Psalm 96 — Sing a New Song
Introduction: The message of this Psalm is even more precious today because Christ has fully opened the way of salvation to people of all nations. Psalm 96 is very close in wording to verses 23–33 in chapter 16 of 1 Chronicles, but it has been separated from the rest of that celebration passage that has the full Psalm King David gave to Asaph and his brothers when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem. The original wilderness tabernacle remained at Gibeon with the altar of sacrifice, but a transition began when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the city named for “teaching of peace” and placed into a tent David had pitched for it.
NOTE: All scripture passages are taken from the World English Bible.
A — Sing a New Song
Psalm 96 “1 Sing to Yahweh a new song! Sing to Yahweh, all the earth. 2 Sing to Yahweh! Bless his name! Proclaim his salvation from day to day! 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous works among all the peoples. 4 For great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! He is to be feared above all gods.”
Comments: It was indeed time to sing a new song, and to spread the joy of knowing the one true God, a privilege to be made available to all people groups of the earth. Though the nation of Israel was the chosen possession of God, through Abraham the LORD had promised blessing to be available to all nations. Genesis 22:18 “In your seed will all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” Centuries later another prophet of God wrote of greatly expanded hope yet to come. Isaiah 49:6 “I will also give you for a light to the nations, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.”
B — Other Gods Are Idols; Yahweh Made the Heavens
Psalm 96 “5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but Yahweh made the heavens. 6 Honour and majesty are before him. Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to Yahweh, you families of nations, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come into his courts.”
Comments: There is no better starting for our worship and praise of the Lord than to acknowledge that he is the creator, as affirmed in the Old and the New Testament. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” John 1:1–3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him.” This Psalm urges all “families of nations” to give glory and honor to the Lord God and even to come into his courts with an offering. Isaiah 42:8 “I am Yahweh. That is my name. I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to engraved images.”
C — Tremble Before Him All the Earth
Psalm 96 “9 Worship Yahweh in holy array. Tremble before him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations, ‘Yahweh reigns.’ The world is also established. It can’t be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity.”
Comments: The words of the Psalm are truly inspired by the Holy Spirit speaking of undeniable truth about an all powerful God. This same spiritual truth is evidenced in similar wording in some other Psalms of book four. Psalm 93:1 “Yahweh reigns! He is clothed with majesty!” Psalm 97:1 “Yahweh reigns! Let the earth rejoice!” Centuries later the truth in this Psalm that the LORD reigns was recorded again by Jeremiah: “But Yahweh is the true God; he is the living God, and an everlasting King.” The LORD God still reigns!
D — Let the Heavens Be Glad and the Earth Rejoice
Psalm 96 “11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar, and its fulness! 12 Let the field and all that is in it exult! Then all the trees of the woods shall sing for joy 13 before Yahweh; for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, the peoples with his truth.”
Comments: Hannah gave an inspired praise prayer when she took her son Samuel to be dedicated to serve the Lord with Eli the priest, and it speaks of the judgment of the LORD. 1 Samuel 2:10 “Those who strive with Yahweh shall be broken to pieces. He will thunder against them in the sky. Yahweh will judge the ends of the earth.” Jesus came into the world in flesh to bring the light of truth, with the final judgment yet to come. John 12:47 “If anyone listens to my sayings, and doesn’t believe, I don’t judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” We are to live by the light we have been given, and passages such as Psalm 96 give us inspired writing that we can use in confidence to bring praise to our Lord and Savior as we leave the details to our completely trustworthy God.
Reflections in Prayer
I thank you Lord that you indeed put a new song into my heart when I accepted your gift of salvation. The thoughts that flow through my mind from your word about all your marvelous works throughout creation, and especially in your love toward me, are far beyond comparison to other reasons to sing. You are greatly to be praised as the only true God whose name should be honored and feared around the world. All other gods are the idols of men’s minds, but you are the creator of heaven and earth. In your sanctuary are both strength and beauty, and all the families of nations should come to recognize the honor and majesty that attend you, and thereby ascribe to you the glory due your name. Your invitation is open for those who will come, to bring an offering and come into your courts. And may all who come, worship you Lord in your holy splendor, knowing that all the earth must tremble before you. May it be said among all nations that the LORD reigns, and as the earth is established, so shall he judge the people with equity. May I hold that sense of joyful anticipation of when the heavens will be glad and the earth will rejoice as the creation celebrates before the LORD as you come to judge the world with righteousness, the nations with your truth. Amen.
Published 1 February 2013