness"; see Revelation 16:5 , it is true of the ministers of the Gospel, who are Christ's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:7

Confounded be all they that serve graven images ,.... Images of gold, silver, and stone, graven by art and man's device; to serve and worship which must be the grossest ignorance and stupidity, which, when convinced of, must fill with shame and confusion: this may be considered either as a prayer, that the idolatrous Gentiles might be enlightened to see the vanity of their idols, and their worship of them, and turn to the living God; or as a prophecy that it should be; for it may be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:8

Zion heard, and was glad ,.... Or, the congregation of Zion, as the Targum; the church of Christ, and the members of it, called Zion, in allusion to the mountain of that name, in which the temple stood; a type of the church, Hebrews 12:22 , these heard the Gospel, the good news and glad tidings of good things; they heard that Zion's King reigned, and that his kingdom was enlarged, and interest increased; they heard the heavenly men declare his righteousness, by which they are justified... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 97:1-7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 97:8-12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 97:8

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