For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Psalm 97

1 The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad;
    let the distant shores rejoice.
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!

8 Zion hears and rejoices
    and the villages of Judah are glad
    because of your judgments, Lord.
9 For you, Lord, are the Most High over all the earth;
    you are exalted far above all gods.
10 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.
11 Light shines on the righteous
    and joy on the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous,
    and praise his holy name.

A. Find Out:    

1. Because of what truth, what happens? v.1
2. What accompanies the Lord? v.2-6
3. Who are put to shame? v.7
4. Who rejoice and why? v.8,9
5. What are we to do & what does the Lord do? v.10
6. What is shed on us, so what should we do? v.11,12

B. Think:

1. What characteristics of the Lord are revealed?
2. How are the Lord’s people blessed?
3. What emotional expression predominates here?

C. Comment:

This is a psalm all about rejoicing (v.1,8,12). Associated with rejoicing is gladness (v.1,8) and joy (v.11) and praise (v.12). As we have noted with previous psalms, such expressions have a cause and the cause is the Lord.

The first cause of rejoicing that is given, is that the Lord reigns (v.1). He rules over all things. Now a description is given that creates a sense of mystery – clouds and thick darkness surrounding Him (v.2). He is, in other words, inaccessible and unapproachable.

His rule founded on righteousness and justice (v.2) and on these grounds He is unapproachable by us who are naturally sinners. Indeed it gets worse for He destroys His enemies (v.3), His power is displayed (v.4,5) and His glory seen (v.6).

Yet despite this, foolish people still worship idols (v.7), yet the people of God rejoice because of what God says and does (v.8) for they see He is high above all others (v.9).

Finally there is an exhortation to hate evil (v.10a), for the Lord keeps those who remain faithful (v.10b). His light and this joy is to be their experience (v.11), so we too may rejoice and praise Him (v.12)

D. Application:

1. The Christian life is to be a joyful life because there is so much to be happy about!
2. Our joy has a good foundation – the wonder of who God is and what he has done for us.