Psalms 96

1 Sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth!

2 Sing to the LORD! Praise his name! Day after day announce that the LORD saves his people.

3 Tell people about his glory. Tell all the nations about his miracles.

4 The LORD is great! He should be highly praised. He should be feared more than all [other] gods

5 because all the gods of the nations are idols. The LORD made the heavens.

6 Splendor and majesty are in his presence. Strength and beauty are in his holy place.

7 Give to the LORD, you families of the nations. Give to the LORD glory and power.

8 Give to the LORD the glory he deserves. Bring an offering, and come into his courtyards.

9 Worship the LORD in [his] holy splendor. Tremble in his presence, all the earth!

10 Say to the nations, "The LORD rules as king!" The earth stands firm; it cannot be moved. He will judge people fairly.

11 Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad. Let the sea and everything in it roar like thunder.

12 Let the fields and everything in them rejoice. Then all the trees in the forest will sing joyfully

13 in the LORD's presence because he is coming. He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and its people with his truth.

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.

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\\