Psalms 97:2-7

2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

3 Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side.

4 His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles.

5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory.

7 All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols— worship him, all you gods!

Psalms 97:2-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 97

This psalm is ascribed to David by the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions. It is of the same argument, and upon the same subject, as the preceding, the coming and kingdom of Christ; and that it respects his first coming into the world, when angels were called upon to worship him, appears from Ps 97:7 compared with Heb 1:6 though it is expressed in such language as seems to agree with his second coming; and, perhaps, both are included, with various things between the one and the other; or it respects the kingdom of Christ, from his first to his second coming; to which agrees the inscription of the Syriac version, which is

``a Psalm of David, in which he prophesies concerning the coming of the Messiah, and again he intimates in it his last appearance.''

Cross References

• 1. S Job 22:14
• 2. S Exodus 19:9; Psalms 18:11
• 3. Psalms 89:14
• 4. Isaiah 9:19; Daniel 7:10; Joel 1:19; Joel 2:3
• 5. Habakkuk 3:5
• 6. S 2 Samuel 22:9; Psalms 18:8
• 7. S Job 36:30
• 8. S 2 Samuel 22:8
• 9. S Psalms 18:7; Psalms 104:32; S Revelation 6:12
• 10. S Psalms 46:2,6; Micah 1:4
• 11. S Psalms 22:14
• 12. S Joshua 3:11
• 13. Psalms 50:6; Psalms 98:2
• 14. S Psalms 19:1
• 15. S Leviticus 26:1
• 16. Isaiah 42:17; Jeremiah 10:14
• 17. S Deuteronomy 5:8
• 18. Hebrews 1:6
• 19. Exodus 12:12; Psalms 16:4