Psalm 96
BSB
Sing to the LORD, All the Earth
(1 Chronicles 16:23–36)
1Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
proclaim His salvation day after day.
3Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all peoples.
4For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
5For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but it is the LORD who made the heavens.
6Splendor and majesty are before Him;
strength and beauty fill His sanctuary.
7Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the nations,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
8Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name;
bring an offering and enter His courts.
9Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness;
tremble before Him, all the earth.
10Declare among the nations: “The LORD reigns!”
The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved;
He will judge the peoples with equity.
11Let the heavens be glad
and the earth rejoice;
let the sea resound,
and all that fills it.
12Let the fields exult,
and all that is in them.
Then all the trees of the forest
will sing for joy 13before the LORD,
for He is coming—
He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in His faithfulness.
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