Psalms 97:8 - Meaning and Application

The kingdom of the Messiah is like the pillar of cloud and fire in the wilderness. It has a dark side toward the Egyptians, but a bright side toward the Israel of God, his true people. It is established despite opposition. Then the earth sees and trembles (Psalm 97:4), but Zion hears and is glad, very glad, because some are converted and others are brought to confusion, meaning all who resist Christ are overcome. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Behold, your king comes to you” (Zechariah 9:9). Not only Zion, where the temple stood, but also the daughters of Judah, the people in the towns and villages, rejoice in Christ’s victories.

The command is, “Let the earth rejoice” (Psalm 97:1). Yet it is only the sons of Zion and the daughters of Judah who truly do rejoice. All should welcome the Messiah’s kingdom, but few do. We should notice the reasons given for Zion’s joy in the rule of the Redeemer. God’s faithful servants may rightly rejoice and be glad, first because God is honored, and anything that honors him is a joy to his people. “They rejoice because of your judgments, O Lord,” which includes both the judgments of his mouth and the judgments of his hand, that is, the word of his gospel and the works by which he spreads it, including miracles and wonderful acts of providence. In all of these we must confess, “You, Lord, are high above all the earth” (Psalm 97:9). He has shown his rule over nature, his control of all powers, and his dominion over all nations and hearts. He is exalted far above all gods, meaning all appointed rulers, and all false gods, meaning idols. The lifting up of Christ and the spread of God’s glory among people are the joy of all the saints.

Second, they rejoice because their safety is cared for. Those who give loyalty to Christ as King can trust his protection. Princes are called the shields of the earth, and Christ is that to his people. They may take shelter under his shadow and be glad in it, for “he preserves the souls of his saints” (Psalm 97:10). He preserves their lives as long as he still has work for them to do, and he often delivers them from wicked people who thirst for their blood. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” But more is meant here than physical life. Those who will be Christ’s disciples must be willing to lay down their lives and not make that their main concern. It is the immortal soul Christ preserves, the inward person, which can be renewed more and more even while the outward person wastes away. He will keep his saints from sin, from falling away, and from despair under their hardest trials. He will deliver them from the wicked one who seeks to destroy them, and preserve them safely for his heavenly kingdom (2 Timothy 4:18). They have good reason to be glad, because they are kept safe.

Third, provision is made for their comfort. Those who rejoice in Christ Jesus and in his exaltation have fountains of joy stored up for them, and those fountains will be opened sooner or later (Psalm 97:11). “Light is sown for the righteous,” that is, gladness is prepared for the upright in heart. Christ’s subjects are told to expect trouble in the world. They must suffer from its hatred and must not join in its empty joy. Yet they can take comfort in this, light is sown for them. It is designed and prepared for them. What is sown will come up in due time. Though it may lie long under the soil, like seed in winter, and seem lost or buried, it will return in a rich harvest. God’s goodness is certain to have its harvest at the appointed time. Those who sow in tears will surely reap in joy (Psalm 126:5, Psalm 126:6). When Jesus left his disciples, he said, “You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (John 16:20). Gladness is certain for the upright in heart, for those who are sincere in religion. The hypocrite’s joy lasts only a moment. There can be no lasting peace without real sincerity.

We also see the right rules for Zion’s joy. First, it must be a pure and holy joy. “You who love the Lord Jesus, who love his coming and his kingdom, who love his word and his exaltation, see that you hate evil,” meaning the evil of sin, everything that offends him and would lead you out of his favor. True love for God will show itself in a real hatred of all sin, that hateful thing which he hates. The joy of the saints should strengthen their dislike of sin, and divine comfort should take away their taste for sinful pleasures.

Second, their joy must end in God himself (Psalm 97:12). “Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous.” All the streams of comfort that come to us through Christ’s kingdom should lead us back to the fountain, and make us rejoice in the Lord. Every line of joy must meet in him as its center. See also (Philippians 3:3; Philippians 4:4).

Third, it should show itself in praise and thanksgiving: “Give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” Whatever gives us joy should also move us to give thanks, especially the holiness of God. Those who hate sin themselves are glad that God hates it too, because they hope he will not let it rule over them. We should often remember God’s holiness, his perfect purity, straightness, and perfection. We must always keep in mind his holy covenant, which he confirmed with an oath by his holiness. We should also give thanks when we remember his holiness, not only giving him glory because it honors him, but also thanking him because it is a blessing to us. It will be an unspeakable blessing if, by grace, we share in his holiness. Above all God’s attributes, this is the one the angels celebrate, “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3). Sinners tremble at the thought of it, but saints rejoice when they remember God’s holiness (Psalm 30:4).