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PSALM 97
THE ARGUMENT
This Psalm seems to have both the same author and the same scope with the former. And although the psalmist might take occasion to pen it from those signal manifestations of God’s power and righteousness on his behalf, and against his enemies, yet he had a further aim in it, even at the coming of the Messias, which he here describes. And whereas there are two comings of Christ plainly distinguished in the New Testament, these are but confusedly mentioned in the Old Testament; and the prophets sometimes speak of his first coming in words and phrases which seem more properly to agree to the second, as Mal_3:1,2 4:1,2. But whatsoever the psalmist designed or understood, this is certain, that the Holy Ghost meant the last clause of Psa_97:7 of Christ, as is affirmed, Heb_1:6, and therefore it is more than probable that all the rest of the Psalm is to be understood of him, and of his coming and kingdom.
A description of the majesty of God’s kingdom, Psa_97:1-6. The church rejoiceth at his justice and judgment upon idolaters, Psa_97:7-9, with an exhortation to godliness and spiritual rejoicing, Psa_97:10-12.
The Lord reigneth; See Poole "Psa_96:10".
The multitude of isles; the Gentile nations, as this word, being used Isa_42:4, is expounded Mat_12:21, even those which are most remote from Judea, (then the only seat of God’s people and worship,) from which they were divided by the sea, or to which they usually went by sea; such places being commonly called
isles in Scripture, as Gen_10:5 Isa_11:11 66:19; which being mentioned, because there might be some doubt about them, it is sufficiently implied that those countries which were nearer to them should unquestionably partake of the same privilege.