Like Psalms 93, 95 and 96, this psalm is a call to worship, a call to begin worship with singing. The two psalms around this, psalms 96 and 98, enthusiastically rejoice in the presence of YHWH (says Kidner) but this psalm includes both excitement and fear, awe.
Psalm 97:1-2, Clouds and justice
The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;
let the distant shores rejoice.
Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Both Kidner and Alter translate the Hebrew ’î·yîm as "islands" but agree that the word has the sense of "remote regions." Even the remote regions (near the ends of the earth?) are to rejoice. The invitation to rejoice is global, not just national. (See also Isaiah 24:15 and other verses in Isaiah.)
The Hebrew word pair ‘ā·nān wa·‘ă·rā·p̄el, translated here "clouds and deep darkness", also appear in Deuteronomy 4:11, describing the physical approach of YHWH. (See also the appearance of YHWH at Sinai in Exodus 19:16-18, the song of Deborah Judges 5:4-5 and the approaching storm in Job 37.)
Psalm 97:3-5, Volcano
Fire goes before him
and consumes his foes on every side.
His lightning lights up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
The dramatic approah of YHWH is described in powerful, violent terms, with fire, lightning, collapsing mountains. Although the geologic event of a volcanic eruption might not have been in the mind of the psalmist, this passage describes YHWH's approach with all the awe one might experience by seeing a volcano blow its top.
Psalm 97:6-7, Righteousness and glory
The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
All who worship images are put to shame,
those who boast in idols-- worship him, all you gods!
Just as nature's power is to God's glory, so is His justice. As in other places, the "other gods" as recognized as either fake and nonexistent, or, possibly, lesser beings who cannot compare to the One God.
Psalm 97:8, Justice in Zion
Zion hears and rejoices
and the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments, O LORD.
The "villages" of Judah are literally "daughters", a common expression for the small towns nearby. This sentence also occurs in Psalm 48:11.
Psalm 97:9-10, Deliverance from evil
For you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.
Let those who love the LORD hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
Whether one believes in small gods are mere wooden idols, there is no comparison to the powerful One God, Creator of all things, Who also (says the psalmist) is just and protects the righteous.
Psalm 97:11-12, Rejoice
Light is shed upon the righteous
and joy on the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous,
and praise his holy name.
In the Hebrew text, verse 11 begins ’ō·wr zā·ru·a‘, literally "light is sown", as if light was thrown out like seeds to the righteous. The root for zā·ru·a‘ is zara. An extra letter in zara gives zarach, meaning "rises". That word, which apparently occurs in some ancient manuscripts (says Kidner), would change the first line to "light rises upon the righteous." The NIV translation, "light is shed", encompasses either Hebrew word.
Joy goes with justice and righteousness. The psalm closes as it began, with a call to rejoice in the majesty and holiness of YHWH.
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