Psalms 96:5-13

5 All of the gods of the nations are like their statues. They can't do anything. But the LORD made the heavens.

6 Glory and majesty are all around him. Strength and glory can be seen in his temple.

7 Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise the LORD for his glory and strength.

8 Praise the LORD for the glory that belongs to him. Bring an offering and come into the courtyards of his temple.

9 Worship the LORD because of his beauty and holiness. All you people of the earth, tremble when you are with him.

10 Say to the nations, "The LORD rules." The world is firmly set in place. It can't be moved. The LORD will judge the people of the world fairly.

11 Let the heavens be full of joy. Let the earth be glad. Let the ocean and everything in it roar.

12 Let the fields and everything in them be glad. Then all of the trees in the forest will sing with joy.

13 They will sing to the Lord, because he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the people of the world in keeping with what is right and true.

Psalms 96:5-13 Meaning and Commentary

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\\