Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 97

The Lord reigns - See the notes at (Psalms 93:1). This is the general fact to be considered; this is the foundation of joy and praise. The universe is not without a sovereign. It is not the abode of anarchy. It is not the product of chance. It is not subject to mere physical laws. It is not under the control of evil. It is under the government of a God: a wise, holy, intelligent, just, benevolent Being, who rules it well, and who presides over all its affairs. If there is anything for which we should rejoice, it is that there is One Mind, everlasting and most glorious, who presides over the universe and conducts all things according to His own wise and eternal plan.

Let the earth rejoice - The earth itself; all parts of it; all who dwell upon it. Since the earth everywhere derives whatever it has of fertility, beauty, grandeur, or stability from God; since order, beauty, and productiveness are diffused everywhere over it; and since it has received so many proofs of divine beneficence toward it, it has reason for universal joy.

Let the multitude of isles be glad thereof - The margin reads: “Many, or great isles.” The Hebrew is “many,” as are the Septuagint, the Latin Vulgate, the Chaldee, and the Syriac. The psalmist’s eye is evidently on the many islands scattered over the sea. Not merely the continents—the extended countries where nations dwell—have reason for joy. The beautiful islands also—those spots of earth that have risen from the deep and are covered with fruits and flowers—these too have reason to rejoice: to rejoice that God has raised them from the waters; that He keeps them from being overflowed or washed away; that He clothes them with beauty; that He makes them the abode of happy life; and that He places them in the expanse of the ocean, as He does the stars in the expanse of the sky, to beautify the universe.

The idea in the verse is that all the earth has cause to rejoice that Yahweh reigns.

Clouds and darkness are around him - This is a description of the majesty of God, derived probably from the manner in which he manifested himself at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16–19). God is often thus represented as encompassed with clouds (Psalms 104:3; Daniel 7:13; Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7). See the notes at Psalms 18:7-15.

The word rendered “clouds” is the common word to denote a cloud; the word translated “darkness” means properly “thick clouds, cloudy darkness, gloom.” It would refer to a cloud considered as dark, and as casting a gloom over the world. There is no reference here to the fact that the dealings of God are dark, mysterious, and incomprehensible, as if he were surrounded by clouds and darkness.

This is indeed often true; but that is not the truth taught here. The meaning here is that the character of God is suited to fill the mind with solemn awe, or with emotions of sublimity.

Righteousness and judgment - He is a righteous God; he is a God who will execute just judgment. Though he is encompassed with clouds, yet he is a just God, and this is suited to impress the mind with profound reverence. That he will do right we may be assured, even when he covers himself with clouds; the fact that he will thus do right is suited to calm the minds of those who love and obey him, and at the same time to fill the minds of the wicked with alarm.

Are the habitation of his throne - Margin, “establishment.” The Hebrew word means “place;” the place where one stands or where one abides; a habitation or a dwelling. It then means a foundation or basis (Psalms 89:14; Psalms 104:5). This would seem to be the idea here. His throne rests upon, or is sustained by, justice and righteousness. Nothing else would uphold the government of the universe; nothing else will sustain any government.

A fire goes before him - See Psalms 18:13, note; Psalms 50:3, note.

And burns up his enemies round about - Is especially directed against his foes. That is, he manifests himself as a just God, inflicting vengeance on his enemies. He comes to reign, and in his reign all his foes will be destroyed.

His lightnings enlightened the world ... - See the notes at (Psalms 77:18). Compare (Psalms 104:32); (Habakkuk 3:6–10).

The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord - They seemed to flow down as if they were like melted wax: that is, they could not stand before him. The most firm, solid, lofty things were as nothing in his presence. Compare Revelation 20:11; Judges 5:5; Micah 1:4; Nahum 1:5. The object here is to describe the sublimity, the greatness, the majesty of God, as if nothing could stand before him; as if everything fled away when he approached. There is perhaps a general allusion to his glory and power as manifested at Sinai.

At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth - The Creator and Ruler of the entire world. The God who thus manifested himself is not a local Deity, or the God of a particular nation or country, but the God of the whole world, before whom all created things are as nothing.