Psalms 96

A Call to Worship the LORD the Righteous Judge.

1 ¹Sing to the LORD a ²new song; Sing to the LORD, all the earth.

2 Sing to the LORD, bless His name; ³Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.

3 Tell of ⁴His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

4 For ⁵great is the LORD and ⁶greatly to be praised; He is to be ⁷feared ⁸above all gods.

5 For ⁹all the gods of the peoples are idols, But ¹⁰the LORD made the heavens.

6 ¹¹Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to the LORD, O ¹²families of the peoples, ¹³Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

8 Ascribe to the LORD the ¹⁴glory of His name; Bring an ¹⁵offering and come into His courts.

9 ¹⁶Worship the LORD in holy attire; ¹⁷Tremble before * Him, all the earth.

10 Say among the nations, "¹⁸The LORD reigns; Indeed, the ¹⁹world is firmly established, it will not be moved; He will ²⁰judge the peoples with equity."

11 Let the ²¹heavens be glad, and let the ²²earth rejoice; Let ²³the sea roar, and all it contains;

12 Let the ²⁴field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the ²⁵trees of the forest will sing for joy

13 Before the LORD, ²⁶for He is coming, For He is coming to judge the earth. ²⁷He 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. 1 Chronicles 16:23-33
• 2. Psalms 40:3
• 3. Psalms 71:15
• 4. Psalms 145:12
• 5. Psalms 48:1; Psalms 145:3
• 6. Psalms 18:3
• 7. Psalms 89:7
• 8. Psalms 95:3
• 9. 1 Chronicles 16:26; Jeremiah 10:11
• 10. Psalms 115:15; Isaiah 42:5
• 11. Psalms 104:1
• 12. Psalms 22:27
• 13. 1 Chronicles 16:28, 29; Psalms 29:1, 2
• 14. Psalms 79:9; Psalms 115:1
• 15. Psalms 45:12; Psalms 72:10
• 16. 1 Chronicles 16:29; 2 Chronicles 20:21; Psalms 29:2; Psalms 110:3
• 17. Psalms 33:8; Psalms 114:7
• 18. Psalms 93:1; Psalms 97:1
• 19. Psalms 93:1; Psalms 97:1
• 20. Psalms 9:8; Psalms 58:11; Psalms 67:4; Psalms 98:9
• 21. Psalms 69:34; Isaiah 49:13
• 22. Psalms 97:1
• 23. Psalms 98:7
• 24. Psalms 65:13; Isaiah 35:1; Isaiah 55:12, 13
• 25. Isaiah 44:23
• 26. Psalms 98:9
• 27. Revelation 19:11

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "non-existent things"
• [b]. Lit "Give"
• [c]. Lit "Give"
• [d]. Lit "Give"
• [e]. Or "meal offering"
• [f]. Or "the splendor of holiness"
• [g]. Or "uprightness"
• [h]. Or "thunder"
• [i]. Lit "its fullness"

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\\