"The Lord Reigns"
[Psalm 97]
Last week, during the Wednesday prayer meeting, I reflected on the words from Psalm 96, specifically verse 10:
"Say among the nations, 'The Lord reigns; the world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.'"
When God reigns, we can stand firm. If God governs our homes and our churches, we will not be shaken. Therefore, we should long for and desire God's reign and His governance. In today's passage, Psalm 97:1, the psalmist says, "The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice, let the many islands be glad."
Based on this verse, I would like to share three lessons under the title "The Lord Reigns" and how we should live because the Lord reigns.
First, because the Lord reigns, we should rejoice and be glad.
Look at Psalm 97:1:
"The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice, let the many islands be glad."
The reign of the Lord means that God has come to this earth to rule over His people. This prophecy was fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus Christ, whom God sent as His only Son. Jesus, who died on the cross and rose again, is received by God's people as both Savior and Lord. As His people, we live under His reign.
The reason we should rejoice and be glad under His reign is because of the Lord’s righteous judgment. Look at verse 8:
"O Lord, your judgments have been heard in Zion, and the daughters of Judah are glad because of your judgments."
The Lord’s judgments are righteous and just (v. 2). Through His judgment, He will punish and judge the wicked, revealing His righteousness and justice. As a result, "All those who worship idols and boast in vain things will be put to shame" (v. 7). And the heavens will declare His righteousness so that all the nations will see His glory (v. 6). Therefore, God’s reign is judgment for the wicked and salvation for His people, and that is why we can only rejoice and be glad.
We must believe that the Almighty Creator God rules over the entire universe.
With this belief, we should view this sinful world. In other words, God will judge this world with His righteous and just judgments. God will judge the wicked. But those whom He loves and has chosen, His people, He will save. Therefore, as God's people, we can rejoice and be glad.
Secondly, since the Lord reigns, we must hate evil.
Look at Psalm 97:10:
"You who love the Lord, hate evil; he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked."
As the people of God, who are under His reign, we must hate evil. This is the life of those who worship God with true joy (v. 7). If we say we are under God’s reign but love evil, we cannot say that we are living a life under His reign. What evil should we, especially as believers, hate? We must not commit the evil of "serving carved images and boasting in worthless things" (v. 7). This is the evil we must particularly hate. The saints who live under God's reign must judge by the Lord's righteous and fair judgment, loving what is good and hating what is evil. Such a worshiper's life truly reveals God's righteousness and justice.
To do this, we must be honest (v. 11). Because we are honest, we must distinguish between good and evil, loving what is good and hating what is evil. When we do this, we will be able to reveal the Lord's light (v. 11).
For those who live under God’s reign and hate evil, God promises two things: preservation and salvation.
Look at verse 10:
"You who love the Lord, hate evil; he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked."
A believer living under God's reign is guided by the Holy Spirit within and governed by God's Word. Because they are governed by God’s Word, they are able to judge with the Lord's faithfulness (Psalm 96:13). With that discernment, they can distinguish between good and evil, and they love what is good and hate what is evil. Therefore, they live with honesty and truth.
Thus, as true worshipers of God, we live as lights in this dark world.
Finally, thirdly, since the Lord reigns, we must give thanks.
Look at Psalm 97:12:
"Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name."
The psalmist rejoices and is glad because the Lord reigns. In addition, because the psalmist judges with the Lord’s judgment and hates evil, they grow in God's holiness and give thanks, urging others to do the same.
Therefore, we must give thanks as well. The reason we cannot help but be thankful is because God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth. Through His death on the cross and His resurrection, He bestowed upon us the grace of salvation. Furthermore, the indwelling Holy Spirit works in us to accomplish the work of sanctification, enabling us to share in God’s holiness. We cannot help but give thanks to God for this.
Throughout the Psalms, we frequently encounter such words: "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever" (Psalm 107:1). God is good. His love is eternal. As we taste His goodness and experience His everlasting love, both you and I must give thanks to God, who reigns over us.
Since the Lord reigns, we must rejoice and be glad.
Since the Lord reigns, we must hate evil.
And since the Lord reigns, we must give thanks.
In the reign of God,
James Kim, Pastor
(Being transformed into one who hates evil and delights in good)