96
📚Oh sing to the LORDa new song!
Sing to the LORD,
all the earth!
96:1 Most of the words of this psalm are included in a larger one recorded in 1 Chronicles chapter 16. A new song indicates a new thing that God has done or will do. This psalm is addressed to “all the earth”, so this new work of God is related to the world at large and not just to the nation Israel.⚜
2 📚Sing to the LORD, praise
his name,
speak forth his salvation
from day to day.
96:2 The first reason for this new song is this: God’s salvation is made available to all the world. This looks forward to a time future to David’s day. For this salvation surely means the salvation the Lord Jesus provided by His death on the cross and which He told His disciples to preach in all the world (Matt 28:19; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47-48).⚜
3 📚Declare his glory among
the nations,
his wonders among all peoples.
96:3 See Ps 145:10-12; John 1:14; Acts 3:13; 2 Cor 3:7-11; 4:6. The glory of God is revealed in Christ and in Him God performed the wonderful deeds of reconciliation, resurrection, and the ascension. These wonders are now being declared among all nations.⚜
4 📚For the LORD is great,
and greatly to be praised.
He is to be feared above
all gods.
5 📚For all the gods of the nations
are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
96:5 One immense difference between the LORD (Jehovah) God and all others called gods is just this: He is the mighty Creator, they are idols created by men and without power. See Ps 115:4-11.⚜
6 📚Honour and majesty
are before him.
Strength and beauty are
in his sanctuary.
7 📚Ascribe to the LORD,
O you families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory
and strength.
8 📚Ascribe to the LORD the glory
due to his name.
Bring an offering and come
into his courts.
96:7-8 He is saying that all peoples of earth should cast their idols to the winds and ascribe glory to the only One worthy of it.⚜
9 📚Oh, worship the LORD
in the beauty of holiness!
Tremble 📖 before him,
all the earth.
96:9 See Ps 29:2. Holiness is beautiful. Sin is ugly.⚜
10 📚Say among the nations
that the LORD reigns.
The world also is established so
that it will not be moved.
He will judge the people righteously.
11 📚Let the heavens rejoice,
and let the earth be glad.
Let the sea, and its fulness,
roar.
12 📚Let the field be joyful,
and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the woods
will rejoice
13 📚Before the LORD.
For he comes, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world
with righteousness,
and the people with his truth.
96:10-13 Here is another reason for the new song he urges the nations to sing – the judgment of God and His just rule over all the earth. This is a prophecy to be fulfilled at the second coming of Christ (Isa 2:1-4; 11:1-10). Then creation itself will be released from bondage and shout for joy (Rom 8:19-22). Observe that the coming of the LORD (Jehovah) in the Old Testament is the coming of the Lord Jesus in the New Testament. That is, Jesus is the incarnation of Jehovah. See also Ps 23:1; 24:7-10; Gen 16:7; Ex 3:14; Isa 6:1; Zech 12:10. The following three psalms are on this same theme – the coming of Jehovah to rule as King over the whole earth.⚜