PSALM 97
Beloved children of God, you could be wondering if a loving God reigns why does He allow Corona Virus
to create a global economic and health crisis leading to the death of over 200, 000 people. The
undeniable fact is that God is in life’s driver’s seat, He has the GPS (Global Positioning System) and
knows where He is taking us, and we will finally reach our destination. Only the one who is called the
Alpha, Omega has the final say over your life.
Psalm 97 says “The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice.” It is because the Lord reigns over all that His
children should rejoice, but sinners should fear His coming judgment. (Psalm 97:1-6). The Lord’s reign
can only be a source of joy to you when you submit to Him. When you look at the severe health and
economic challenges you might be going through now, if you acknowledge that the Lord reigns over
these problems, and you submit to His rightful rule, it will bring you great joy. However, if you don’t
acknowledge that the Lord reigns over these problems, you will panic, become depressed or anxious. So,
the fact that the Lord reigns is a cause for rejoicing if you submit to His sovereignty. Likewise, because
“the Lord reigns, Let the earth rejoice and bow in fear because of His coming judgment” (Psalm 97:1-6).
Those that are not subject to the Lord should fear His coming in judgment. He will judge the world in
righteousness and defeat all His enemies. The idolaters will be put to shame, but let His people rejoice.
“Let all those be ashamed who serve graven images, who boast themselves of idols; worship Him all you
gods.” (Psalm 97:7). They will be put to shame because they have trusted man made creations that are
powerless. If you are not submissive to the Sovereign Lord, then you are an idolater. You may not set up
actual statues to pray to, but you serve the idol of self or money or sexual pleasure or fame or power.
The Lord reigns: Let those who love Him hate evil and be glad in Him (Psalm 97:10-12). If you know
Christ as Savior, you must be growing to hate evil, beginning with your own sin. As human beings, you
might have an attraction to certain sins, you must hate it and fight against it. If you don’t, then, you
don’t love the Lord. Love for God must result in holy living. The Lord is the source of our joy and that joy
is only for the righteous, those who walk in obedience to Him. Psalm 97:12 reads “be glad in the Lord
you righteous ones and give thanks to His Holy Name”. THE LORD REIGNS
PRAYER POINT: Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. (Proverbs 23: 17-18