Psalm 96

1 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.

2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name: proclaim his salvation from day to day.

3 Publish his glory among the Gentiles, his wonderful works among all people.

4 For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is terrible above all gods.

5 For all the gods of the heathen are devils: but the Lord made the heavens.

6 Thanksgiving and beauty are before him: holiness and majesty are in his sanctuary.

7 Bring to the Lord, ye families of the Gentiles, bring to the Lord glory and honour.

8 Bring to the Lord the glory becoming his name: take offerings, and go into his courts.

9 Worship the Lord in his holy court: let all the earth tremble before him.

10 Say among the heathen, The Lord reigns: for he has established the world so that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people in righteousness.

11 Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth exult; let the sea be moved, and the fullness of it.

12 The plains shall rejoice, and all things in them: then shall all the trees of the wood exult before the presence of the Lord:

13 for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth; he shall judge the world in righteousness, and the people with his truth.

Psalm 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\\