Psalms 97
Big idea: The arrival itself. Clouds and darkness are around him — and then, in the same breath, righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. The obscurity and the moral clarity belong together: you cannot see him, and you can be certain what he is like. The mountains melt like wax. And out of that comes a practical instruction that seems small next to the fireworks but isn't: you who love Yahweh, hate evil.
Psalm 97 has the mountains melt. Psalm 98 has the rivers clap their hands.
97:1–6 — The mountains melt like wax
A theophany, and its centre is a paradox held in one verse: clouds and darkness are around him, AND righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. What cannot be seen and what can be relied on are stated together. Then the fire and lightning, and mountains melting like wax — solid things behaving like soft ones in his presence.
1 Yahweh reigns! Let the earth rejoice! Let the multitude of islands be glad! 2 Clouds and darkness are around him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3 A fire goes before him, and burns up his adversaries on every side. 4 His lightning lights up the world. The earth sees, and trembles. 5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of Yahweh, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 6 The heavens declare his righteousness. All the peoples have seen his glory.
97:7–12 — Light is sown for the righteous
The second movement turns from the display to what it costs the idols, and then gives the psalm its one instruction: you who LOVE Yahweh, HATE evil. Love and hatred are set as two halves of the same disposition. And verse 11's image is agricultural and patient — light is SOWN, which means it is underground for a while before anything shows.
7 Let all them be shamed who serve engraved images, who boast in their idols. Worship him, all you gods! 8 Zion heard and was glad. The daughters of Judah rejoiced because of your judgments, Yahweh. 9 For you, Yahweh, are most high above all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods. 10 You who love Yahweh, hate evil! He preserves the souls of his saints. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. 11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. 12 Be glad in Yahweh, you righteous people! Give thanks to his holy Name.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).