Psalm 97
1 The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.
9 For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
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.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Outline
The Day Islands Will Rejoice!
Psalm 97
by Pastor Clinton Macomber
Islands will serve as temporary “safe zones”
The world will be glad Psalm 97:1
Clouds and darkness surround God’s place, Psalm 97:2
Fire will torch the effects of sin, Psalm 97:3
Lighting will light the earth, Psalm 97:4
Islands will be rejoined
Mountains will rejoin the land Psalm 97:5
The heavens will rejoin God’s glory, Psalm 97:6
Idolaters will rejoin in God’s worship, Psalm 97:7
Zion and Judah will rejoin all nations, Psalm 97:8
Island souls will be restored
God is exalted everywhere, Psalm 97:9
God preserved the souls of the saints, Psalm 97:10
God plants light and gladness, Psalm 97:11
Islands must rejoice now because of God’s purity, Psalm 97:12
Photo
Days of feeling all alone will end when the Lord Jesus comes back
Sermon
The Day Islands Will Rejoice!
Psalm 97
by Pastor Clinton Macomber
“No man is an island” was written by a Christian man, John Donne (1572-1631), in his book entitled Devotions upon Emergent Occasions and in “Meditation 17.” While it may be hard to understand, as we get frail and sick, as he did, we learn that we cannot do it all ourselves, and we must have help even to live. But this does not change the feelings that some have. People often feel cut off from others and as if they are alone on a forsaken island. We call this loneliness. People can feel lonely even when they are surrounded by lots of people, when by definition we would say they are far from being lonely. Thus loneliness is a mental state of feeling about things, and not based on reality.
There is a day coming when not only the islands of the sea will rejoin the land mass, but those that feel lonely will not have those feelings to contend with anymore. All the people of the earth will be of one mind and one heart, and the problems and divisions caused by sin will be gone.
Islands will serve as temporary “safe zones”
The world will be glad
Psalm 97:1 The Lord reigns; Let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad!
As one grows older, the discouragement of politics begins to be a burden. It seems political leaders cannot rule in peace, nor do they really try. The politics of countries is one of war and constant fighting. Treaties are seemingly made to be broken. Alliances are made that are always one-sided. Things are often gloomy, and the high taxes are a real burden. It does not seem to matter how good a person might have been before they get into office, what they do with their powers hurts so many.
God carefully explains that man’s time of governance is limited. It will not go on forever. Man insists ignorantly that he can rule himself, apart from God’s law and control. In Adam we all chose to experience the knowledge of good and evil and so their consequences. Since the very beginning, man thinks they are justified in their murders, thefts, rapes, and all sorts of evil deeds, and they want to be allowed to do it. Even the most godly leaders that ever lived made blunders that impacted innocent people. Most notably, their families were sacrificed so that their time could be spent in ruling a nation.
The only solution is for God to reign on this earth and for Him to appoint rulers that cannot be bribed, have no effects of sin, and who have proven faithful till death when they lived in a world dominated by sin and the effects of sin.
Let the earth rejoice that even now God reigns and sets limits for all things. Let the earth rejoice when God does come to this earth and establish His throne! Finally political corruption will be gone. Our creator, sustainer, and redeemer will be here to see that justice is fair and that it happens.
Today, islands are used as places to escape persecution, or as places to persecute citizens that are hated by government. John (who penned Revelation) was exiled to an island to die and to cut him off from contact with people, and thus to stop his far reaching influence. It did not work, because he served and honored God. Instead John was given a message to the world that has dominated for 2,000 years, far longer than a man could do alone. Thus, when it comes to spiritual matters, islands do not end things, they only promote the truth, and demonstrate the inability of earthly powers to stop the spiritual work of God.
Once God reigns, the islands will no longer be needed. They were provided after the flood as havens for those persecuted, or for places for the criminal to be banished to live. They have served well for 4,000 years, but they will be useless in God’s kingdom. There is no escape from the arm of a righteous government under God, and all people will need to come to Zion to worship God at the annual festivals, or suffer for their lack of respect toward God.
Clouds and darkness surround God’s place
Psalm 97:2 Clouds and darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
God is shrouded or clothed with clouds and darkness. There is no way to “get” to God physically. God does what is right and He dispenses justice. Humans are incapable of hiding truth from God, and so justice is absolute and final. There is no fear that later something will come out that will alter a verdict, because God knows the whole situation and also knows what is the right thing to do that is equitable and fair to all parties.
In all of history has there ever been a foundation to a government that was built on righteousness and justice? The answer is yes, but each godly power had limits. These limits made them fallible and people were hurt as a result. God has no limits to doing what is right and dispersing justice. He has no one that can overpower Him or force Him to do otherwise.
Fire will torch the effects of sin
Psalm 97:3 A fire goes before Him, And burns up His enemies round about.
God gives every opportunity for people to come to their senses and repent of their sin, and call on God for salvation and leadership. Those that refuse and rebel are finally destroyed. The very fact that God has waited 6,000 years to allow men everywhere to repent, is proof of God’s fairness and patience. He does not have to fear mankind, because man is a created being. He does not have to fear letting man have a free choice, because God will appropriately end things according to what is right.
Lighting will light the earth
Psalm 97:4 His lightnings light the world; The earth sees and trembles.
God’s power is incredible. He lights up things with lightnings and can terrify even the most stubborn and hard-hearted man. There is no human being that would dare stand before God and think for even a moment that he had anything to argue with God over. God gives every opportunity for repentance, and when at last each man and woman stands before God, they will be without excuse and have nothing to say in their own defence.
Islands will be rejoined
Mountains will rejoin the land
Psalm 97:5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
In order to restore the land mass to what it was when God created it, will require that the mountains will need to be leveled again. This is explained in other passages of Scripture. To the observer, it will look like they are melting! Except for volcanic activity that sometimes forms new mountains and islands (even though it often reduces them), mountains have literally been melting for 4,000 years. The precious minerals and fertile soil has been eroding away and being washed down into valleys steadily in that time to provide a means for man to be able to raise crops for food. The mountains today literally are fertilizer sticks, holding precious matter until it is needed. Man as also enjoyed mining things from the mountains to support an industrial economy.
In God’s restored earth, the mountain barriers will be needed no longer. Sin will not need to be contained, because it will be controlled and the Devil and his minions will be banished. The mountains will no longer be needed to store vast amounts of water to provide for life on the earth, because water will go forth from the throne of God throughout the whole earth and water all the land. Mineral deposits in mountains will no longer be needed because instead of the earth being in a constant state of decay and corruption; the earth will be constantly renewed with vitality and energy. Slowly leaching minerals will not be necessary to replace what is lost through the effects of erosion, wind damage, use, etc. Also, support of an industrial economy will cease, because man will return to his fig tree and vine, not needing the materialistic pleasures and provisions for sin.
For more see the “Bible Says It” segment on this Psalm.
The heavens will rejoin God’s glory
Psalm 97:6 The heavens declare His righteousness, And all the peoples see His glory.
There are many different ways that the heavens declare the righteousness of God and allow mankind to see the His glory.
First, the fact that they exist prove that God is far greater than man, having created a system to which man cannot find an end. The result is that man is faced with the fact that God also is infinite, and has no bounds.
Second, there is a message in the names of the stars and the constellations that tell the gospel story in surprising detail. With the stars beckoning to be heard each night, a little research uncovers a mine of information that has been passed down to us since the Creation.
Third, the laws that carefully govern all things in heaven allow for predictive practices, and assurance to mankind. Every item in the heavens has a path and orbit it maintains. Each item is influenced by other items in its orbit. They have continued to obey the laws that govern them. This demonstrates to the observer that God is so great He not only created the celestial bodies, but governs their actions by law that remains unbroken.
Fourth, the heavens declare the glory and righteousness of God in the fact that they have an influence on the seasons and events on earth. The moon directly affects the tides and waves that purge the ocean and provide for the support of both human and animal life on earth. The Sun also has a major influence on earth, but maintains a safe distance at all times. If it got any closer, the earth and all on it would burn up. If it strayed any farther away, the earth would freeze and all life would be destroyed.
Fifth, we are told that the stars are like our sun. They burn so brightly and are so hot that if they were closer they would cause real problems on the earth. This suggests to the observer that God is much brighter and even more powerful than the stars and sun, being the Creator, for the thing created is always lesser than the creator.
Sixth, with the great expanses of the universe, God has a plan for us to use them one day. For now we are trapped on the earth to limit the scope and effects of sin, but in that day things will open up and as man increases the whole galaxy and other systems are open for mankind’s use to glorify God.
Seventh, just as there is much out in the heavens that we have not seen, nor do we know about, so there is a great spiritual host that is vast that we are told of, but do not see. Thus the heavens remind us of the power, glory and richness of God’s throne and all those that serve Him.
Idolaters will rejoin in God’s worship
Psalm 97:7 Let all be put to shame who serve carved images, Who boast of idols. Worship Him, all you gods.
After thinking about the vastness, greatness, power, glory and honor of God, it is absurd that anyone should dare to worship some image of anything. Anyone that has god-like qualities that are admired by people, should shudder at the thought that they would be worshipped when God has given the glory and honor. They should demand that no one bow to them, or make images of them, or in any way treat them like God, because there is one God, and He is above all.
Zion and Judah will rejoin all nations
Psalm 97:8 Zion hears and is glad, And the daughters of Judah rejoice Because of Your judgments, O Lord.
God is very much involved in the affairs of mankind today, and continues to set limits to sin and corruption, let it overtake the whole earth. He does allow sin to go almost unchecked in certain pockets, until His people cry out for help. As testimony of these events circle the globe among God’s people, Zion is glad and the people of Israel rejoice. It is proof that God is alive and well, and serve as a reminder of the great changes that will come once the Lord Jesus returns in the Second Coming.
The moment we feel we are alone, we need to listen! This is why biographies of godly people are helpful to read. They remind us of the power of God today, and the reason we should be thankful to Him. We must always remember however, that biographies of missionaries and the saints of God should never replace God’s Word. If we spend more time in books other than Scripture, we are showing more honor to them, and God will hold us accountable. All honor goes to God, lesser honor is bestowed on others. Even less honor on ourselves.
The point of these verses is to remind us that God is at work today, and when we see the miracles that He does on a daily basis, and we know the marvelous promises of the Scriptures, we can rest assured that one day we will not be standing seemingly alone, but instead there will be multitudes in heaven that have endured similar and greater circumstances, and the whole world will join in unison in praise of God with us!
Island souls will be restored
God is exalted everywhere
Psalm 97:9 For You, Lord, are most high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.
There are many advantages to being high above the earth, and these are used by governments to spy in the form of orbiting satellites, spy planes, balloons, etc. Being high above all allows for one to get a picture of what is happening over a large geographic location, and to be able to better intercept activities deemed harmful. There is one major disadvantage that government spy agents have and that is they cannot read the motives and heart of those they are observing, and often misinterpret what they see and use the information to kill innocent people, even though they claim their purpose is to avoid doing so.
So, even the best man can produce and will produce is far less superior than anything God has and will do. Man simply is incapable of matching God’s traits and character.
The mightiest, or most intelligent, or cleverest person on earth will always pale in comparison to the power and majesty of God. Even the most honored among mankind is nothing in comparison with the loyalty, honor and multitude that praise and honor God.
One day soon this harmony will be restored as it should be. The misguided and aimless person will be gone. All will find the common ground of worshipping God alone, and in realizing the utter depravity of honoring anything created or made.
God preserved the souls of the saints
Psalm 97:10 You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
We marvel at the preservation of mummies in Egypt and some other desert regions. Yet, even when bodies were carefully prepared for preservation for what they hoped would last an eternity, the bodies are found in advanced rates of decay in the best of circumstances. Furthermore to preserve the body in a mummy, the body must be mutilated to a great extent to slow the natural decomposition built into living things.
God hates evil, and as a result preserves the souls of His saints. These are those who have followed God to the point they have been separated from the world, the practices and associations of sin. They are called saints because of this disassociation from the world. As a result, no matter what the wicked may devise in utter hatred and animosity against a saint, the soul of the saint remains unharmed. God grants the peace and strength to endure faithfully.
This is seen historically over 6,000 years of human history. Those who stand for lesser elements quickly succumb to torture. Yet those who find their hope and strength in God stand strong through the torture right past death. It is not unusual to see the guards die and the righteous survive as in the case of the three Hebrew Governors in Babylon, when cast into the fiery furnace. They in fact were visibly joined by one that looked like the Son of God, so there were four walking in the fire, until the three were told to come out. God proved that earthly elements and tortures have no impact on His saints, by not even allowing their clothing to be singed by the high heat of the fire.
God plants light and gladness
Psalm 97:11 Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart.
This verse is a clever way to maintain Hebrew poetic elements. Light is planted for the righteous, so they can see their way and what is really happening. The natural human being is one who loves darkness and avoids the light as much as possible and does all in his power to put out any light. Thus, light is a thing of the godly, and is used by the godly. With light comes real gladness. There is so much inherent fear and turmoil in darkness, because not only can a person not see what is happening, and everything catches them off-guard, but in trying to shield themselves from exposure, they cannot do what they wish to do with any proficiency.
Islands must rejoice now because of God’s purity
Psalm 97:12 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
Those that are doing the right thing must be reminded to rejoice in the Lord. How easy is it to forget the blessings of God by not rejoicing in God each time we remember the holy name of God.
While no man may truly be an island, he certainly can feel like one, if he is looking at things from the old vision of the natural man. A spiritual man, or saint of God, will see the glories to come, and face earthly troubles with what they are: temporary and merely physical bumps that cannot harm, but can only strengthen the spiritual qualities the Holy Spirit is seeking to produce in us.
Topic Study
The Removal of the Mountains
The mountains will melt, including Mt. Sinai when Christ leaves Seir
Judges 5:4-5 LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water. The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel.
The mountains and hills will melt like wax in Christ’s presence
Psalm 97:5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The earth is going to really shake and roll when things are leveled
Isaiah 24:19-20 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.
The mountains are going to flow down as the heavens are torn and great fire burns everything evil
Isaiah 64:1-2 Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!
Jesus is going to come and stomp down the high places, and the mountains will melt under him, like molten wax
Micah 1:3-4 For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth. 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.
The mountains will shake at the presence of the Lord
Nahum 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.
The mountains will scatter as Christ surveys the world
Habakkuk 3:6 He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.
The Day of the Lord is going to be loud as earthly works are burned up and things melt down
2 Peter 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.
Quote
Psalm 97:11
by Frederick Brotherton Meyer, Our Daily Homily
(Redding, CA: Pleasant Places Press, 2004). Vol. 3 page 97
Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
Light means recognition, joy, song. These await such as are clad about with the righteousness of Christ, and are following the paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake. Never swerve from the path of the righteous; however trying and dark your present experience may be, it leads to a harvest-home of joy beyond the years.
Sowing is sad work. It is a casting away of precious seed; the flinging far and wide of the treasured stores of the barn; an expenditure of the present for the future. The sower’s heart might fail if it pictured the field mice, the rotting rains, the blighting mildew, which have ruined so many hopes, and lie in wait. So the present is your sowing-time; but every moment of trial, each stab of pain, nobly borne, is a seed-germ cast into the furrows, which will certainly bring a blessed recompense of light. You do not realize it, but you are sowing light. Each act of self-denial, in which you cast yourself into the ground to die, is a seed-germ of the harvest of gladness.
Coal is sown light. When the forests in all the glory of their foliage were hurled into the bosom of the primeval earth, and desolation reigned, it seemed a sad waste of the Creators work. Who could have realized then that God was really sowing the light of winter nights, the fires of factory and forge? Do not be too sad. Harvest will come, though the weeks move slowly.
“All we have willed or hoped or dreamed of Good shall exist:
Not its semblance, but itself; no Beauty, nor Good, nor Power,
Whose voice has gone forth, but each survives for the melodist,
When Eternity affirms the conception of an hour.”
Devotions
Monday, Psalm 97:1-2 and 1 Corinthians 15:1-10
There is a common element that will join the islands to the land again one day, and will bring the soldiers of the cross together in unity as well. While we may fight seemingly alone today for righteousness and truth, we can look forward to the day when we will be united in righteousness.
Tuesday, Psalm 97:3-4 and 1 Corinthians 15:11-20
When God moves there is a purifying that goes before Him. His enemies are burned up before Him and silenced. Paul mentions that the resurrection is a key to proving that God saves. The resurrection was an event that silenced the wicked among mankind. It is in this way that God works. What He does is complete and convincing. There is no real way to explain it except as the power and work of God. His work enlightens the world.
Wednesday, Psalm 97:5-6 and 1 Corinthians 15:21-30
The earth is one day going to tremble when the Lord Jesus comes again. He will come to destroy sin and establish righteousness. Evil and barriers will melt before Him. Then once the world is cleaned up and righteousness established, the kingdom will be given to God. From that point on there will be righteousness and peace on the earth.
Thursday, Psalm 97:7-8 and 1 Corinthians 15:31-40
We cannot afford to allow ourselves to be drawn away into evil through association with the ungodly. All heathen people will be confused, and be forced to either submit to God or be destroyed. Those that stand alone with God are those who will rejoice in that day, because they will finally be able to fellowship with others in a profitable and holy way. But in the mean time, evil companions corrupt.
Friday, Psalm 97:9-10 and 1 Corinthians 15:41-50
Our life is that of preparing for the heavenly body and presence. What is of this earth is earthbound, but is also in preparation for a holy and celestial body. If we do not hate evil, our soul is not preserved, nor will we be delivered from this world and the body of sin.
Saturday, Psalm 97:11-12 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-58
Our goal is to become just like the Lord in this earthly body. To learn to have our soul molded into holiness and purity. We desire to be able to learn to watch our Lord and Savior win the victory. Then one day we be changed and the sting of death will not hurt, but instead be a mighty blessing.
Puzzle
| U | D | N | U | O | R | G | M | E | L | T | E | D | P | M |
| D | E | S | V | D | A | U | G | H | T | E | R | S | U | D |
| D | S | N | N | G | S | N | S | E | L | S | I | G | B | L |
| R | P | W | L | O | R | G | E | H | N | G | N | L | O | I |
| I | S | R | U | I | A | I | T | V | S | N | H | A | A | G |
| L | M | L | E | B | G | E | G | R | A | T | W | D | S | H |
| D | S | A | O | J | N | H | P | H | E | R | C | O | T | T |
| D | U | V | G | R | O | G | T | R | T | W | G | I | S | N |
| E | E | P | U | E | E | I | E | E | E | E | B | M | G | I |
| L | M | B | F | V | S | V | C | P | N | S | O | A | O | N |
| B | H | R | G | A | I | N | P | E | H | E | E | U | D | G |
| M | I | U | B | L | G | A | F | L | D | N | D | N | S | S |
| E | M | O | E | G | V | D | U | S | C | P | E | S | C | D |
| R | U | D | P | R | E | S | E | R | V | E | T | H | L | E |
| T | C | O | N | F | O | U | N | D | E | D | O | V | P | F |
| ABOUT | GLAD | PRESERVETH |
| ABOVE | GODS | REJOICED |
| BOAST | GRAVEN | RIGHTEOUS |
| BURNETH | IMAGES | ROUND |
| CONFOUNDED | ISLES | SOULS |
| DAUGHTERS | LIGHTNINGS | SOWN |
| DELIVERETH | MELTED | TREMBLED |
| ENLIGHTENED | PRESENCE |
The Puzzle solution is found here....
