Original scientific paper

God's Lordship in the Psalm 97

Mislav Kovačić ; University Centre for Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Božo Lujić ; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Pondering into the reality of the kingdom of God as depicted throughout the Old Testament, this paper deals with its concrete outlines displayed in the Psalm 97. This psalm, forming a part of the so-called »royal psalms«, unfolds patterns of prayer and cult that proclaim and praise God's universal lordship. As for style and vocabulary of our psalm, parallels can be drawn to the monarchies of the Ancient East, although one fundamental difference arises - God's Lorsdhip shall endure forever (cf. 2 Sam 7:16), for the king is no finite earthly ruler, but God himself.
All essential aspects of God's Lordship are well noticeable throughout the text. Having been composed after the Babylonian captivity, and being directly influenced by Second Isaiah, this psalm is significantly permeated with universalism, which notwithstanding does not infringe on the continuity of revelation, whether in terms of content or its articulation. An outstanding example of this conformity is the theophany which, chronologically speaking, precedes to the rest of the psalm, although is well fitted into the message of the whole world rejoicing upon God's enthronization. God, coming down to the earth with fire going before him, is the one and the same God who encourages gladness, faithfully takes care of His people, enabling them to participate operatively in His Lordship, ruled by the righteousness and justice, which leads to all-cosmical praise.
After having sketched the broader context of the psalm, its topic in general, as well as its structural arrangement, the paper examines the text, verse by verse, calling particular attention to the passages that are more closely tied to the subject. As a conclusion, eight theses are proposed, which in concise manner sum up important aspects of God's lordship.

Keywords

God's lordship; theophany; righteousness; justice; worship; rejoicing; God's sovereignty; love towards the good; universalism; Covenant

Hrčak ID:

63019

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/63019

Publication date:

30.12.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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