Psalms 96

1 ¹Oh sing to the LORD ²a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!

2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name; ³tell of his salvation from day to day.

3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!

4 For ⁴great is the LORD, and ⁵greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above ⁶all gods.

5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD ⁷ made the heavens.

6 Splendor and majesty are before him; ⁸strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to the LORD, O ⁹families of the peoples, ¹⁰ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!

8 Ascribe to the LORD ¹¹the glory due his name; bring ¹²an offering, and ¹³come into his courts!

9 Worship the LORD in ¹⁴the splendor of holiness;^{[a] 15}tremble before him, all the earth!

10 Say among the nations, ¹⁶"The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will ¹⁷judge the peoples with equity."

11 Let ¹⁸the heavens be glad, and let ¹⁹the earth rejoice; let ²⁰the sea roar, and all that fills it;

12 let ²¹the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all ²²the trees of the forest sing for joy

13 before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes ²³to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Psalms 96 Commentary

Chapter 96

A call to all people to praise God. (1-9) God's government and judgment. (10-13)

Verses 1-9 When Christ finished his work on earth, and was received into his glory in heaven, the church began to sing a new song unto him, and to bless his name. His apostles and evangelists showed forth his salvation among the heathen, his wonders among all people. All the earth is here summoned to worship the Lord. We must worship him in the beauty of holiness, as God in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself. Glorious things are said of him, both as motives to praise and matter of praise.

Verses 10-13 We are to hope and pray for that time, when Christ shall reign in righteousness over all nations. He shall rule in the hearts of men, by the power of truth, and the Spirit of righteousness. His coming draws nigh; this King, this Judge standeth before the door, but he is not yet come. The Lord will accept the praises of all who seek to promote the kingdom of Christ. The sea can but roar, and how the trees of the wood can show that they rejoice we know not; but He that searches the heart knows what is the mind of the Spirit, and understands the words, the broken language of the weakest. Christ will come to judge the earth, to execute just vengeance on his enemies, and to fulfil his largest promises to his people. What then are we? Would that day be welcome to us? If this be not our case, let us now begin to prepare to meet our God, by seeking the pardon of our sins, and the renewal of our souls to holiness.

Cross References

• 1. For ver. 1-13, see 1 Chronicles 16:23-33
• 2. Psalms 98:1; See Psalms 33:3
• 3. [Isaiah 52:7; Isaiah 60:6]
• 4. See Psalms 48:1
• 5. Psalms 18:3
• 6. See Psalms 95:3
• 7. Psalms 115:15; Isaiah 42:5; Isaiah 44:24; Jeremiah 10:12
• 8. [Psalms 78:61]
• 9. Psalms 22:27
• 10. See Psalms 29:1
• 11. Psalms 29:2
• 12. [Psalms 45:12]; See Psalms 68:29; Psalms 72:10
• 13. Psalms 100:4
• 14. See Psalms 29:2
• 15. Psalms 114:7
• 16. See Psalms 93:1
• 17. ver. 13; See Psalms 9:8; Psalms 58:11
• 18. See Psalms 69:34
• 19. Psalms 97:1
• 20. Psalms 98:7
• 21. [Isaiah 35:1]
• 22. [Isaiah 55:12]
• 23. See Isaiah 11:1-9

Footnotes

• [a]. Or in holy attire

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 96

This psalm was written by David, as appears from 1Ch 16:7,23 to whom it is ascribed by the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions. This and part of Psalm 105 were first composed and sung at the bringing of the ark from the house of Obededom to the city of David; and here it is detached from that with a new introduction to it, and applied to the times and kingdom of the Messiah, and; with great propriety, since the ark was an eminent type of him. The inscription in the Syriac version is,

``a Psalm of David, a Prophecy of the coming of the Messiah, and of the calling of the Gentiles that believe in him:''

and very rightly, since express mention is made of them in it, and of the publication of the Gospel among them; and clear reference is had to Christ, who is the Jehovah all along spoken of Jarchi well observes, that wherever a "new song" is mentioned, it is to be understood of future time, or the times of the Messiah; and the end of the psalm shows it,

\\he cometh to judge\\