Psalm 97:1 “The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.”
Some of the psalms can be summarized in one sentence-Psalm 97 can be summarized in three words: “The LORD reigneth.” Recently a new leader of France was put into power. He was given all of the secret codes that only the ruler can know, and now he is officially in power. As Americans, we often think a ruler’s power is only legitimate if he is voted in. We think we must have a say as to who is in power. Not so with God! God reigns-because God reigns. He does not need us to give Him the power, nor does He need the wicked to recognize His power. He is the supreme ruler and always will be.
Verse 1 tells us why He has this power: He reigns because He is the “LORD.” When LORD is spelled in all capitals, it refers to His name, Jehovah, “I am that I am.” He has always existed from eternity past and will never cease to be.
How does the LORD reign? Verse 2 tells us that “righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.” The perfect ruler is one who rules in both righteousness and judgment, qualities that our elected rulers fall short of many times. He is always just, and He always does what is right.
Who does the LORD reign over?
Verse 5 calls Him “the Lord of the whole earth.” He reigns over everyone. This psalm emphasizes the fact that our God reigns supreme whether you recognize His lordship over you or not.What gives our God the right to reign over all? He reigns over all because He is the Maker of it all! God is the only being that was never created; everything and everyone else received life from Him. The wicked must understand that He reigns (see verse 7), and the righteous must also recognize that He reigns (verse 8).
How you feel about the truth that God reigns is dependent upon your relationship to Him: if you are in rebellion against Him, this news is not good news. If you are walking with the Lord, this truth gives you reason to rejoice! The last three verses in this psalm tell us as believers how to respond to this truth. First of all, hate evil and love the LORD (verse 10). These two things go hand in hand: you are not loving the LORD if you are not hating evil. Of course, we must reflect God’s love toward people lost in sin, but we must always hate the sin itself. Don’t ever become soft toward sin.
God’s people should also anticipate good. Verse 11 gives a very encouraging truth: “Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.” What we sow we will reap. Many times, we think of the negative side of this truth. We say, “Beware! What you sow you will reap.” But this is also true about good things. The righteous and upright in heart are sowing light and gladness; this means that they surely will reap these things! God’s law of sowing and reaping never has any exceptions. Sometimes it may take longer than we would like, but the reaping will always come in God’s time. Remember: He reigns.
Lastly, God’s people are to rejoice and give thanks. Verse 12 says, “Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” Earthly rulers will live, die, and be forgotten, but God will reign forever. All of the pharaohs are gone; Nebuchadnezzar is gone; Caesar is gone; Alexander the Great is gone; our leaders today will be gone. But our God reigns supreme above all others, and He always will! Be encouraged and live in this truth today.
Prayer Requests:
1. Recruiting of Summer Staff for 2009. 2. Ranch Evangelists preaching in Ocala, FL; Scotts, MI; Flint, MI; and Harned, KY. |
For more information about the Bill Rice Ranch visit our website: billriceranch.org