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Christmas Season · Nativity of the Lord - Christmas Dawn Proper 2 · Year A

Psalm 97

Psalm 97

December 25, 2025

Christ in Glory, Francesco Bassano the Younger
Christ in Glory, Francesco Bassano the Younger, 16th centuryWikimedia Commons
A Venetian painting from a family workshop, Christ enthroned in cloud with the light breaking from behind him.The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice … Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne … Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.Francesco Bassano the YoungerOne of a family of Venetian painters from the town of Bassano, who ran a large workshop and died by his own hand at forty-three.Wikimedia CommonsNo holding institution is recorded with the image; it is known from the public domain reproduction.Wikimedia Commons
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelLuke 2:(1-7), 8-20Lk 2:(1-7), 8-20
EpistleTitus 3:4-7Ti 3:4-7
Old TestamentIsa. 62:6-12Is 62:6-12
PsalterPs. 97Ps 97

Overview & Insights

“Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.” (Psalm 97:11)

This psalm of Yahweh’s kingship picks up where Psalm 96 leaves off: “let the earth be glad” (cf. 96:11). After this opening invitation, we hear of a thunderstorm demonstrating Yahweh’s supremacy and righteousness (vv. 2–6). We hear of the responses of idol worshipers and of Zion, along with a summary statement of Yahweh’s supremacy (vv. 7–9). The closing section spells out the implications of the above: Yahweh’s people must shun evil and then they will be granted protection, light, and joy (vv. 10–12).

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Take it further: Psalm 97

Commentary

Psalm 97Ps 97 Working Preacher

A commentary reading Psalm 97 as an enthronement psalm whose acclaim of the reigning Lord fits the joy of Christ's birth.

Psalm 97Ps 97 Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed preaching archive for Psalm 97, with reflections on the Lord's cosmic kingship and light dawning for the righteous.

Psalm 97Ps 97 Enduring Word · David Guzik

An evangelical verse-by-verse study on the reign of the Lord, clouds and fire, and gladness in Zion.

Classic commentaries on Psalm 97Classic commentaries on Ps 97 BibleHub

A classic aggregator stacking public-domain commentators on Psalm 97:1 verse by verse.

Background & Word Study

Psalm 97 in Hebrew, with Jewish commentaryPs 97 in Hebrew, with Jewish commentary Sefaria

The Hebrew and English text with classical Jewish commentary on its enthronement and theophany language.

The Church Fathers

Psalm 97, patristic commentaryPs 97, patristic commentary Catena

A patristic catena gathering early Christian voices that hear the reigning Lord and the dawning light as the coming of Christ.

Questions preachers ask

Why is a psalm full of fire and lightning read at Christmas dawn?

Psalm 97 describes a king whose arrival shakes the earth, with cloud and thick darkness around him. Read at the dawn service it sets the scale of what has just happened in the stable: the one the mountains melt before is the one lying in the manger.

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