Psalms 96

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

2 Sing to the Lord and praise his name; every day tell how he saves us.

3 Tell the nations of his glory; tell all peoples the miracles he does,

4 because the Lord is great; he should be praised at all times. He should be honored more than all the gods,

5 because all the gods of the nations are only idols, but the Lord made the heavens.

6 The Lord has glory and majesty; he has power and beauty in his Temple.

7 Praise the Lord, all nations on earth; praise the Lord's glory and power.

8 Praise the glory of the Lord's name. Bring an offering and come into his Temple courtyards.

9 Worship the Lord because he is holy. Tremble before him, everyone on earth.

10 Tell the nations, "The Lord is king." The earth is set, and it cannot be moved. He will judge the people fairly.

11 Let the skies rejoice and the earth be glad; let the sea and everything in it shout.

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

13 before the Lord, because he is coming. He is coming to judge the world; he will judge the world with fairness and the peoples with 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\\