Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 97:8
Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.
8. From Psa 48:11, but with a significant change. Then ( Psa 97:8) the deliverance was wrought in sight of the city; now Zion and the cities of Judah only hear the glad tidings brought from distant Babylon to Zion in her humiliation (Isa 52:7-8).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Zion heard, and was glad – The good news came to Zion that all the idols of the pagan were confounded or were overcome: that is, that the Lord reigned. There was joy in Zion that the evils and abominations of idolatry were at an end, and that the worship of Yahweh had taken the place of idol-worship. The idea is, that the displacement of idols, or the fact that they had ceased to be worshipped, was a cause of joy to the worshippers of the true God. Whatever tends to remove the worship of idols from the world, and to extend and establish the worship of the living God, is an occasion of gladness.
And the daughters of Judah rejoiced … – See the notes at Psa 48:11. Woman has special occasion to rejoice in the spread of the true religion. It is that only which has lifted her from a state of deep degradation; which has elevated her to be a companion instead of a slave; which has made her the intelligent wife and mother, rather than the mere inmate of a harem.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 97:8
Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of Thy judgments, O Lord.
The judgments of God are a proper cause of gladness and rejoicing to His people
I. The Church is glad, and rejoices in the judgments of God, because it is itself redeemed with judgment.
1. By judgment the Church is redeemed from the curse of the law–judgment on Christ.
2. By judgment the Church is delivered from the captivity of Satan–judgment oil Satan.
3. By judgment the Church is freed from the bondage and tyranny of the world–judgment on the world.
4. By judgment the Church is to be redeemed from the power of Antichrist (Rev 18:20).
5. By judgment the Church is to be redeemed from the power of sin–judgment on the Church.
II. The Church is glad, and rejoices in the judgments of God, because they are the triumphs of Christ.
1. The triumphs of Christ are of two kinds–
(1) The triumphs of His grace.
(2) The triumphs of His vengeance.
2. The one as well as the other is rejoiced in and celebrated by the Church.
III. The Church is glad, and rejoices in the judgments of God, because they diminish the amount and prevalency of sin.
1. The direct effect of judgments is to remove the barriers which hinder the progress of the truth.
2. Another effect of Divine judgments is to deter from the commission of sin.
3. The effect of the finally overwhelming judgments of God is to remove sin from its place in the moral universe, and shut it up in everlasting concealment, Hellazar-house.
IV. The Church is glad, and rejoices in the judgments of God, because they furnish a glorious manifestation of Himself.
1. They reveal His holiness–He cannot look upon sin.
2. They manifest His justice. He gives to each one according to his work.
3. They that prove His omnipresence as a moral governor. No sin escapes Him.
4. They demonstrate His truth–for they are for the most part predicted.
5. They exhibit His power–for they overwhelm the mightiest.
6. They reveal His love to the Church–for they are chiefly in her defence and rescue. (James Stewart.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 8. Zion heard, and was glad] All the land of Israel, long desolated, heard of the judgments which God had shown among the enemies of his people.
And the daughters of Judah] All the villages of the land-Zion as the mother, and all the villages in the country as her daughters, rejoice in the deliverance of God’s people.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Zion; thy people dwelling in Zion, or Jerusalem, and Judah, to whom Christ came, and among whom the gospel was first preached. Or, thy church and people, who both in the prophetical writings are oft called Zion. Heard the fame of thy judgments, as the following words declare; the ruin of idolatry and the setting up the kingdom of the Messias in the world.
The daughters of Judah; particular churches, or rather persons, members of Zion.
Rejoiced; not that they took pleasure in the ruin of others, but because that made way for the advancement of Gods glory and Christs kingdom in the world.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8, 9. The exaltation of Zion’sking is joy to the righteous and sorrow to the wicked.
daughters of Judah(ComparePs 48:11).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Zion heard, and was glad,…. Or, the congregation of Zion, as the Targum; the church of Christ, and the members of it, called Zion, in allusion to the mountain of that name, in which the temple stood; a type of the church, Heb 12:22, these heard the Gospel, the good news and glad tidings of good things; they heard that Zion’s King reigned, and that his kingdom was enlarged, and interest increased; they heard the heavenly men declare his righteousness, by which they are justified from all things; they heard of the conversion of the Gentiles, and the confusion of idolaters; of the incarnation of Christ, and of his being worshipped by angels; all which filled them with joy and gladness:
and the daughters of Judah rejoiced; particular congregated churches, particular believers and professors of Christ and his Gospel; these rejoiced at the above things, as well as because of what follows:
because of thy judgments, O Lord; either the doctrines of the Gospel, which come from the God of judgment, and are according to his justice and holiness; and are matter of joy and gladness when they are spread in the world, and succeed to the conversion of sinners, the comfort of saints and the glory of Christ; see Ps 19:9, or his judgments upon his enemies, and the enemies of his church and people; which also are an occasion of rejoicing to them, because Christ is thereby glorified in his power, justice, truth, and faithfulness, Re 19:1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
| Zion Rejoicing in the Reign of Christ. | |
8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD. 9 For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods. 10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. 11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
The kingdom of the Messiah, like the pillar of cloud and fire, as it has a dark side towards the Egyptians, so it has a bright side towards the Israel of God. It is set up in spite of opposition; and then the earth saw and trembled (v. 4), but Zion heard and was glad, very glad, to hear of the conversion of some and of the confusion of others, that is, the conquest of all that stood it out against Christ. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! for behold thy king comes unto thee, Zech. ix. 9. And not Zion only, where the temple was, but even the daughters of Judah, rejoiced; the common people, the inhabitants of the villages, they shall triumph in Christ’s victories. The command (v. 1) is, Let the earth rejoice; but it is only the sons of Zion and the daughters of Judah that do rejoice. All should bid the kingdom of the Messiah welcome, but few do. Now here observe,
I. The reasons that are given for Zion’s joy in the government of the Redeemer. The faithful servants of God may well rejoice and be glad, 1. Because God is glorified, and whatever redounds to his honour is very much his people’s pleasure. They rejoice because of thy judgments, O Lord! which may take in both the judgments of his mouth and the judgments of his hand, the word of his gospel and his works wrought for the propagating of it, miracles and marvellous providences; for in these we must own, “Thou, Lord, art high above all the earth (v. 9); thou hast manifested thy sovereignty in the kingdom of nature, and thy command of all its powers, and thy dominion over all nations, over all hearts; thou art exalted far above all gods” –all deputed gods, that is, princes–all counterfeit gods, that is, idols. The exaltation of Christ, and the advancement of God’s glory among men thereby, are the rejoicing of all the saints. 2. Because care is taken for their safety. Those that pay allegiance to Christ as a King shall be sure of his protection. Princes are the shields of the earth; Christ is so to his subjects; they may put their trust under his shadow and rejoice in it, for (v. 10) He preserves the souls of the saints; he preserves their lives as long as he has any work for them to do, and wonderfully delivers them many a time out of the hand of the wicked, their persecutors that thirst after their blood; for precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. But something more is meant than their lives; for those that will be his disciples must be willing to lay down their lives, and not indent for the securing of them. It is the immortal soul that Christ preserves, the inward man, which may be renewed more and more when the outward man decays. He will preserve the souls of his saints from sin, from apostasy, and despair, under their greatest trials; he will deliver them out of the hands of the wicked one that seeks to devour them; he will preserve them safely to his heavenly kingdom, 2 Tim. iv. 18. They have therefore reason to be glad, being thus safe. 3. Because provision is made for their comfort. Those that rejoice in Christ Jesus, and in his exaltation, have fountains of joy treasured up for them, which will be opened sooner or later (v. 11): Light is sown for the righteous, that is, gladness for the upright in heart. The subjects of Christ’s kingdom are told to expect tribulation in the world. They must suffer by its malice, and must not share in its mirth; yet let them know, to their comfort, that light is sown for them; it is designed and prepared for them. What is sown will come up again in due time; though, like a winter seedness, it may lie long under the clods, and seem to be lost and buried, yet it will return in a rich and plentiful increase. God’s goodness shall be sure of a harvest in the appointed weeks. Those that sow in tears shall, without fail, reap in joy,Psa 126:5; Psa 126:6. Christ told his disciples, at parting (John xvi. 20), You shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. Gladness is sure to the upright in heart, to those only that are sincere in religion. The joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment. There is no serenity without a lasting sincerity,
II. The rules that are given for Zion’s joy. 1. Let it be a pure and holy joy. “You that love the Lord Jesus, that love his appearing and kingdom, that love his word and his exaltation, see that you hate evil, the evil of sin, every thing that is offensive to him and will throw you out of his favour.” Note, A true love to God will show itself in a real hatred of all sin, as that abominable thing which he hates. The joy of the saints should likewise confirm their antipathy to sin and divine comforts should put their mouths out of taste for sensual pleasures. 2. Let the joy terminate in God (v. 12): Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous. Let all the streams of comfort, which flow to us in the channel of Christ’s kingdom, lead us to the fountain, and oblige us to rejoice in the Lord. All the lines of joy must meet in him as in the centre. See Phi 3:3; Phi 4:4. 3. Let it express itself in praise and thanksgiving: Give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. Whatever is the matter of our rejoicing ought to be the matter of our thanksgiving, and particularly the holiness of God. Those that hate sin themselves are glad that God does so, in hopes that therefore he will not suffer it to have dominion over them. Note, (1.) We ought to be much in the remembrance of God’s holiness, the infinite purity, rectitude, and perfection of the divine nature. We must be ever mindful of his holy covenant, which he has confirmed with an oath by his holiness. (2.) We ought to give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness, not only give him the glory of it as it is an honour to him, but give him thanks for it as it is a favour to us; and an unspeakable favour it will be if, through grace, we are partakers of his holiness. It is God’s holiness which, above all his attributes, the angels celebrate. Isa. vi. 3, Holy, holy, holy. Sinners tremble, but saints rejoice, at the remembrance of God’s holiness, Ps. xxx. 4.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
8 Zion heard, and was glad In the former part of the psalm he had spoken of that joy which should be common to all the world. Now he makes special mention of God’s chosen nation; and this partly, because they were to enjoy the first-fruits of this joy, and partly, because he would remove all occasion for rivalry or envy. Accordingly, having said that the Gentile nations should be brought to equal privileges with the posterity of Abraham, he adds, that the Jews would not suffer any diminution of honor by this co-partnership of privilege, but might rather reasonably rejoice in being chosen of God to be the fountain out of which the world was to be watered and refreshed. Those of whom the Psalmist speaks were the true children of Abraham and them only. They had a double reason for rejoicing, when God extended his government and glory from the rising to the setting sun; for, while he exhibited to them in Christ the complete fulfillment of that redemption which was promised, they, at the same time, saw the glory of God diffused from the narrow limits of Judea to all parts of the world. When the nations were blessed in the seed of Abraham, agreeably to the prediction which had gone before, this was no inconsiderable confirmation of their faith, as also, when they saw a religion which had been hated and despised universally embraced. But why, it may be asked, does he speak of those things being heard, rather than seen ? Two reasons may be given for this. First, he would have God’s believing people anticipate the blessing by hope, ere the consummation of it arrived; and, again, the language intimates, that the glory of the Gospel would be spread to such distant quarters, that the Jews would rather hear of it by report, than witness it with their own eyes.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(8) Zion heard.See Psa. 48:11, Note.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Zion heard, and was glad The form of the verbs (Kal preterit) in this verse, together with the historic facts alleged, namely, the “rejoicings,” and the “judgments,” clearly point us to some occasion of the signal interposition of God in behalf of the nation.
Daughters of Judah A poetical title for cities of Judah. See on Psa 48:11
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 97:8. Because of thy judgments i.e. “Thy righteous determinations in favour of thy people.”
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Whatever effect the astonished nations of the earth now feel at the blessedness of Christ’s church, his beloved Zion takes part in all that concerns our Lord. Tell a lover of Jesus that a nation is born at once, or that an individual poor sinner is recovered by grace to the Lord, and every citizen of Zion participates in the triumph. Blessed Jesus! I bless thee for this evidence of my being thine, that amidst all my undeservings, I do prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy. Psa 137:6 . And as the soul of a believer rejoiceth in the conversion of every poor sinner, so is joy excited in the view of the judgments of God over the enemies of Christ, death, hell, and the grave. Reader! turn to the book of the Revelations, and behold the joy of the holy apostles and prophets, and of all heaven, in the destruction of mystic Babylon; Rev 18:20 . And oh! what everlasting joy will burst forth from all the host, when all enemies shall he brought under Christ’s feet!
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 97:8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.
Ver. 8. Zion heard, and was glad ] Heard what? the downfall of the devil’s kingdom, and the erecting of Christ’s sceptre; this was good news to the Church, and her children. Berne was the first town that after the Reformation burnt their images. Zurich followed on an Ash Wednesday, which they observe and celebrate every year to this day, with all mirths, plays, and pastimes, as an Ash Wednesday of God’s own making.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Zion. See App-68.
daughters = daughter cities.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 97:8-12
Psa 97:8-12
THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE RIGHTEOUS
“Zion heard and was glad,
And the daughters of Judah rejoiced,
Because of thy judgments, O Jehovah.
For thou, Jehovah, art most high above all the earth:
Thou art exalted far above all gods.
Oh ye that love Jehovah, 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.
Be glad in Jehovah, ye righteous;
And give thanks to his holy memorial name.”
“Zion heard and was glad … daughters of Judah rejoiced” (Psa 97:8). The Anchor Bible renders this, “Let Zion hear … let the daughters of Judah rejoice. It appears to us that the passage is true either way it reads, the “righteous remnant” alone being the portion of Zion that heard and obeyed God.
“Daughters of Judah” (Psa 97:8) is Hebraic for the towns and villages surrounding Jerusalem.
The big thought in this entire paragraph is the joy and happiness of those who follow the Lord. “The pursuit of happiness” is mentioned in the Declaration of Independence of the U.S.A.; and the major percentage of all human endeavor is directed toward the goal of achieving some measure of `happiness.’
Why is it true that only the righteous are happy? There is actually no mystery about this. “God destined us (all who ever lived) in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will” (Eph 1:5 RSV). This simply means that all men were destined by God to be Christians; to live otherwise is to live contrary to one’s destiny; and that cannot ever achieve happiness for any creature God ever made, not even man. The tiger leaving bloody tracks on the stone floor of his prison in the zoo, the bird in its cage, the fish out of water – are such creatures happy? No indeed! Why? They were destined for another kind of existence. Sinful men find themselves in the same predicament. Men can live contrary to their destiny, all right, but the wretchedness of their lives is the price they pay for it. Man was so made by the Creator that his highest happiness, both in the present existence, and in the world to come are achieved by faithfulness to the will of God.
Let the intelligent ponder a simple question: “If you were Almighty God, would you create an intelligent being such as man in such a manner that he would be happier in the service of the devil, than in serving you?” To meditate upon that questions is to know the answer.
“Thou art exalted far above all gods” (Psa 97:9). This would include all idol-gods, and all self-esteemed `gods’ among the leaders of mankind, the latter being a reference sarcastically to humans endowed with some authority who presume to act like gods.
“Oh ye that love Jehovah, hate evil” (Psa 97:10). As it stands, of course, this is indeed a valid and binding commandment upon all who love the Lord; however, we prefer the rendition in the RSV, which has it differently.
“The Lord loves those who hate evil” (RSV, Psa 97:10). However, Kidner warned us that, “RSV’s rendition here makes a smoother sentence; but the textual support is scanty, and smoothness is not a criterion.
The necessity for hating evil is obvious. God hates all evil, and those who are born again in the likeness of God invariably find it in their very nature to hate that which is evil. The current false view of God as a namby-pamby, easy-going old grandpa who is so good that he couldn’t ever really hate anybody no matter how scandalously wicked, is a very inadequate conception of the God of the Bible.
“Love for God necessarily implies hatred of evil, which is God’s antagonist, and which God also hates.
“Light is sown for the righteous … gladness for the upright” (Psa 97:11). This is one of those radical figures of speech encountered now and then in the Bible. Light is not actually “planted,” buried in the ground. Now what does this mean? Maclaren explained it.
“Darkness often wraps the righteous, and it is not true to experience to say that his way is always in the sunlight. But it is a consolation to know that light is sown, invisible and buried, as it were, but sure to germinate and bear fruit.
Many a man, in the midst of sore trials, has suddenly seen the light sown in his heart long previously by those who taught him the Word of God.
“Be glad in Jehovah, ye righteous … and give thanks” (Psa 97:12). Whereas the psalm began with a call for the whole earth to rejoice, it is here an invitation for the individual to rejoice, giving thanks to God.
Does this not say something about the personality of the righteous? Servants of the Lord should be happy people, and that happiness should be evident in their daily appearance to all men. The notion that a Christian is a sad, gloomy, and miserable person is a caricature of the truth. The old cartoon that showed a little girl with her arm around a donkey, saying, “You must be a Christian, you’ve got such a long face” presented a terrible misunderstanding of the truth.
The manifold obligations of Christians appear in this final paragraph. “Those who rejoice in the Coming of the King, must even in the present time: (1) love the Lord; (2) hate evil; (3) rejoice; and (4) give thanks.
The repeated admonitions here concerning joy and rejoicing emphasize the fact that, in spite of our still being in our probationary existence, still subject to sin and temptation, we should make every effort to live out our lives in the glorious knowledge that the victory has already been won; we should live, and act, and think that we are doing “all things through Christ who strengthens us.”
E.M Zerr:
Psa 97:8. Zion was a prominent part of Jerusalem where David had his headquarters. It came to be called the “City of David,” and finally was referred to generally as meaning the institution of the Lord. Daughters of Judah means the people of Judah or of the kingdom of which the capital was Zion.
Psa 97:9. Physical and spiritual exaltation was the subject in the mind of the Psalmist. God is above the earth as to rank or order of existence, and above the idol gods as to spiritual importance.
Psa 97:10. It is impossible to love and hate the same thing. Likewise it is impossible to love two things that are opposite in their character. Jesus taught this in Mat 6:24. On the basis of this truth, David calls upon those who profess to love the Lord to prove it by manifesting hate for evil. God will preserve the souls of the saints, but they may be subjected to affliction as to their bodies. Yet if they are faithful through it all they will finally be delivered.
Psa 97:11. Sown means to be spread abroad. The statement means that the righteous will be provided with light or guidance. This instruction will bring them gladness because they are upright in heart.
Psa 97:12. The first 4 words in this verse are identical with some in Php 3:1. There is no rejoicing promised to any who are not in the Lord and who are not thankful to Him. Any apparent cause of rejoicing out of the Lord is a deception and will bring the persons misled thereby to the brink of disappointment.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Zion: Psa 48:11, Isa 51:3, Isa 52:7-10, Isa 62:11, Zep 3:14-17, Zec 9:9, Mat 21:4-9
because: Psa 52:6, Psa 58:10, Rev 18:20, Rev 19:1-7
Reciprocal: Jdg 5:2 – for the avenging Jdg 5:31 – So let 1Ch 16:14 – his judgments Job 22:19 – righteous Psa 101:1 – I will sing Psa 119:164 – because Isa 33:5 – The Lord Isa 33:13 – ye that are near Isa 35:1 – be Jer 49:2 – her daughters Rev 15:4 – for thy
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 97:8-9. Zion heard The people dwelling in Zion, or Jerusalem and Judah, to whom Christ came, and to whom the gospel was first preached. Or Gods church and people, who, both in the Psalms and prophetical writings, are often called Zion; heard the fame of thy judgments, as the following words declare; the ruin of idolatry, and the setting up of the kingdom of the Messiah in the world. And was glad Very glad to hear of the conversion of some and the confusion of others, of the victory of Christ over all opposing power, and of the overthrow of the kingdom of Satan among men. And the daughters of Judah Particular churches, or individual members of Christs universal church, rejoiced According to the exhortation of the prophet; Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, for behold thy king cometh unto thee. Because of thy judgments, O Lord Thy judgments on thine enemies, whereby thou hast evinced thyself to be superior to the powers of the earth, and the gods of the nations. Not that they take pleasure in the ruin of others, but because the execution of the divine judgments upon idols and idolaters, and other daring sinners, makes way for the advancement of Gods glory, and the enlargement and establishment of Christs kingdom in the world. Thus, at the fall of Babylon it is said, Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets, for God hath avenged you on her. And Eusebius, speaking of the times under Constantine, says, A bright and glorious day, no cloud overshadowing it, did enlighten, with rays of heavenly light, the churches of Christ over all the earth; and among all Christians there was an inexpressible joy and a kind of celestial gladness. Eccl. Hist., book 10. For thou art exalted above all gods As thou always wast in truth exalted, so thou hast now proved and declared thyself to be so in the eyes of the whole world, by subduing them under thy feet.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
97:8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the {g} daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.
(g) The Jews will have opportunity to rejoice that the Gentiles are made partakers with them of God’s favour.