Chapter 97
1st, The Lord reigns. Then a word picture of His greatness. This verse:
[Psa 97:2 ESV] 2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
I have seen this picture in several Psalms - the clouds and thick darkness. Seems like the wrong picture. I always think of God as shining brightly, not surrounded by darkness. Per MSB Joel 2:2, and Zephaniah 1:15 use that same phrase in describing the Day of the Lord. So this language points us directly to the coming of God on that great and terrible day. The picture is of God when he comes in power, unopposed because of his greatness.
2022 - But...Think of both the Tabernacle and the Temple. Think of how many layers there were between the Holy of Holies and the daylight. God's place, between the cherubim, had to be quite dark indeed. So in addition to the Day of the Lord, we ought to understand that God dwells in the darkness, perhaps as a contrast to His shining glory?
2025 - It is also true that the descriptions of God's throne in Jeremiah and again in Revelation do not mention darkness. On his thrown, we see the rainbow around him, which requires a source of bright light, the more intense the light the brighter the colors of the rainbow. So there must be some nuanced meaning here in these verses where God is surrounded by clouds and darkness. Perhaps the darkness and clouds are about his wrath visited on mankind? We cannot see him at such times because he is hidden in black clouds. We cannot see his face. But in his mercy, as we stand before him as king and judge, we are confronted face to face as it were, the eyes of the judge meeting the eyes of the indisputably guilty, with only two possible verdicts - eternity in heaven or eternity in hell. Think of that contrast. The next few verses of 97 seem to affirm this interpretation.
2021 - It would seem that 97-99 are all concerned with God's future judgement of all. We are to praise Him for all He has done while reverencing Him as our future judge, the ultimate authority.
2nd, God puts to shame the worshipers of idols.
3rd, God is exalted above all gods.
2025 - This verse:
9 For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. [Psa 97:9 ESV]. This wording seems to imply that there is God, and there are gods. Do we interpret that as many gods, but only One God to worship? Or is this wording a reference to useless idols which are no gods at all...and so the reference is rhetorical and/or metaphorical. I need a reply to this. Adding a tag for relevant verses under God and gods.
4th, Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord, for he delivers them.