Psa 97:11 | KingComments | STEP | In these verses, the word is addressed to the remnant. They are addressed as “you who love the LORD” ( ). This characterizes them. Loving the LORD is not just an emotional thing, it is a choice of the heart. It is a choice to, with all that is in a person, love Him, be faithful to Him, and trust in His covenant. To that, “hate evil” is connected directly. It is a lie to say to love God and not at the same time hate all that is evil (cf. ). To love the LORD means to hate all that He hates (cf. ). The prophet Amos also presented these two characteristics ( ). Those who have both of these characteristics are “His godly ones”. They are in His favor because they are faithful to Him. Their souls, their lives, He preserves. Godly ones, Hebrew chasid , are those who are faithful to the covenant. “He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” He stands up for them and will not allow His adversaries to take final control of them. The coming of the Messiah is like the sowing of light ( ). After all, He is called “the sun of righteousness” ( ). He makes known to “the righteous” the way to the realm of peace and goes before them on that way. It never gets dark on that way and in their heart. He irradiates that way with His light. That light is sown also means that it is intended to bring forth fruit, fruit that corresponds to the seed. That is seen in those who walk as children of light (cf. ; ). The sowing of light also results in joy. There is no true joy without light, just as there is no light that does not produce joy. His coming means “gladness for the upright in heart”. All who have their heart set on Him are upright in heart. It is their desire that He be glorified. This can be seen in their lives as well, for they do His will. The last verse is a call to all the “righteous ones” to “be glad in the LORD” ( ). He has wondrously turned everything for the better for them with His power. Therefore, they are called to give thanks and to do so “to His holy name”, literally “for the memory of His holiness”. The name LORD is in remembrance of the redemption from Egypt ( ). We may celebrate the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of the Lord Jesus. The remnant in the future will praise the LORD in remembrance of His holiness. Their prayer in the time of the great tribulation is: “Hallowed be Your name” ( ). The holiness of the Name of the LORD is connected to the fate of His people ( ). The exile was to the dishonor of the LORD’s holiness, while the redemption of Israel, both outwardly and inwardly, is to the honor of the holiness of His Name! It is not His love for and mercy on them that cause them to praise Him, but His holiness. It is precisely His holiness that proves His complete reckoning with sin, by which any threat of a disturbance of the peace is nullified. They can enjoy the blessing of His reign undisturbed with praise and thanks and joy.

‏ Psalms 97:11

Light Is Sown

In these verses, the word is addressed to the remnant. They are addressed as “you who love the LORD” (Psa 97:10). This characterizes them. Loving the LORD is not just an emotional thing, it is a choice of the heart. It is a choice to, with all that is in a person, love Him, be faithful to Him, and trust in His covenant. To that, “hate evil” is connected directly. It is a lie to say to love God and not at the same time hate all that is evil (cf. 1Jn 1:6). To love the LORD means to hate all that He hates (cf. Pro 8:13).

The prophet Amos also presented these two characteristics (Amos 5:14-15). Those who have both of these characteristics are “His godly ones”. They are in His favor because they are faithful to Him. Their souls, their lives, He preserves. Godly ones, Hebrew chasid, are those who are faithful to the covenant. “He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” He stands up for them and will not allow His adversaries to take final control of them.

The coming of the Messiah is like the sowing of light (Psa 97:11). After all, He is called “the sun of righteousness” (Mal 4:2). He makes known to “the righteous” the way to the realm of peace and goes before them on that way. It never gets dark on that way and in their heart. He irradiates that way with His light. That light is sown also means that it is intended to bring forth fruit, fruit that corresponds to the seed. That is seen in those who walk as children of light (cf. Pro 4:18; Eph 5:7-9).

The sowing of light also results in joy. There is no true joy without light, just as there is no light that does not produce joy. His coming means “gladness for the upright in heart”. All who have their heart set on Him are upright in heart. It is their desire that He be glorified. This can be seen in their lives as well, for they do His will.

The last verse is a call to all the “righteous ones” to “be glad in the LORD” (Psa 97:12). He has wondrously turned everything for the better for them with His power. Therefore, they are called to give thanks and to do so “to His holy name”, literally “for the memory of His holiness”.

The name LORD is in remembrance of the redemption from Egypt (Exo 3:15). We may celebrate the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of the Lord Jesus. The remnant in the future will praise the LORD in remembrance of His holiness. Their prayer in the time of the great tribulation is: “Hallowed be Your name” (Mt 6:9). The holiness of the Name of the LORD is connected to the fate of His people (Eze 36:20-28). The exile was to the dishonor of the LORD’s holiness, while the redemption of Israel, both outwardly and inwardly, is to the honor of the holiness of His Name!

It is not His love for and mercy on them that cause them to praise Him, but His holiness. It is precisely His holiness that proves His complete reckoning with sin, by which any threat of a disturbance of the peace is nullified. They can enjoy the blessing of His reign undisturbed with praise and thanks and joy.