Psalm 97

Psalm 97

Rejoice, God Reigns

I.                    We must rejoice in who God is by living out who we are in Him, so we must rejoice in His sovereign Lordship (Vv. 1-6)

a.       The first key to rejoicing in difficult times, and indeed in all times, is to embrace the reality that we’re not in control. In fact, it’s God alone who is the all sovereign Lord who reigns over all things, places, and people, and every person in every place should rejoice and be glad in Him. When we don’t submit fully to Him and trust who He is, we still face the same trials and tribulations in life, but we do so without the hope which is only found in Him, and we never experience the fullness of His provision and joy in Him. Then why would people seek to remove God from the picture? Accountability. The reality of God’s holy, righteous, just, merciful, gracious, loving, and completely sovereign nature, means that He must hold all people accountable for their sinful rebellion against Him. The psalmist describes the picture of God’s sovereign, powerful, and complete judgment by picturing His unapproachable holiness and His sovereign and unfathomable power over all creation. How is the terrifying picture of God’s judgment supposed to produce rejoicing in our lives? All things which are now under His sovereign control, will also be brought under His sovereign judgment. All things which belong to Him will be made new and completed according to His perfect sovereign will, plan, and purpose. That means every circumstance which cripples us with fear, uncertainty, anxiety, guilt, and grief today will be swept up in His perfect and just judgment. If we know His saving grace through Christ, we can wake up each day and face whatever life throws at us, knowing that we are the objects of His sovereign love and affection, and no matter what we face or how it impacts our lives now, nothing will happen to us apart from His will. (Vv. 1-6; Exod. 19:16-19; 34:5; Ps. 18:7-15; 50:3; 68:7-8; 77:15-20; Isa 2:11-21; 6:1-5; Ezek. 1:4-28; Dan. 7:9-14; Joel 2:2-3; Micah 1:3-4; Hab. 3:3-15; Luke 13:1-5; Rom. 8:31-39; 11:33-36; Eph. 1:9-14; Heb. 12:18-21, 29; Rev. 19:11-21; 20:11-15; 21:1-7)

II.                 We must rejoice in who God is by living out who we are in Him, so we must rejoice in His exclusive authority and power        (Vv. 7-9)

a.       The ancient world dealt with idols made from wood, metals, stone, and even though we don’t deal with the same type of symbols today, we deal with same object of worship, self. All idolatry is ultimately vain and empty because it’s an attempt to control what is uncontrollable, and deny the true sovereign reign of God over all things. Those who tread this path will be put to shame in the day of God’s judgment, but those who trust and worship the sovereign Lord will not be disappointed. Further, those who worship idols in life, no matter what they are whether money, power, success, sex, fame, or any other worthless substitute for their sovereign Creator, also ultimately forfeit joy in life. We become like that which we worship. Idolatry is the worship of self, and molds into the worst and most corrupt version of ourselves in response to every circumstance of life. However, when we trust in Christ, submit to His Lordship, and worship Him, we are grown continually in His image, and are able to rejoice in every circumstance of life because of His Lordship over it. (Vv. 7-9; Ps. 83:18; 95:3; 96:5; Isa. 2:22; 42:8-9; 44:9-20; 45:15-23; Matt. 4:8-11; Luke 16:13; Rom. 1:18-32; Eph. 1:18-23; 2 Tim. 3:1-7)

III.              We must rejoice in who God is by living out who we are in Him, so we must hate evil and love Him (Vv. 10-12)

a.       The last stanza begins with a command, “Hate evil, you who love the Lord,”. To belong to God is to love what He loves and hate what He hates. God hates sin, wickedness, and evil which enslaves people, whom He loves. We only escape our enslavement to sin and our just penalty for it by repenting and trusting faithfully in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. The world today attempts to relativize and rationalize evil so as to justify their personal choices which are evil in God’s sight. They desperately desire people to be unrefined good, because it leaves them hope they can fix themselves and find joy, but there’s no pursuing good without a regenerate heart in Christ. When we surrender to Christ, we abhor sin which comes between us and the joy of being in full fellowship with our sovereign Lord, and achieve the joy, hope, and peace in life which those who don’t hate evil, but simply deny it seek, but can never obtain. God will preserve and deliver us from life’s difficulties and the wicked who would like to see us fail in our pursuit of righteousness, sow His light on our every step and illuminate our paths even in the darkest times, and fill our hearts with gladness, thankfulness, and joy in Him. (Vv. 10-12; Ps. 5:5-6; 16:11; 34:14; 36:1-4; 37:27; 91:14-16; 119:104-106; Prov. 3:5-8; 8:13; Isa. 60:1-5; Matt. 5:6; Matt. 5:8; John 3:16; 15:4-5; John 3:10-11; Rom. 12:9-21; 2 Cor. 5:17; 2 Cor. 5:21)