Psalms 97:12
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Psalms 97:12
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse calls us to "give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness," suggesting that remembering God's purity and moral perfection is itself a cause for thankfulness. This isn't just about God being holy, but about the fact that this holy God is the one we can remember and call upon.
This psalm celebrates God's powerful and righteous reign, declaring He is King over all the earth, bringing judgment and light. Following descriptions of God's majestic appearance and the awe it inspires, the text concludes by directly addressing the righteous. It calls them to express their joy and gratitude for God's character and His actions on their behalf, especially His holiness which underpins His rule and promises.
Why are the righteous called to rejoice? It's not just a suggestion; it's a declaration of their unique status and access.
Psalm 97:12 calls the righteous to 'rejoice in the Lord.' This isn't just about feeling happy; it's an active, intentional response to who God is and what He has done.
A Divine Invitation
This isn't a command for everyone, but specifically for the 'righteous.' This points to a community set apart, those who have been declared right with God, often through faith and repentance. Their joy is rooted in their relationship with Him.
The Source of True Joy
Unlike fleeting worldly pleasures, rejoicing 'in the Lord' means finding contentment and exhilaration in God Himself – His character, His presence, His salvation. Other joys are temporary, but joy in the Lord is an enduring wellspring.
We're told to give thanks 'at the remembrance of his holiness.' What's so special about God's holiness that it prompts such deep gratitude?
The second part of the verse exhorts, 'and give thanks to his holy name!' This Thanksgiving is specifically tied to remembering God's holiness.
God's Holy Name
God's 'holy name' represents His entire being – His character, His attributes, His actions. To remember His holiness is to call to mind His perfect purity, His absolute separation from sin, and His righteous nature.
Why Holiness Inspires Thanks
Understand the original words
samach · Hebrew Verb
A command to express extreme gladness and celebration. Biblically, it is not merely an emotion but an active response to God's character, His mighty works, and the victory He has secured for His people.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel. It signifies His eternal existence, His faithfulness to His covenant promises, and His redemptive relationship with His people.
yadah · Hebrew Verb
An act of worship expressing gratitude for God’s character, actions, and benefits. It is a fundamental duty of the believer to acknowledge God as the source of all grace and to vocalize appreciation for His saving works.
qodesh · Hebrew Noun
This passage echoes Psalm 97:12 by directly commanding believers to 'rejoice in the Lord always' and reiterating the call to joy in God.
Psalm 30:4This verse shares the theme of giving thanks to God's name, specifically 'give thanks at the remembrance of his holy name,' which strongly parallels the call in Psalm 97:12 to give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.
1 Chronicles 16:10This verse calls believers to 'glory in his holy name' and to 'rejoice in the LORD,' mirroring the exhortation and sentiment found in Psalm 97:12.
Isaiah 61:10This prophetic passage expresses a similar sentiment of rejoicing and being clothed in God's salvation and righteousness, resonating with the commanded joy and thanks in Psalm 97:12.
pulpitPsalms 97:12: "Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness."
Verse 12. - Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous. Such being the blessedness of the righteous, they are finally exhorted to "rejoice in the Lord," i.e. to show forth their gratitude to God in psalms and hymns of joy (comp. Psalm 32:11; Psalm 33:1-3), and to give thanks to him at the remembrance of his holiness; or rather, to give thanks to his holy memorial, which is the same as giving thanks to…
clarkePsalms 97:12: "Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness."
Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous - It is your privilege to be happy. Exult in him through whom ye have received the atonement. Rejoice; but let it be in the Lord. All other joy is the mirth of fools, which is as the crackling of thorns under a pot - it is a luminous blaze for a moment, and leaves nothing but smoke and ashes behind. At the remembrance of his holiness - But why should you give…
The verse calls us to "give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness," suggesting that remembering God's purity and moral perfection is itself a cause for thankfulness. This isn't just about God being holy, but about the fact that this holy God is the one we can remember and call upon.
This psalm celebrates God's powerful and righteous reign, declaring He is King over all the earth, bringing judgment and light. Following descriptions of God's majestic appearance and the awe it inspires, the text concludes by directly addressing the righteous. It calls them to express their joy and gratitude for God's character and His actions on their behalf, especially His holiness which underpins His rule and promises.
This psalm celebrates God's powerful and righteous reign, declaring He is King over all the earth, bringing judgment and light. Following descriptions of God's majestic appearance and the awe it inspires, the text concludes by directly addressing the righteous. It calls them to express their joy and gratitude for God's character and His actions on their behalf, especially His holiness which underpins His rule and promises.
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Refers to God's absolute moral purity, set-apartness, and distinctness from all creation. His name represents the entirety of His revealed character, which demands awe, reverence, and worship from those who know Him.
"Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!" — The verse calls us to "give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness," suggesting that remembering God's purity and moral perfection is itself a cause for thankfulness. This isn't just about God *be…