Psalms 96

Ps 96 This psalm establishes the Lord’s universal kingship (see Ps 93) and prepares for the coming of the Lord to bring justice and righteousness into the world. The psalmist invites everyone to worship the Lord (96:1-3), the glorious Creator of all the earth (96:4-6), because worship is due to him alone (96:7-9). The universe joins in praise as the righteous Judge establishes a new order (96:10-13). • This psalm (along with 105:1-15; 106:1, 47-48) is included in David’s song of praise recorded in 1 Chr 16:1-43.96:1 Three psalms open with the exhortation to sing a new song (Pss 96, 98, 149); the song celebrates the Lord’s universal kingship (see 33:3).

96:4-6 The gods of the nations are as nothing before the glorious and majestic Creator of the earth.96:4 Great is the Lord! . . . most worthy of praise: With this refrain, the poet exalts the Lord over all the gods (95:3) and nations (99:2). He inspires awe more than anyone or anything else (76:7, 12; 89:7; 99:3; 111:9). He is beyond human possession or comprehension. The story of what he does to redeem his people causes them to praise him.

96:5 The Lord made the heavens, an even greater task than creating the earth. The idols, made by human hands (115:4), created nothing.

96:6 Honor and majesty: The Lord is glorious (96:6; 104:1; 148:13), and so are his works in nature (8:1) and in redemption (111:3; 145:5).

96:7 nations of the world (literally families of the nations): Families and clans represent subdivisions of the nations (see Gen 12:3). • The nations must respond to the Lord’s glory (Pss 8:1; 19:1-4; 24:7).

96:8 The courts of God’s sanctuary were usually off-limits to non-Jewish people. In this psalm the nations of the world—the non-Jews—are invited in (65:4; 84:2, 10; 100:4; 116:19; 135:2; Isa 1:12).

96:9 Worshipers should tremble in awe (96:4; see 18:7-15; 97:4) at the splendor of the Lord’s majesty and holiness (Heb 12:25).

96:10 The Lord’s coming means the end of injustice. He rules fairly (9:8; 96:13; 98:9) and inaugurates an era of harmony and order not experienced since Eden. • The Lord’s reign over the world is founded on the strong pillars of “righteousness and justice” (89:14), so it cannot be shaken (cp. 11:3).

96:11-13 The psalmist exhorts the created order to respond with joy to the news of the Lord’s coming. Cp. a similar theme in 98:7-9.

96:12 All of nature will experience renewal in God’s presence (65:13; 72:6, 16; Isa 44:23; 55:12; Rom 8:21-22).