Psalm 97

This is a coronation hymn for Jehovah as sovereign God over all Creation. It sounds exactly like what you might hear when a parade makes a ceremonial march before the ruler from the gate of the capital to the doors of the palace. In this case, the ritual would be marching the Ark of Covenant as the symbolic throne of God up to the Temple.

Because He is rule is all Creation, let all of the earth rejoice at the celebration of His coronation, all the way to very ends of human occupation.

What should you look for? Not some fancy carriage or curtained sedan chair. No, this Lord is hidden by mystery, as symbolized by the mention of clouds and darkness. Only those devoted to Him fully could hope to recognize Him; no one else can begin to comprehend Him. His throne — His power and authority — began with the revelation of righteousness and moral justice. The power of His justice provides no opportunity for anyone to resist. His revelation shines like flashes of lightening, always in the company of earth shattering thunder. Were He to but show His face, Creation itself would dissolve. So all of Heaven, the ineffable realm above us, celebrates Him as the very definition of moral goodness, and there is no excuse for anyone on earth to avoid knowing Him.

There is no doubt that mankind seeks all kinds of ways to find peace, imagining deities that answer their own thoughts. When God asserts His authority, these people tremble in shame at His revelation. All those gods, if they existed, would fall down before Him, too. But the people He called to the mission of His revelation rejoice at the mere thought of Him finally showing Himself so that no one could argue against His name.

If you claim to revere Him, then learn to hate what He hates. Trust Him to keep you out of the power of moral darkness. His reign is like planting a crop of enlightenment, with a harvest of gladness and joy in moral purity. This is our Sovereign, so rejoice!