Our Father Reigns
Fire, lightning and melting mountains announce him, yet the foundation of that throne is righteousness and justice. Idol-worshipers are shamed, Zion is glad, and the practical instruction runs one line long: you who love our Father, hate evil.
97 1Our Father reigns! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad.
2Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3Fire goes before him and burns up his foes on every side. 4His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5The mountains melt like wax before our Father, before the Sovereign of all the earth. 6The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.
7All who serve carved images are put to shame, those who boast about worthless idols; worship him, all you gods! a a v7 Hebrews 1:6 takes up this call — "Let all God's angels worship him" — and applies it to Jesus, the Son our Father brings into the world.
8Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments, our Father. b b v8 'Daughters of Judah' is a Hebrew idiom for the towns and villages surrounding Judah. 9For you, our Father, are Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
10You who love our Father, hate evil! He guards the lives of his faithful ones; he rescues them from the hand of the wicked. 11Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. 12Rejoice in our Father, you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name.
