Psalm 97 (96):5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This psalm is known as ‘The Psalm of David, when his land was restored.’ We must offer everything to Christ if we wish to maintain a proper understanding: we should not stray from the cornerstone, as stated in Ephesians 2:20, for our thoughts might falter. In Him, what has been unsteady shall find strength; let that which once hesitated find assurance in Him. Regardless of any doubts one may harbor when hearing the Scriptures, one should not drift away from Christ; once Christ reveals Himself through His Word, that person can then affirm true understanding; however, until experiencing Christ, one cannot presume they comprehend Him. For Christ is the culmination of the law, bringing righteousness to everyone who believes (Romans 10:4). What does it signify when we refer to 'his land restored'? The restoration of the earth is indeed the resurrection of the body; through His resurrection, all that is celebrated in this psalm came to fruition. Let us listen to a Psalm filled with joy concerning the restoration of the earth. May our Lord inspire in us a hope and joy fitting for such a magnificent act; may He guide our speech to reflect our hearts, so that every joy felt in our hearts may be conveyed through our tongues, reaching your ears, your hearts, and leading to righteous actions.

The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of islands be glad (Psalm 95:1). This is undoubtedly true, for God's word has been proclaimed not only on the mainland but also in the distant islands amid the sea; there, too, believers abound, numerous servants of God. For the Creator of the sea does not remain captive to the sea. Where ships can navigate, surely God’s words can reach? The islands are filled with believers. Figuratively, these islands can symbolize all churches, why islands? Because surrounding waves of all temptations create turbulence around them. Yet, just as an island may be battered by waves on all sides but remains unbroken, preferring to break the waves rather than be overwhelmed, so too have God's churches emerged globally. They have faced persecution from the wicked who surround them, yet they remain steadfast until, at last, the tumult ceases, and peace is restored.

Clouds and darkness encompass Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne (Psalm 95:2). The Lord Himself declares, “For judgment I have come into this world; that those who do not see may gain sight, and those who see may become blind” (John 9:39). Those who believe they can see—who consider themselves wise and feel no need for healing—may find themselves blinded. While those confessing their blindness can receive illumination. Let there be clouds and darkness for those who have not comprehended Him; for those who humble themselves, righteousness and justice direct His throne. To those who believe in Him, He refers to as His throne; for He makes His dwelling within them, governing and judging through His Wisdom, since the Son of God embodies the Wisdom of God. Scripture confirms this meaning; the soul of the righteous serves as a vessel for Wisdom. They who believed in Him were justified by faith, thereby becoming His throne: He dwells in them, governing and judging through them.

A fire moves before Him, consuming His foes on every side (Psalm 95:3). We recall what we read in the Gospel: He will command, “Depart into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). I believe this fire is not what is referenced here. Why? Because the text speaks of a fire that precedes Him as He approaches judgment. It affirms that fire will not only flourish in the world but shall precede His coming. What then is this fire? This is understood to signify temporal punishment for the unbelievers and the ungodly; we may even refer to the fire of salvation for the redeemed. Our Lord says, “I came to cast fire upon the earth” (Luke 12:49)—a fire that serves as a sword; as He also says elsewhere, “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). A sword separating, fire consuming, but each bears a salvific purpose: for the sword of His Word has freed us from destructive habits. He brings a sword that distinguishes believers from their faithless kin—whether their parents or ancestors, so none of us can claim a lineage untouched by the pervasive unbelief that stands against God. We have been severed from our former selves; the sword divides yet does not destroy. Similarly, regarding fire: “I have come to send fire upon the earth.” Believers are ignited by His love—hence when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles, it manifested as what appeared to be divided tongues of fire (Acts 2:3). Fueled by this fire, they spread throughout the world, igniting and consuming the adversaries of Christ.

His lightnings illuminated the world (Psalm 95:4). This is indeed a cause for great joy. Can we not perceive it? Is it not clear? His lightings have brightened the entire universe, incinerating His foes. All that was deemed worthless has been consumed, leaving His lightnings to shine in the world. How did they illuminate? The world will eventually recognize how they lit up the darkness. Where may these lightnings originate? From the clouds. What are God's clouds? The messengers of truth. You may observe a cloud that is dark and foreboding, concealing what lies beneath. When lightning flashes from the cloud, a radiance bursts forth: from that which you might disregard emerged something to be feared. Thus, our Lord Jesus Christ dispatched His Apostles as His proclaimers, resembling clouds; perceived merely as men, they were shunned until there emerged from them something awe-inspiring. Initially, they were encumbered by flesh, fragile, and regarded as unremarkable; yet within them dwelt illumination, a light to be shared. Peter, the fisherman, arose, prayed, and the dead were revived (Acts 9:40). His earthly form was but a cloud, while the splendor of the miracle was the lightning that shone forth. Through their actions, worthy of amazement, and their words, striking wonder, His light ignited the world; the earth witnessed this and trembled. Is this not the truth? Will not the entire Christian community ultimately exclaim ‘Amen’ and be filled with awe at the light that emerged from those clouds?

The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord (Psalm 96:5). Who are the mountains? The proud. All high things that rise up against God, in light of the works of Christ and His followers, have quaked and succumbed, with the word ‘melted’ perhaps the most fitting description. The mountains melted like wax in the presence of God. Where is the majesty of authority? Where is the stubbornness of the unbeliever? The Lord was fire to them; they melted like wax before Him, so long as the fire was present. All lofty heights have been leveled; they do not dare now to blaspheme Christ: and although the heathen may deny Him, they do not revile Him; even if they are not yet living stones, the hardened mountain has been subdued. Before the Lord of all the earth—not only of the Jews but also of the Gentiles, as the Apostle states; for He is the God of both Jew and Gentile (Romans 3:29). Thus, He is Lord over the entirety of the earth; the Lord Jesus Christ, born in Judea, was not for Judea alone; since prior to His incarnation, He had formed all men; and in His act of creation, He also made them anew.

The heavens have proclaimed His righteousness, and all people have witnessed His glory (Psalm 96:6). What do the heavens declare? The heavens proclaim the glory of God. Who are the heavens? Those who have become His throne; just as God resides in the heavens, so He dwells in the Apostles and in the messengers of the Gospel. Even you, should you desire it, can be made heaven. Do you wish to embody heaven? Purify your hearts from worldly desires. If you harbor no earthly cravings and sincerely lift your heart to Him, you will be heaven. If you have been raised with Christ, as the Apostle exhorts believers, direct your thoughts toward heavenly matters, not earthly ones (Colossians 3:1-2). You will find yourselves drawn to that which resides above, rather than what is earthly; and thus, have you not become heaven? You bear flesh, yet in your hearts reside heavenly intentions, for your citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). In this state, you also profess Christ; for who among the faithful does not testify to Him? Hence, the entire church proclaims Christ, as do the heavens with His righteousness, for all believers are devoted to urging those yet to believe toward Him out of love for Him. Through them, God manifests the weight of His judgment; and the unbeliever trembles, fearing, and ultimately believing. They reveal the power that Christ held in the world, calling upon them to love Him. How many today have brought friends to a performer or musician? Why else, if not for their enjoyment? And do you love Christ? He who overcame the world has shown such marvels that no one may justifiably find fault. For every favorite performer may often fall short; yet in Christ, no one is ever dismayed—there is no cause for disgrace. Bring, guide, and draw whomever you can: fear not, for you lead them to One who will never disappoint; and implore Him to illuminate them, so they may receive a good report.

All that worship carved images will be put to shame (Psalm 95:7). Has this not come to pass? Have they not been entangled? Do they not encounter confusion daily? Carved images, crafted by hand, fall short of reality. Why is it that all who worship carved images find confusion? Because all have gazed upon His glory. All nations now confess the grandeur of Christ: let those who cling to their stones face their shame. For those stones are lifeless; we have found a Living Stone; indeed, these stones never lived and thus cannot even be deemed deceased; yet our Stone lives and has eternally existed with the Father; and though He died for us, He has risen, and death no longer holds dominion over Him (Romans 6:9). His majesty has been revealed to the nations; they abandon their temples, taking refuge in the churches. Do they still seek to honor carved images? Have they not chosen to renounce their idols? They have turned from their idols, who take pride in those false representations. But there are those who argue, believing themselves sagacious, who claim, “I do not honor that stone, nor do I venerate those meaningless figures... I do not worship that image, but the one I behold.” Who is this? An invisible deity, they assert, who reigns over this image. In recounting their justifications, they may argue, believing they do not worship idols but demons. The Apostle reminds us, “What the Gentiles offer in sacrifice, they offer to demons, not to God; for we know that an idol is nothing: and what the Gentiles offer in sacrifices, they sacrifice to demons, not to God; and I do not wish for you to have fellowship with demons.” Therefore, let them not obfuscate their actions by claiming they do not venerate insensible idols; instead, they are devoted to demons, which is far more perilous. If they were merely honoring idols, neither would be advantageous nor detrimental. However, if one worships and serves demons, they make themselves servants of those entities.

The mountains dissolved like wax in the presence of the Lord. The term 'mountains' signifies the opposing forces that, like wax, are softened by divine fire. What is hardened by the cold north wind is softened by the warm south wind. Hence, it is fitting for the bride in the Song of Songs to express: "Arise, O north wind, and come, O south wind; blow upon my garden, that its spices may flow out" (Song of Songs 4:16).

I believe that these mountains represent evil forces or, at the very least, individuals steeped in pride. This fire does not consume the humble; it seeks out those who resemble the lofty mountains. Typically, when lightning strikes, it finds it challenging to hit those in the lowlands, unlike those positioned on high ground. The Psalmist provides another perspective, suggesting that mountains represent the higher authorities. Those who were previously elevated by arrogance to the heavens are brought low by the arrival of the Lord. Moreover, those who were hardened by empty pride are ultimately subdued by the refreshing presence of Divine wisdom.

Both those in positions of authority and those who are under authority, like wax melting in the presence of flames, will be consumed by fear. The more they are entrusted with, the heavier their burden becomes; and with increased responsibility comes an increase in fear.

The mountains symbolize demons, as explained by Athanasius and Bezimenos, due to their arrogance and lofty pride, as well as their desolate, harsh, and destructive intentions. This notion is echoed in Psalm 67, which states, As wax melts by fire, so sinners perish from the face of God (Psalm 67:3).

Just as the mountains stand tall above the earth, so too do the prophets stand elevated among humanity, which is why they are referred to as mountains. Consequently, when the Only Begotten, the Lord of all creation, who became its Sovereign through the acceptance of all that it comprises, appeared, the prophets were transformed. The arrival of the Only Begotten softened them, enabling all to shape an understanding of the mystery of the Only Begotten, much like wax warmed by fire is molded into representations of the Lord. It is noted that they ‘melted’ “from the face of the Lord,” signifying the work of the Spirit. The repetition of the phrase “the face of the Lord” by the prophet indicates that he refers to the Son in one instance and to the Spirit in relation to the Son in the other.

The title and essence of the Psalm attributed to David at the time his kingdom was restored lacks a corresponding inscription in Hebrew texts. In this Psalm, similar to the previous one, the Prophet articulates the grandeur of God, foretelling the reign of Christ and declaring that the proclamation of the Gospel will eliminate idol worship. The Church, illuminated by the truth of the Gospel, is destined to prevail. Hence, this Psalm should not be interpreted as its title suggests since it is absent from the Hebrew Scriptures; instead, it must be understood according to its themes. It is possible that David wrote this Psalm reflecting on the restoration of his throne, shaken by Absalom’s rebellion.

This Psalm was written by David through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, expressing gratitude and praise to God, who liberated his people from oppressive forces to restore his reign. It prophetically announces the transformation of humanity on earth into the kingdom of grace established by God the Father, who has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of God (Colossians 1:13). The earth, representing human existence, rejoices because Christ the Lord, in his pure humanity, is seated at the right hand of God the Father. The joyful spirit of the Gospel’s message brings hope, uniting believers like islanders amidst the tumultuous sea of worldly affairs. In the body of Christ, we find the essence of the divine Word. God's throne represents both the reward for the righteous and the judgment for the unrepentant. The purifying fire of Christ will illuminate the righteous while serving as a warning to sinners at the Last Judgment.