O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.
Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.
Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength.
Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
Psalms 96 is a powerful hymn calling all the earth to worship the Lord, recognizing His sovereignty and anticipating His righteous reign. It's categorized as one of the "enthronement" psalms, a group that includes Psalms 24, 27, 93, 95, and 97-99, all celebrating God's supreme kingship. This psalm invites us to acknowledge God’s glory, power, and holiness, not just within the walls of a temple, but throughout the entire world.
Context and Background
The historical context of Psalms 96 is rich and multifaceted. 1 Chronicles 16:23-33 records a version of this psalm being sung during David's celebration of the Ark of the Covenant's return to Jerusalem. The psalm may also have been used during the dedication of the Second Temple after the return from Babylonian exile (Ezra 2:1; 6:15-16). The Greek translation of the Old Testament includes a subtitle suggesting a post-exile setting, "When the house was built after the Captivity, a Song of David." Regardless of its precise origin, the message of universal worship and God's reign resonates across different periods of Israelite history.
More importantly, Psalms 96 looks forward to the ultimate fulfillment of God's kingdom in Jesus Christ. It anticipates a time when all nations will worship Him, a theme echoed in the New Testament.
A Call to Worldwide Praise (96:1-3)
The psalm opens with an urgent call to sing a "new song" to the Lord (Psalms 96:1). This isn't just about singing any song, but a fresh expression of praise that reflects a renewed understanding of God's greatness. This call isn't limited to Israel; it extends to the "whole earth." The psalmist urges believers to proclaim His salvation and glorious deeds "day after day" (Psalms 96:2), sharing His wonders among all peoples (Psalms 96:3). This worship should acknowledge the glory due to God alone, a glory that should be recognized by every nation.
The Uniqueness of the Lord (96:4-6)
The reason for this universal call to worship is clear: "For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods" (Psalms 96:4). The psalmist emphasizes the incomparable nature of the Lord. The "gods of the nations are all idols," (Psalms 96:5) emphasizing the emptiness and worthlessness of false deities created by human imagination. In stark contrast, the Lord is the Creator, the source of all that is. "Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary" (Psalms 96:6). While false gods reveal nothing but their inadequacy, God reveals His power and beauty in His dwelling place.
Ascribing Glory to God (96:7-9)
The call to worship intensifies as the psalmist exhorts "families of nations" to "ascribe to the LORD glory and strength" (Psalms 96:7). To "ascribe" means to acknowledge and attribute something to someone. In this context, it means recognizing and celebrating God's inherent glory, power, holiness, and magnificence. Bring an offering and come into his courts! (Psalms 96:8). Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! (Psalms 96:9). This is a reminder that God is not only the God of Israel but also the God of the Gentiles. He calls the whole earth to tremble before Him. One day, every person will bow to Jesus Christ and confess that He is Lord to the glory of God (Philippians 2:10-11).
The Lord Reigns (96:10-13)
The psalm culminates in a declaration of God's reign: "Declare among the nations, 'The LORD reigns!'" (Psalms 96:10). This isn't just a statement of fact; it's a proclamation of hope and a call to action. The Lord's reign signifies justice, righteousness, and the restoration of all things. The earth will be firmly established, and He will judge the peoples with equity. This truth should inspire joy and celebration throughout creation. "Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Let all the trees of the forest sing for joy; let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with his truth" (Psalms 96:11-13).
This passage anticipates the future reign of Christ, when He will establish His kingdom and make all things right. Just as the psalmist lived in expectation of the coming of the King, so believers today should do the same. May His return motivate our conduct, and may we live in expectation of His intervention in our lives. When Christ establishes His kingdom, all will be made right. He is coming to judge the earth with righteousness.
O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.
Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.
Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength.
Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
Psalms 96 is a powerful hymn calling all the earth to worship the Lord, recognizing His sovereignty and anticipating His righteous reign. It's categorized as one of the "enthronement" psalms, a group that includes Psalms 24, 27, 93, 95, and 97-99, all celebrating God's supreme kingship. This psalm invites us to acknowledge God’s glory, power, and holiness, not just within the walls of a temple, but throughout the entire world.
Context and Background
The historical context of Psalms 96 is rich and multifaceted. 1 Chronicles 16:23-33 records a version of this psalm being sung during David's celebration of the Ark of the Covenant's return to Jerusalem. The psalm may also have been used during the dedication of the Second Temple after the return from Babylonian exile (Ezra 2:1; 6:15-16). The Greek translation of the Old Testament includes a subtitle suggesting a post-exile setting, "When the house was built after the Captivity, a Song of David." Regardless of its precise origin, the message of universal worship and God's reign resonates across different periods of Israelite history.
More importantly, Psalms 96 looks forward to the ultimate fulfillment of God's kingdom in Jesus Christ. It anticipates a time when all nations will worship Him, a theme echoed in the New Testament.
A Call to Worldwide Praise (96:1-3)
The psalm opens with an urgent call to sing a "new song" to the Lord (Psalms 96:1). This isn't just about singing any song, but a fresh expression of praise that reflects a renewed understanding of God's greatness. This call isn't limited to Israel; it extends to the "whole earth." The psalmist urges believers to proclaim His salvation and glorious deeds "day after day" (Psalms 96:2), sharing His wonders among all peoples (Psalms 96:3). This worship should acknowledge the glory due to God alone, a glory that should be recognized by every nation.
The Uniqueness of the Lord (96:4-6)
The reason for this universal call to worship is clear: "For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods" (Psalms 96:4). The psalmist emphasizes the incomparable nature of the Lord. The "gods of the nations are all idols," (Psalms 96:5) emphasizing the emptiness and worthlessness of false deities created by human imagination. In stark contrast, the Lord is the Creator, the source of all that is. "Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary" (Psalms 96:6). While false gods reveal nothing but their inadequacy, God reveals His power and beauty in His dwelling place.
Ascribing Glory to God (96:7-9)
The call to worship intensifies as the psalmist exhorts "families of nations" to "ascribe to the LORD glory and strength" (Psalms 96:7). To "ascribe" means to acknowledge and attribute something to someone. In this context, it means recognizing and celebrating God's inherent glory, power, holiness, and magnificence. Bring an offering and come into his courts! (Psalms 96:8). Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! (Psalms 96:9). This is a reminder that God is not only the God of Israel but also the God of the Gentiles. He calls the whole earth to tremble before Him. One day, every person will bow to Jesus Christ and confess that He is Lord to the glory of God (Philippians 2:10-11).
The Lord Reigns (96:10-13)
The psalm culminates in a declaration of God's reign: "Declare among the nations, 'The LORD reigns!'" (Psalms 96:10). This isn't just a statement of fact; it's a proclamation of hope and a call to action. The Lord's reign signifies justice, righteousness, and the restoration of all things. The earth will be firmly established, and He will judge the peoples with equity. This truth should inspire joy and celebration throughout creation. "Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Let all the trees of the forest sing for joy; let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with his truth" (Psalms 96:11-13).
This passage anticipates the future reign of Christ, when He will establish His kingdom and make all things right. Just as the psalmist lived in expectation of the coming of the King, so believers today should do the same. May His return motivate our conduct, and may we live in expectation of His intervention in our lives. When Christ establishes His kingdom, all will be made right. He is coming to judge the earth with righteousness.