This Psalm is another exercise of the heart of the Remnant anticipating the kingdom. It is as though they were even now bringing the First-begotten into the world the second time, or in His glory; not in His sufferings as at His first coming; and joyously they rehearse, in spirit, His discomfiture of all His foes.
But here again, as in Psalm 95:7-11, the Lord by His Prophet breaks in on all this joy with words of admonition (Psa. 97:10-12). He tells them that for the righteous all this light and glory is prepared; and warns them therefore to hate evil, and to cultivate tempers worthy of the coming kingdom.
Fire is to be the instrument of the divine judgments in this expected day of the Lord. The battle of the Lord is to be with burning and fuel of fire. (Isa. 9.) The throne of the Ancient of days is like the fiery flame, and a fiery stream comes forth before Him in the day of this judgment. (Dan. 7.) So in the vision of John, the Temple was filled with smoke, as the God of glory and power was preparing the vials of wrath (Rev. 15).
But Zion rejoices (Psa. 97:8). There will be tabrets and harps for the righteous then (Isa. 30:32). For though light and gladness are only then sown for them, and not as yet reaped by them, still they can sing, as we observed already—anticipations are so sure; for “faith is the substance of things hoped for.”