THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - November 18, 2014 - Day 97 - Psalm 97

Jesus is coming back. That is a fact and it is a fact upon which we Christians can place great hope in. But to live out this life in fear and worry is to deny who God is. We simply cannot say we trust Jesus for eternal life but then not trust Him for this life on earth. Psalm 97 speaks of the past, the present, and the future. There is sure hope for us in all three.

Psalm 97:1
The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.

God is on the throne. Too many Christians believe Satan is running the earth and misunderstand the Bible when it says he is “god of this age” in 2 Corinthians 4:4 and when he is called “prince of this world” in John 12:31. This is why one must read the Bible in its whole and not grab certain verses alone to form their theology. Check the Book of Job where it is made clear that Satan cannot act upon us without God’s permission.

Psalm 97:2
Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

There is a mystery to God and we simply cannot see all things about Him. In Isaiah 55:8-9 God speaks to us about Himself saying, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

But that does not mean we cannot know God. We see here that righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. God is holy and perfect in His government of this world but as we see in our world man is not.

But a day is coming when Jesus will return and when He does things will change. He will purge the world of man’s injustice and of the evils of the world.

Psalm 97:3-5
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 world mocks Jesus and discounts God thinking its armies and its technology can rule. But in the end they will learn who is king and see the Glory of God. Men who have rejected God for false idols will be put to shame.

Psalm 97:6-7
The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols-- worship him, all you gods!

Psalm 97:8-9
Zion hears and rejoices and the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments, O LORD. For you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.

One day God will be exalted as he should. As Christians we have work to do before Jesus returns. We must hate evil. Abortion, drug addiction, pornography, abuse, sexual promiscuity, these are all examples of the things we Christians should be crying out against in the world. We make fun of those old time preachers who stood in the streets preaching out against sin but maybe they were right in doing so. When is the last time you stood up for the holiness of God in public?

Psalm 97:10
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.

Jesus is coming back. He won’t be shy about the judgment He brings. It is our job to warn the evil world that there is judgment coming. We do it in love and the only way to do that is to be walking in the Spirit. But the best way we can do it is by how we live our lives.

Psalm 97:11-12
Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.

We must take the light He has shed upon us and expose it to the darkness. Have joy in all circumstances. Live a righteous life and be an example that holiness and purity bring that joy. Praise His holy name. The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad. Pray for revival. Pray that first revival breaks out in your own heart and in my heart. Then the world will see our God reigns.