The Book of Psalms

Psalm 96

Psalm XCVI · Vol. II, p. 1050

1 An exhortation to praise God, 4 for his greatness, 8 for his kingdom, 10 and to rejoice in his righteous government of the world.

Margin referencesNotes ↓

1 O sing^a unto the LORD a new song:¹ sing unto the LORD, all the earth.

a 1 Ch.16.23-33. Ps.33.3; 47.1; 66.1,4; 67.3,5; 68.32; 98.1; 100.1; 117.1.

1 See note * below.

* A new song—'famous, excellent.'—Gill. But new should rather be taken literally. For while some songs concerning the 'old things wax old, and are ready, like clouds, to vanish away;' other songs are concerning the 'new things' which God shall yet create, and, like the sun, are daily renewed, never 'wax old,' and can never be changed. See ver.2.—C.

2 Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; ^bshow forth his salvation from day to day.

b Ps.3.8. Is.45.17. Re.7.10; 5.9; 19.1.

3 Declare^c his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.

c Ps.72.18,19. Mar.16.15. Mat.28.19. Re.14.6.

4 For^d the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.

d Ex.18.11. Ps.18.3; 86.8; 135.3,5; 89.6-8. Je.10.10,16.

5 For ^eall the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

e Ps.115.3-8; 135.15-18. Is.40.18-20; 42.5; 44.8-20. Je.10.1-16. 1 Co.8.4-6.

6 Honour^g and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

g Ps.29.2,9; 104.1; 27.4; 93.1; 63.2.

7 Give^h unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

h Ps.29.1,2; 68.32,34. Re.5.9-13; 15.3,4. Lu.2.14. Jude 25.

8 Giveⁱ unto the LORD the glory due unto his name:² bring^j an offering, and come into his courts.

A.M. cir. 2959. B.C. cir. 1045.

i Re.5.9; 7.10,12; 14.7; 15.3,4.

2 Heb. of his name.

j Mal.1.11. Ro.12.1. He.13.15,16. 1 Pe.2.5.

9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness;³ fear before him, all the earth.

3 Or, in the glorious sanctuary, Ps.29.2; 110.3.

10 Say among the heathen that ^kthe LORD reigneth:⁴ the ^lworld also shall be established that it shall not be moved:⁵ he ⁿshall judge the people righteously.

k Ps.46.6,10; 93.1; 97.1; 99.1. Is.9.6,7. Je.23.5,6. Mat.28.18. Re.11.15; 19.6.

4 This declaration, with what follows concerning judgment, carries this psalm forward to the period described, Re.11.15.—C.

l Ps.72.3,7. Is.9.6,7; 66.12. Mi.5.5. Zec.9.10. He.2.5,9. Mat.16.18. Lu.2.14.

5 See note on Ps.93.1.—C.

n Ps.45.6; 98.9. Is.11.2-5; 32.1,10; 42.1. Jn.5.22.

11 Let^o the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.

o Ps.98.7-9; 69.34; 148.1-14. Re.12.12; 11.17; 15.3,4; 19.1-7.

12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein; then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice

13 Before the LORD: ^pfor he cometh,⁶ for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

p Is.7.14; 9.6; 11.1-5. Mat.10.23. Jn.16.8-11. Re.6.2,16,17; 19.2,11; 20.11-13.

6 The repetition of the words he cometh to judgment, according to scriptural custom, proves that it is nigh at hand, and carries us forward to the hour when 'he shall come the second time, without sin, to salvation.'—C.

Notes

Reflections.—Since to us Gentiles Jesus Christ and his word of salvation are now come, let us, in songs ever fresh, ever cordial, publish the glories of his grace, and the wonders of his redeeming mercy, power, holiness, and majesty. Let us acknowledge him as our saving Lord, present ourselves to him as living sacrifices, and in the pure ordinances of his grace worship him with pure hearts and in a reverent and holy manner. Let us rejoice that his kingdom has been, is, and will be established among the Gentiles on earth. Let us, with joy, hope for these latter days, in which Satan shall be bound, and all the kingdoms on earth subjected to the righteous and merciful government of our Redeemer. And let us, with more exalted joy, expect his coming in the clouds, with power and great glory, to judge, and finally decide the eternal state of men and angels.