Psalm 97:2

[Heart2Soul]

This is very interesting that the Bible references dark clouds or darkness as a hiding place it says in one scripture, His dwelling place in another....who is the Greek and Hebrew expert here that can help explain this.....Thanks....I am studying in the book of Psalm and this really jumped out and I am seeking clarification...thanks.

Psalm 97:2
1The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the distant shores be glad. 2Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation. 3Fire goes before Him and consumes His foes on every side.…

Cross references from the Biblehub website:
Cross References
Exodus 19:9
The LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and they will always put their trust in you." And Moses relayed the words of the people to the LORD.

Deuteronomy 4:8
And what nation is so great as to have righteous statutes and ordinances like this entire law I set before you today?

Deuteronomy 4:11
You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, a mountain blazing with fire to the heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness.

2 Samuel 22:10
He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet.

1 Kings 8:12
Then Solomon said: "The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.

Job 26:9
He covers the face of the full moon, spreading His cloud over it.

Psalm 18:9
He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds was under His feet.

Psalm 18:11
He made darkness His hiding place, and storm clouds a canopy around Him.

Psalm 47:8
God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.

Psalm 89:14
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving devotion and truth go before You.

Psalm 94:15
Surely judgment will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

Lamentations 3:44
You have covered Yourself with a cloud that no prayer can pass through.

 

[Tolworth John]

As I understand it God cannot be viewed by us so he hides his appearance in clouds.

 

[Heart2Soul]

As I understand it God cannot be viewed by us so he hides his appearance in clouds.

OH THANK YOU! I was wondering why He would want to be surrounded by clouds and darkness but this makes a lot sense! His Brightness is too much for the human eye, of course!. You are my hero....lol

 

[icxn]

1The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the distant shores be glad. 2Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation. 3 Fire goes before Him and consumes His foes on every side 4 His lightning lights up the world;…

Earth refers to Adam or our human nature that after the Lord's reign has been freed from sin and death and therefore has reasons to rejoice. Distant shores or islands (LXX) are the Churches or the faithful that rise above the salty (as in sinful) waves of this life (the sea). Clouds and darkness symbolize the incomprehensibility of the divine nature. In another sense, cloud can be understood to be a symbol of the divine nature and darkness the human nature, which Christ surrounded Himself with when He became like us. In yet another sense, clouds are the apostles (that watered the earth with His teachings) and darkness the people (Matthew 4:16) who flocked to Him.

Then having fullfilled all righteousness and having passed judgment on our enemy, the Devil, He has established Himself in the hearts of His faithful, His throne. In another sense, by being clothed in His righteousness and justice we become His throne. Fire that consumes is the caustic energy of the divine nature that burns up the evil powers. The Septuagint has φλογιεί, which translates as set on fire instead of consume. In that sense it can also be undestood as the fire that Christ came to set upon the earth (our sinful flesh) in order to consume our love for the world that makes us enemies (foes) of God. The lightning that lights up the world is the teaching of the Gospel, preached (discharged like lightning) by the spiritual clouds, the apostles.

 

[Heart2Soul]

Earth refers to Adam or our human nature that after the Lord's reign has been freed from sin and death and therefore has reasons to rejoice. Distant shores or islands (LXX) are the Churches or the faithful that rise above the salty (as in sinful) waves of this life (the sea). Clouds and darkness symbolize the incomprehensibility of the divine nature. In another sense, cloud can be understood to be a symbol of the divine nature and darkness the human nature, which Christ surrounded Himself with when He became like us. In yet another sense, clouds are the apostles (that watered the earth with His teachings) and darkeness the people (Matthew 4:16) who flocked to Him.

Then having fullfilled all righteousness and having passed judgment on our enemy, the Devil, He has established Himself in the hearts of His faithful, His throne. In another sense, by being clothed in His righteousness and justice we become His throne. Fire that consumes is the caustic energy of the divine nature that burns up the evil powers. The Septuagint has φλογιεί, which translates as set on fire instead of consume. In that sense it can also be undestood as the fire that Christ came to set upon the earth (our sinful flesh) in order to consume our love for the world that makes us enemies (foes) of God. The lightning that lights up the world is the teaching of the Gospel, preached (discharged like lightning) by the spiritual clouds, the apostles.

This is very deep and very informative....I didn't realize there was so much symbolism in the book of Psalm....but I am learning things that my church never taught through this forum. Thank you for responding. I will need to meditate and study this more in depth....any suggested readings? (books or links)

 

[icxn]

...any suggested readings? (books or links)

Unfortunately my sources are all in Greek (that is my native language). Having said that, I would recommend this book (also partially available for free on google books).

 

[Heart2Soul]

Unfortunately my sources are all in Greek (that is my native language). Having said that, I would recommend this book (also partially available for free on google books).

Thanks...I already looked at the google link....it will be a good study reference.

 

[icxn]

Thanks...I already looked at the google link....it will be a good study reference.

You are welcome. I hope it proves useful. One thing I need to mention is the difference in the numbering of the Psalms. The book above uses the Septuagint text, which, as a general rule differs from the Masoretic by minus one. This table provides the exact mapping.

 

[Greg J.]

The verses surrounding Psalms 97:2 seem to explain what the "interesting" words (clouds and thick darkness surround him) are referring to. They are not references to God's "dark nature"—He has no such nature (1 John 1:5), but from a human's point of view it may seem that way (through sin-tainted eyes). The Psalmist is proclaiming the Lord's might, glory, and sovereignty, and starts the Psalm with "YHWH reigns" (be glad). "Clouds and thick darkness" means to me that God is scary-powerful. Fire consumes His enemies. His lightning is enormous and scary. The mountains melt. But note that even within verse 2 itself, God is praised for his righteousness and justice. God is scary for those that look with fleshly eyes, but is not with His followers who look at Him with spiritual eyes. Verse 6 to the end seems to run with the theme: YHWH is glorious.

 

[bcbsr]

This is very interesting that the Bible references dark clouds or darkness as a hiding place it says in one scripture, His dwelling place in another....who is the Greek and Hebrew expert here that can help explain this.....Thanks....I am studying in the book of Psalm and this really jumped out and I am seeking clarification...thanks.

Psalm 97:2
1The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the distant shores be glad. 2Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation. 3Fire goes before Him and consumes His foes on every side.…

Cross references from the Biblehub website:
Cross References
Exodus 19:9
The LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you, and they will always put their trust in you." And Moses relayed the words of the people to the LORD.

Deuteronomy 4:8
And what nation is so great as to have righteous statutes and ordinances like this entire law I set before you today?

Deuteronomy 4:11
You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, a mountain blazing with fire to the heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness.

2 Samuel 22:10
He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds beneath His feet.

1 Kings 8:12
Then Solomon said: "The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.

Job 26:9
He covers the face of the full moon, spreading His cloud over it.

Psalm 18:9
He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds was under His feet.

Psalm 18:11
He made darkness His hiding place, and storm clouds a canopy around Him.

Psalm 47:8
God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.

Psalm 89:14
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving devotion and truth go before You.

Psalm 94:15
Surely judgment will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

Lamentations 3:44
You have covered Yourself with a cloud that no prayer can pass through.

I think it's also referring to our understanding of God being "cloudy".

Paul writes, "now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known." 1Cor 13:12