In his sermon on Psalms 96–99, Stephen Davey explains how these “Yahweh Malak” psalms—“The LORD reigns”—call believers to bold worship, confident witness, and joyful submission to the rule of God. Psalm 96 opens with an invitation to sing a new song and to “tell of His salvation,” using a Hebrew word linked with delivering victorious news. Davey compares believers to ancient messengers running to announce triumph—our message being the gospel of Jesus Christ, the true victory over sin and death. Psalm 97 expands this theme by proclaiming that the Lord’s reign extends to the farthest “coastlands,” and that His descending glory, fire, and lightning foreshadow His coming judgment. Yet even in judgment, God preserves the lives of His saints—His redeemed people—who rejoice in His righteousness. Psalm 98 celebrates the Lord’s saving work, repeating the word salvation three times to emphasize that God alone accomplished redemption and now offers it as a free gift, like a gift already paid for by Christ’s sacrifice. Psalm 99 looks forward to the millennial kingdom, when the Lord reigns from Zion as the holy King; the choir’s refrain—“Holy is He”—reverberates through the psalm. Davey concludes that Jesus is not only Savior but King: mighty in judgment, merciful in salvation, holy in character, and worthy of bold proclamation as we carry the good news of His rule into the world.
The Lord Reigns
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