The LORD Reigns – Psalm 97

The source of my joy is the joy of the LORD … how reassuring it is to know the LORD reigns! It matters. In this fundamental truth I find that joy spills out of me and all I can do is rejoice. But, why?

The Holy Spirit moves this psalmist to both reassure me and provoke this joy within me that demands to flow out. let’s explore this wonderful expression of faith a little further.

The LORD reigns … over all creation.

Yahweh is not merely a created god living in a creation (or cosmic accident). He is the Creator. The Master of the universe is sovereign over the tides, the skies, lightning and mountains. Why does this make me glad? Because Yahweh is righteous and just and He reigns according to His nature. As an insignificant creature subject to the laws of nature and the laws of this Creator, I must rejoice that He is not just a great God, but a GOOD God.

The LORD reigns … over His enemies.

The enemies of truth, righteousness and justice stand opposed to the God who created them. The lunacy of standing against One you cannot even harm seems fruitless, because it is. For the short term “gains” of Satan and his allies (both human and angelic), the end is not worth the effort. Yahweh is a consuming fire and His enemies will be consumed. As a weak and helpless creature caught up in a cosmic, spiritual war I must rejoice because the good God is VICTORIOUS.

The LORD reigns … over false gods.

History is filled with created gods of wood, gold, silver and stone. Epic tales and legends recount imagined deeds by flawed entities which are in the end mere counterfeits. Each is more human than divine because the limitations of people force us to create gods in our own image. As an imperfect creature seeking purpose and meaning that is greater than me, I rejoice because the victorious God made me in HIS own image.

Because the LORD reigns … His majesty is on display.

When I pause to look around I am amazed at the place I live. Not a house made with hands, but an environment within a world within a solar system within a galaxy within a universe that all raise their voice in chorus, “There IS a God!” The mind which conceived all of this and the mouth which brought it into existence is glorious indeed. The God who made me in His image and placed me in His creation produces rejoicing in me for His sheer majesty.

Because the LORD reigns … His grace is available to all.

All of this creation is not for God, but for me. Before creating the universe, Yahweh laid the plan to redeem mankind from sin. People are His crowning joy in all creation, but we are given free will and exposed to temptation in order that some would love Him and return to Him. The accomplish this, He chose an insignificant family and placed them in an insignificant place around Mount Zion. His Messiah died and rose again, and His saving gospel goes out to the whole world. As a sinful man in the shadow of a majestic and perfect God, I rejoice because of His GRACE.

Because the LORD reigns … His righteousness can live in me.

I am encompassed with evil … but, my choice is to embrace evil or shun it. Choosing Yahweh and His salvation is choosing to hate evil. This world is fallen and her people are lost in sin. The God of grace is a REDEEMER and His power can redeem even me, so I rejoice because I can do nothing else.

The LORD reigns … I rejoice in the LORD … when He reigns in me.

Are you searching for joy? Honest introspection will guide us to the source of all joy.

Grace delivers the repentant from evil … have I turned to Him?

His light shines in the darkness … does in shine in me?

The LORD reigns in the upright in heart … does He reign in me?

Discover … His Joy

Access … His Joy

Share … His Joy