“The Lord reigns”
[Psalms 97]
I rethink Psalms 96:10 that I meditated on at the Wednesday prayer meeting last week: “Say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.’” When God reigns, we can stand firm. If God rules our family and governs our church, we will not be shaken. Therefore, we must yearn and seek for God's reign, His rule. In Psalms 97:1, the psalmist said, “The Lord reigns….” I would like to receive three lessons on what we should do since the Lord reigns, under the heading “The Lord reigns” based on Psalms 97.
First, we should rejoice and be glad since the Lord reigns.
Look at Psalms 97:1 – “The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; Let the many islands be glad.” “The Lord reigns” means that the Lord will come to earth and rule over His people. In other words, this word was fulfilled through Jesus, the begotten Son sent by God in the New Testament era (Park). We who believe in Jesus, who died on the cross and resurrected, are the people of God who are living under His reign. And it is because of the Lord's judgment that we should rejoice and be glad under the Lord's reign. Look at verse 8: “Zion heard this and was glad, And the daughters of Judah have rejoiced Because of Your judgments, O LORD.” The Lord's judgment is righteous judgment and justice (v. 2). With that judgment, the Lord judges and punishes the wicked, revealing His righteousness and justice. As a result, all those will be shamed who serve graven images, who boast themselves of idols (v. 7). And all the peoples will see His glory since the heavens declare His righteousness (v. 6). Therefore, since God's reign is judgment for the wicked and salvation for us, the God's people, we have no choice but to rejoice and be glad in Him.
We must believe the Almighty Creator God who reigns and governs all things in the universe. With this faith we must look to this sinful world. In other words, God will judge this world with His righteous and just judgment. God will judge the wicked. But He loves and will save the people He chooses. Therefore, we, God's people, will be able to rejoice and be glad.
Second, we should hate evil since the Lord reigns.
Look at Psalms 97:10 – “Hate evil, you who love the LORD, Who preserves the souls of His godly ones; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” As God's people under the Lord’s reign, we must hate evil. This is the life of the people who worship God with true joy (v. 7). If we say we are reigned by God and love evil, then we can never say that we are living our life under God's reign. What wickedness should we especially hate? We shouldn’t boast ourselves of serving the graven images and idols (v. 7). We should especially hate this sin. The believers who are reigned by God love good and hate evil by judging by the righteous and fair judgment of the Lord. It can be said that such worshipers’ life reveals God's righteousness and justice. In order to do that, we must be upright (v. 11). Because we are upright, we must distinguish between good and evil to love good and hate evil. Then we can shine the light of the Lord (v. 11). There are two promises from God to those who love God who hate evil and live under God's reign: Preservation and Deliverance. Look at verse 10: “Hate evil, you who love the LORD, Who preserves the souls of His godly ones; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” The faithful people who are reigned by the Lord are ruled by His Word in the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Ruled by the Word of God, they can judge by the Lord’s righteousness (96:13). In such judgment, they distinguish good from evil, love good, and hate evil. That’s why they are upright and truthful. Therefore, as true worshipers to God, they live a life of light in this dark world.
Third and last, we should give thanks since the Lord reigns.
Look at Psalms 97:12 – “Be glad in the LORD, you righteous ones, And give thanks to His holy name.” The psalmist rejoiced and be glad in the reign of God. He gave thanks to God because he was resembling God's holiness in the judgment of the Lord and hating evil. Therefore, we should give thanks to God too. It is inevitable that we are grateful and thankful that God sent His begotten Son to this earth and gave us the grace of salvation through His death and resurrection on the cross. Not only that He made us take part in Hi holiness, and we cannot help but give thanks to Him. When we look at the psalms, this word often appear: “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting” (107:1). God is good. God’s lovingkindness is everlasting. We who are tasting His goodness and experiencing His everlasting lovingkindness should give thanks to God who reigns.
Since the Lord reigns, we should rejoice and be glad. Also, since the Lord reigns, we must hate evil. Since the Lord reigns, we should give thanks to God.
In the reign of the Lord,
James Kim
(In the process of being established as a person who hates evil and enjoys good)