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Senior Sunday School 4 : Psalms Book 4 : Psalm 97 : 3 December 2023

Text: Psalm 97
3 December 2023

SSS 4 3 December 2023
Book 4
Psalms 90-106

Text: Psalm 97

1The LORD reigns;
Let the earth rejoice;
Let the multitude of isles be glad!

2 Clouds and darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.

3 A fire goes before Him,
And burns up His enemies round about.

4 His lightnings light the world;
The earth sees and trembles.

5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

6 The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples see His glory.

7 Let all be put to shame who serve carved images,
Who boast of idols.
Worship Him, all you gods.

8 Zion hears and is glad,
And the daughters of Judah rejoice
Because of Your judgments, O LORD.

9 For You, LORD, are most high above all the earth;
You are exalted far above all gods.

10 You who love the LORD, hate evil!
He preserves the souls of His saints;
He delivers 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, you righteous,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

Psalm 97:1-12

A RECURRING REFRAIN

“The LORD reigns”

1. Psalm 93:1

2. Psalm 97:1

3. Psalm 99:1

THE LORD REIGNS OVER HIS CREATION

1The LORD reigns;
Let the earth rejoice;
Let the multitude of isles be glad!

2 Clouds and darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.

3 A fire goes before Him,
And burns up His enemies round about.

4 His lightnings light the world;
The earth sees and trembles.

Psalm 97:1-4

1. Response to the thought
“The LORD reigns”

a) Rejoicing
b) Gladness

2. Realm of the Lord’s Reigns

a) The throne of the LORD
i) Righteousness
ii) Justice
iii) Foundational
b) Throne of Iniquity Psalm 94:20
i) Devises evil
ii) Using (abusing) the law of the land
c) The Majesty of the LORD
i) Clouds and darkness surround Him
ii) A fire goes before Him
iii) His lightnings light the world
d) Results
i) Wicked enemies are burned up (consumed)
ii) The earth sees and trembles

THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

6 The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples see His glory.

Psalm 97:5-6

1. The LORD’s Presence

a) It is found all over the world earth
b) His glory is to be noted

2. Response

a) The mountains melt like wax
b) The heavens declare His righteousness

THE JUDGMENTS OF THE LORD

7 Let all be put to shame who serve carved images,
Who boast of idols.
Worship Him, all you gods.

8 Zion hears and is glad,
And the daughters of Judah rejoice
Because of Your judgments, O LORD.

9 For You, LORD, are most high above all the earth;
You are exalted far above all gods.

Psalm 97:7-9

1. Those who practised idolatry

a) They made carved images
b) They boast in their idols

2. A challenge to Israel

a) To worship the LORD
b) The “gods” (“Elohim”)
i) Judges
ii) Leaders of the nation
iii) The lawmakers

3. Response to the Judgments of the LORD

a) Zion is glad
b) The daughters of Judah rejoice

4. A fresh appreciation of the LORD

a) He is the most high above all the earth

b) He is exalted above all gods

STRONG ADMONITION GIVEN

10 You who love the LORD, hate evil!
He preserves the souls of His saints;
He delivers 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, you righteous,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

Psalm 97:10-12

1. The Recipients

a) Those who love the LORD
b) The upright in heart
c) The righteous

2. The deeds of the LORD

a) He preserves the souls of His saints
b) He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
c) Light is sown for the righteous,
d) And gladness for the upright in heart.

3. Appropriate Response

a) To hate evil
b) To rejoice in the LORD
c) To give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name