This Psalm continues the theme and structure of the previous one. Although the themes may not have originally stemmed from the Psalmist’s personal inspiration, he skillfully reshapes the insights and expressions of others to reflect his present circumstances. In the same way, we should learn to interpret and apply these Old Testament Psalms within our New Testament context, adapting their approach and implications accordingly. While the previous Psalm highlights the joy believers will experience at Christ’s second coming, this Psalm focuses on the events that will unfold during His return. God reigns at all times—whether our desires are fulfilled or our questions remain unanswered.
Events During The Second Coming Of Jesus
The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;
let the distant shores rejoice.
Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him
and consumes his foes on every side.
His lightning lights up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all peoples see his glory. – Psalm 97:1-6 (NIV)
All these descriptions point to the time of Jesus’ second coming. When the King of Kings appears in the sky, surrounded by clouds, it may be too late for many to recognize His reign. That is why, in this wearisome life, we must acknowledge now that God reigns at all times. With this understanding, we should willingly surrender every area of our lives to His rule. However, it is often a great struggle for believers to let the Holy Spirit take full control, as we frequently act contrary to God’s will.
Righteousness and justice are rarely found in politics, as honest individuals often cannot survive the pressures and challenges it brings. In the Old Testament, only a few kings ruled righteously; most were known for their wickedness and injustice. In contrast, the Psalmist reveals a truth unfamiliar to the world—God reigns in perfect righteousness and justice, and no one can overthrow His authority.
Jesus described His return as lightning flashing from one end of the sky to the other. Remarkably, the Psalmist foresaw this second coming even before Jesus’ first advent. Different writers across time have captured the natural world’s reaction to this event in scripture. The consistency and uniqueness of their insights highlight the importance of this message and call us to respond with urgency and faith.
Summoning gods To Worship God
All who worship images are put to shame,
those who boast in idols —
worship him, all you gods! – Psalm 97:7 (NIV)
Prompted by the vision of mountains and valleys praising God at His second coming, the Psalmist was moved to invite even idols to worship the true God. Although he was well aware that man-made idols cannot see, hear, or speak, he still made this invitation. Perhaps he was, in fact, addressing the makers and worshipers of idols—those who, as described in another Psalm, become like the lifeless images they revere (Psalm 115:7–8).
The Apostle Paul also warned us of the curse upon those who exchange the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal humans, birds, animals, and reptiles (Romans 1:22–24). This should lead us to reflect deeply: in what areas of our lives are we reducing the living God to a mere object of ritual—worshipped from a distance rather than lived with daily in relationship?
Exalted Far Above All gods
For you, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.
Let those who love the LORD hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. – Psalms 97:9-10 (NIV)
Comparison is meaningful only when it’s made between things that are relatively equal. If we praise someone by saying they are greater than all dogs and other animals, it doesn’t elevate them—it actually has the opposite effect. In contrast, when comparisons are made between humans and angels, as the Psalmist says, “You have made them a little lower than the angels,” it becomes a statement of honor. It reflects the grace of God, who created us in His image and crowned us with authority to rule over His creation.
However, it is completely inappropriate to compare our sovereign God with man-made idols. Doing so not only diminishes God’s majesty but also equates fallible human beings—who crafted these idols—with the one, true, and incomparable God. What understanding do we truly have of our Heavenly Father? Can we even compare Him to our earthly parents? And yet, God Himself draws a comparison with a mother—not to reduce His power and glory, but to help us grasp the depth of His compassion and care. Yet we cannot fully understand His compassion and care through the compassion of an earthly mother.
Furthermore, a vital truth for every believer is this: we can only truly hate evil when we genuinely love God. The Psalmist highlights this powerfully in this Psalm. God’s redemptive work not only delivers us from sin, but He continues to guard us from its return—sealing us with the Holy Spirit as a protection against its reentry into our lives.
Light Of The World
Light shines on the righteous
and joy on the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous,
and praise his holy name. – Psalm 97:11-12 (NIV)
In his Gospel, John clearly reveals that Jesus came into the world to restore eternal life to all mankind—this life being the true light for all people. He goes on to say that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it (John 1:4-5). This message of the Gospel presents a broader truth than the Psalmist’s perspective, which focuses on light shining specifically on the righteous. In reality, the light shines on all mankind, but the god of this age has blinded the minds of many, preventing them from seeing the light of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4).
However, those who receive the forgiveness of sins—granted solely by God’s grace through faith—are able to distinguish light from darkness, and eternal life from eternal death. The Psalmist concludes his psalm by urging the righteous to rejoice in the LORD and praise His holy name, as a way to retain the forgiveness of sin and live free from its grip. He also affirms earlier that only a sincere love for God enables us to resist sin.
LORD, help us to understand that Your return in judgment is near. Let this awareness keep us safe in Your embrace, away from the sin of this world, and lead us daily toward eternity. Amen.
The Jordan Valley 
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