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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Psalms 97:1-12

Psalm PSALM—NOTE ON Psalms 97:1. This is a hymn celebrating God’s kingship over all creation. It focuses on how God’s universal rule assures the faithful of his final victory over evil and idolatry. This victory involves God’s protection of his faithful ones from evildoers (v. Psalms 97:10), the vindication of Zion as God’s chosen place (vv. Psalms 97:8), and the Gentiles ultimately coming to know the true God (vv. Psalms 97:6). Such assurance does not come from observing the course of events in the world, since God’s universal kingship is often invisible. The assurance comes from biblical faith, and it produces profound joy in those who embrace it (vv. Psalms 97:11). The reference to Zion hearing and being glad (v. Psalms 97:8) indicates that the psalm arose from some great deliverance of the city.

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See also Psalms 97:1-12 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    PSALM XCVII _The reign of Jehovah, its nature and blessedness_, 1, 2. _He is fearful to the wicked_, 3-4. _Idolaters shall be destroyed_, 7. _The blessedness of the righteous_, 8-12. NOTES ON PSA...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THE LORD REIGNETH - See the notes at Psalms 93:1. This is the general fact to be dwelt upon; this is the foundation of joy and praise. The universe is not without a sovereign. It is not the abode of a...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    Psalms 97 His Glorious Reign _ 1. Jehovah reigneth (Psalms 97:1)_ 2. In righteousness and with glory (Psalms 97:6) He reigneth! Earth and the multitude of isles will now rejoice, for He whose righ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    XCVII. YAHWEH IN THE STORM. The appearance of Yahweh is described in terms of primitive religion, when He was the God of fire and tempest, earthquake and volcano. These traits are retained, but united...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4. THE LORD REIGNETH. See note on Psalms 93:1. REIGNETH. hath taken. kingdom. THE EARTH. Note that this Book (IV) and its Psalms have relation to the earth or land....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    _The majesty of God's kingdom. The church rejoiceth at God's judgments upon idolaters. An exhortation to godliness and gladness._ The Greeks call this, "A Psalm of David, after his land was restored t...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    Psalms 92-97 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE A Service of Song for a Sabbath Day. ANALYSIS Psalms 92: Personal SongProbably by a King. Psalms 93: Jehovah Proclaimed King. Psalms 94: Prayer for Vengeance on the...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. Psalms 97:1.-Yahweh's coming with consuming judgments on the idolatrous world-powers. Such was Assyria, that thre...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ISLES] the coastlands beyond Palestine, anexpression for the Gentile world....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    This is another 'theocratic' Ps., declaring how God has taken vengeance on His enemies in a way to which all nature responded (Psalms 97:2), denouncing idols and their worshippers (Psalms 97:7), expre...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Psalms 90:106 _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ *LORD OF FAR-AWAY PEOPLE PSALMS 97 (THE FOURTH *ROYAL PSALM) Jesus said, "I have other sheep. They do not live here. I must fetch them also. And they will hear...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE LORD REIGNETH. — For the thought and imagery comp. Psalms 96:10. MULTITUDE OF THE ISLES. — Literally, _isles many._ This wide glance to the westward embracing the isles and coasts of the Mediterra...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    יְהוָ֣ה מָ֭לָךְ תָּגֵ֣ל הָ אָ֑רֶץ יִ֝שְׂמְח֗וּ...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Psalms 97:1 THE summons to praise the King with a new song Psalms 96:1 is followed by this psalm, which repeats the dominant idea of the group, "Jehovah is King," but from a fresh point of view. It re...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “BE GLAD IN THE LORD” Psalms 97:1 The keynote here is the reign of God. To the wicked, it spells misery; to the believer, it is the inauguration of harmony and joy. It is as though herald-angels step...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The reign of Jehovah, while wholly beneficent in purpose and in ultimate issue, is yet full of terror and of judgment in its process toward the issue. This is also cause for rejoicing. The method of...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    The (a) LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the (b) multitude of isles be glad [thereof]. (a) He shows that where God reigns, there is all happiness and spiritual joy. (b) For the gospel will...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _David. His name occurs not in Hebrew, though the psalm is worthy of him. (Berthier) --- It may refer to the return from captivity, as a figure of the world's redemption. --- Things. In rescuing his p...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS The same subject that ran through the former Psalm is here continued: and Jesus, as the Christ of God, is the sum and substance of it. Very strong and solid reasons are given wherefore the C...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    1_Jehovah reigns _His inviting men to rejoice, is a proof that the reign of God is inseparably connected with the salvation and best happiness of mankind. And, the joy he speaks of being common to the...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    In Psalms 97 the coming itself is celebrated; Jehovah has taken to Him His great power and His reign. The earth and the multitude of isles are to rejoice. Clouds and darkness are round about Him, for...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THE LORD REIGNETH,.... He has reigned, now reigns, will and must reign until all enemies are made his footstool; Psalms 93:1, Psalms 96:10, LET THE EARTH REJOICE: not the land of Judea only, and th...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad [thereof]. Ver. 1. _The Lord reigneth_] This is matter of greatest joy to the righteous. _Gaudeo quod Christus Dominus est...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _The Lord reigneth_ He that made the world, governs it; he that called the universe into existence, upholds and presides over it; and he rules, judges, and rewards, or punishes his intelligent, free,...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE MESSIAH THE KING OF THE WHOLE EARTH. There can be no doubt that the superscription of this psalm in Luther's Bible, "Of Christ and His Kingdom," is correct, that it is Jehovah, the second person...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The Lord reigneth, Jehovah is King, the almighty Ruler in His threefold kingdom; LET THE EARTH REJOICE, Psalms 96:11; LET THE MULTITUDE OF ISLES, the many seacoasts, as the representatives of the heat...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    MULTITUDE OF ISLES: _ Heb._ many, or, great Isles...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-7 Though many have been made happy in Christ, still there is room. And all have reason to rejoice in Christ's government. There is a depth in his counsels, which we must not pretend to fathom; but...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    PSALM 97 THE ARGUMENT This Psalm seems to have both the same author and the same scope with the former. And although the psalmist might take occasion to pen it from those signal manifestations of God'...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Psalms 97:1 LORD H3068 reigns H4427 (H8804) earth H776 rejoice H1523 (H8799) multitude H7227 isles H339 glad...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Psalms 97:1 We have set before us in this text: I. The fact of the Divine government of the universe. There is no _atheism_here: "the Lord." There is no _polytheism_here: "the Lord" one. There is no...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The comfort of God's people, arising from His sovereign dominion. CHARACTERS: God, Psalmist. CONCLUSION: It is enough to make us rejoice in and adore Jehovah that His throne is fixed upon t...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    This psalm, which opens like the ninety third and some others, was composed by David, when the whole of the promised land was given to him for a kingdom, and when God had also given him rest from his...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice._ THE REIGN OF GOD OVER THE WORLD I. The reign of God over the world (Psalms 97:1). 1. His laws are righteous. 2. His purpose is benevolent. II. The prov...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    INTRODUCTION This is another of the series of Psalms which celebrate the advent of Jehovah as King. There are seven in the series, the ninety-third being the first, and the hundredth the last. The nin...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ANOTHER liturgical psalm on the advent of Christ The psalmist sees him take possession of his throne, but, this time, rather in judgment than in mercy. His accession is described with the u...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    The LORD reigneth (Psalms 97:1); In the previous psalm, it said, "The Lord reigneth. Say among the heathen, 'The Lord reigneth.'" I think that this is something that we often forget in the adverse cir...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Colossians 1:13; Genesis 10:5; Isaiah 11:11; Isaiah 24:14; Isaiah 41

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Isles — The Gentile nations, as this word, used Isaiah 42:4, is expounded, Matthew 12:21....

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