Psalms 97:4

“His lightnings enlightened the world, etc.] Either the doctrines of the Gospel, compared thereunto, because of the swift progress they made, and the large extent of them in the world, in a very little time; by the apostles they were published in all nations, and were the means of enlightening them in the true knowledge of themselves, and of the way of salvation by Christ: hence they are called the “lights of the world”, (<400514>Matthew 5:14), as the coming of Christ, in his kingdom and power, by them, is compared to lightning, and so are the arrows of his word, (<402427>Matthew 24:27 <380914>Zechariah 9:14), or else his judgments on the Jewish nation are meant, which were manifest and…”

“His lightnings enlightened the world ... - See the notes at Psalms 77:18. Compare Psalms 104:32; Habakkuk 3:6-10. return to 'Top of Page'”

“His: Psa 77:18, Psa 144:5, Psa 144:6; Exo 19:16-18 the earth: Psa 104:32, Psa 114:7; Job 9:6; Jer 10:10; Mat 27:50, Mat 27:51, Mat 28:2, Mat 28:3; Rev 11:19; Rev 19:11 Psalms 97:5”

“Again we have nothing but echoes of the older literature: Psa 97:4 = Psa 77:19; Psa 97:4, cf. Psa 77:17; Psa 97:5, cf. Mic 1:4; Psa 97:5, cf. Mic 4:13; Psa 97:6 = Psa 50:6; Psa 97:6, cf. Isa 35:2; Isa 40:5; Isa 52:10; Isa 66:18. The poet goes on to describe that which is future with historical certainty. That which Psa 77:19 says of the manifestation of God in the earlier times he transfers to the revelation of God in the last time. The earth sees it, and begins to tremble in consequence of it. The reading ותּחל, according to Hitzig (cf. Ew. ֗232, b) traditional, is, however, only an error of pointing that has been propagated; the correct reading is the reading of Heidenheim and Baer,…”