Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 97
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Psalms 97
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Psalms 97
"Jehovah reigneth; let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad." — Psalms 97:1 (ASV)
The Lord reigneth. — For the thought and imagery, compare to Psalms 96:10-11.
Multitude of the isles — Literally, isles many. This wide glance to the westward, embracing the isles and coasts of the Mediterranean (Psalms 72:10), possibly even more distant ones still, is characteristic of the literature of post-exile times. (Isaiah 51:15.)
"Clouds and darkness are round about him: Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne." — Psalms 97:2 (ASV)
Clouds and darkness. Compare to Psalms 18:10-12. The imagery in the first instance is borrowed from the Theophany at Sinai (Exodus 19:9; Exodus 19:16; Exodus 20:21; Deuteronomy 4:11; Deuteronomy 5:22–23).
Are the habitation. Better, are the foundation, or pillars (as noted in the margin). This reappears from Psalms 89:14, but the connection with “clouds and darkness” is peculiar to this poet and is striking. The immediate effect on the Hebrew mind of the awful manifestation of Divine power in nature is not fear, but a sublime sense of safety in the established right and truth of God. They knew that it is one and the same power
“Which makes the darkness and the light,
And dwells not in the light alone,
But in the darkness and the cloud,
As over Sinai’s peaks of old,
While Israel made them gods of gold,
Although the trumpet blew so loud.”
TENNYSON: In Memoriam.
"A fire goeth before him, And burneth up his adversaries round about." — Psalms 97:3 (ASV)
This is an echo of Psalms 1:3. (Habakkuk 3:4–5.)
"His lightnings lightened the world: The earth saw, and trembled." — Psalms 97:4 (ASV)
See Psalms 77:17-18, from which this is taken.
"The mountains melted like wax at the presence of Jehovah, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth." — Psalms 97:5 (ASV)
The hills melted. — Compare Psalm 68:8. Note Micah 1:4.
The Lord of the whole earth. — An expression first found exactly in Joshua 3:11-13, though Abraham speaks of God as judge of the whole earth (Genesis 18:25). (Zechariah 4:10; Zechariah 6:5.) Though Jehovah was the tribal God, yet in marked distinction to surrounding tribes, Israel regarded Him as having universal dominion.
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