The God Who Reigns Is the God Who Keeps Me

Psalm 97 begins with a powerful declaration:

“The LORD reigneth.”

When I read the first nine verses, I see the greatness of our God. Righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne. Fire goes before Him. His lightning lights up the world. The earth trembles, and the mountains melt like wax before His presence.

Who can stand against such a God? He is above all the earth. Nothing is greater than Him. No power can overthrow His rule. No wickedness escapes His sight. Then I come to verse 10. The Psalm moves from describing His overwhelming majesty to speaking about His care for His people:

“He preserveth the souls of his saints.”

The God before whom mountains melt is the God who keeps His people. That touches my heart. His greatness does not make Him distant from me. He sees me. He knows what I face. He knows the evil around me and the battles within me. But the verse also says:

“Ye that love the LORD, hate evil.”

I cannot say I love God while willingly holding on to what He calls evil. Loving Him should change what I welcome into my heart, what I practise, and what I turn away from. It makes me examine myself. Am I asking God to rescue me from evil while still making room for it in my life? Am I asking for His protection while resisting His correction?

The Lord who protects His people is also the righteous Judge. If I insist on choosing evil, I am resisting the very God whose help I need. Who could protect me from His judgment? Then verse 12 calls the righteous to rejoice in the Lord. But how can I be righteous?

I know my own heart. I do not become godly simply because I look respectable, attend church, or try to do a few good things. I am a sinner. Sin reaches deeper than my outward actions. I cannot make myself right with God.

That is why I need Jesus Christ.

The New Testament explains how sinners like us can be made right with God:

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV

Jesus knew no sin, yet He bore our sins on the cross. I cannot make myself righteous, but through Him I can be forgiven and made right with God.

Romans 5:1 says:

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Jesus died for our sins and rose again. Through Him, we can receive forgiveness and be made right with God. When we turn from sin and trust in Him, we are welcomed into God’s family. His Spirit begins changing our hearts, teaching us to love what God loves and hate what God calls evil.

His protection does not mean we will never face suffering or opposition. It means those things cannot overturn His care or His saving purpose for us.

Today, I want to remember whose hands hold my life. The Lord reigns. He is holy. He is powerful.

And through Jesus Christ, I belong to Him.

If you have not trusted Jesus, come to Him today. You do not have to make yourself worthy first. Turn to Him, confess your sin, and trust Him to save you. The mighty God who reigns over the earth invites you to know Him. That changes everything. Through faith in Jesus, I have peace with the mighty God described in Psalm 97. I can rejoice in Him, trust His care, and learn to turn away from the evil He hates.

Reflection

Is there anything I am holding on to that God is calling me to turn away from? Am I trusting my own goodness, or Jesus Christ, to make me right with God?

Prayer

Lord, You reign over all the earth. Nothing is greater than Your power, and nothing is hidden from Your sight. Yet You care for Your people and preserve their souls. Forgive me for the times I have asked for Your help while holding on to what displeases You. I cannot make myself righteous. Thank You for Jesus Christ, who died for my sins and rose again. Teach me to love You and hate evil. Change my heart, guide my choices, and help me trust Your care even when life is difficult. Let me rejoice in You because, through Jesus, I belong to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.