Day 8: Psalm 97:1-12

The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.
For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

In this passage, earthly light repeatedly describes the majesty and holiness of God:

Clouds and darkness round about Him

A fire going before Him

Lightnings of God enlightening the world

Hills melting like wax in His brilliant presence

Despite the natural fear God’s awesome glory might incite in those who are not one with Him, this Psalm focuses on quite a different response: joy.

“Let the earth rejoice.”

“Zion heard and was glad.”

“The daughters of Judah rejoiced.”

“Gladness for the upright in heart.”

“Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous.”

“Give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.”

Because our all-powerful and holy God reigns in the earth, the earth ought to respond with pure joy: nothing evil can have any ultimate power or position when the earth is under the dominion of the omnipotent God!

Truly, the terror-inspiring light of God’s holiness is the same light that produces the seeds sown in our lives. “Light is sown for the righteous.” We’ve already seen that God’s Word is our light – through our restored oneness with Him by the cross, His Spirit now dwells in us, bringing to remembrance His words. As we receive His words and meditate upon them day and night, they are seeds within us that will bring forth fruit in their season – some sooner, some later.

This is confirmed in the parable of the sower in Mark 4. After giving the parable, Jesus says:

Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God…Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
The sower soweth the word. 
And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

By abiding in the Word and receiving it, we receive the abundance of its fruit – and bringing forth much fruit is walking in the light. The caution for us is to be continually fixing our mind on the Word – after all, we can allow several elements into our lives that prevent the seeds that are sown from growing:

1. We can hear the Word but allow Satan to snatch it away because we’re distracted, preoccupied, or not serious about listening.
2. We can be excited about the Word for a time, but then neglect or forget it when it’s too difficult. The “affliction and persecution” need not be physical or verbal harassment as we tend to think of it; it may be simple pressures of life.
3. Perhaps most sobering of all, we can hear and receive the Word but yet in the course of daily life allow the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things – even good things – to consume our thoughts and attention, thereby choking the Word. When we set our affection and attention on other things, there is no longer any room for the Word to grow and bear fruit in us.

Yet if we keep our eyes on Jesus Christ, abiding and rejoicing in Him, the light of the Word that is sown in us will bear fruit: that is His promise. Furthermore, “in this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples” (John 15:8). As we choose to fix our mind on Him, the fellowship of gladness between Father, Son, Spirit, and us will overwhelm our lives with its joy and light!