Psalm 96
1Sing to Yahweh a new song! Sing to Yahweh, all the earth. 2Sing to Yahweh! Bless his name! Proclaim his salvation from day to day! 3Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. 4For Yahweh is great, and greatly to be praised! He is to be feared above all gods. 5For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but Yahweh made the heavens. 6Honor and majesty are before him. Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7Ascribe to Yahweh, you families of nations, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength. 8Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come into his courts. 9Worship Yahweh in holy array. Tremble before him, all the earth. 10Say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns.” The world is also established. It can’t be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity. 11Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar, and its fullness! 12Let the field and all that is in it exult! Then all the trees of the woods shall sing for joy 13before Yahweh; for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, the peoples with his truth.
Introduction
Psalms 96
This psalm is part of that which was delivered into the hand of Asaph and his brethren (Ch1 16:7), by which it appears both that David was the penman of it and that it has reference to the bringing up of the ark to the city of David; whether that long psalm was made first, and this afterwards taken out of it, or this made first and afterwards borrowed to make up that, is not certain. But this is certain, that, though it was sung at the translation of the ark, it looks further, to the kingdom of Christ, and is designed to celebrate the glories of that kingdom, especially the accession of the Gentiles to it. Here is, I. A call given to all people to praise God, to worship him, and give glory to him, as a great and glorious God (Psa 96:1-9). II. Notice given to all people of God's universal government and judgment, which ought to be the matter of universal joy (Psa 96:10-13). In singing this psalm we ought to have our hearts filed with great and high thoughts of the glory of God and the grace of the gospel, and with an entire satisfaction in Christ's sovereign dominion and in the expectation of the judgment to come.
Cross-references: 1Chr 16:7 · Ps 96:1 · Ps 96:10