Psalm 96 New King James Version
All the inhabitants of the earth are invited to praise the
Lord, 1-3.
His supreme majesty, 3-6.
The tribes of Israel are invited to glorify him, 7-9;
and to proclaim him among the heathen, 10.
The heavens and the earth are commanded to rejoice in him,
11-13. (Clarke)
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This psalm is part of that which was delivered into the hand of Asaph and his brethren (1 Chr. 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 (v. 1-9).
II. Notice given to all people of God’s universal government and judgment, which ought to be the matter of universal joy (v. 10-13).
In singing this psalm we ought to have our hearts filled 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. (Henry)
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The psalm has no title in the Hebrew, and its authorship cannot with any certainty be determined. There is, however, a very marked similarity between this psalm and a portion of that which was composed and sung at the removal of the ark by David, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 16:0, and of which it is said 1 Chronicles 16:7, “Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the Lord, into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.” Of the original psalm, therefore, David was undoubtedly the author. Psalms 96:1-13 is merely an abridgment of that one, or more properly an extract from it, since it is essentially similar to one portion of it, and is taken from it with very slight variations, 1 Chronicles 16:23-33. But by whom the extract and the slight alterations were made, and on what occasion this was done, we have no certain means of ascertaining. The title in the Septuagint is, “When the house was built after the captivity. An ode by David.” The same is the title in the Latin Vulgate. According to this, it is supposed that on the dedication of the temple, when it was rebuilt after the Babylonian captivity, a portion of a psalm composed by David was selected and arranged for that purpose. (Barnes)
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This Psalm is evidently taken from that sacred song which was composed by David at the time when “the ark of God was set in the midst of the tent which David had prepared for it, and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God.” See the sixteenth chapter of the first book of the Chronicles. The former part of that sacred song was probably omitted in this place because it referred to Israel, and the design of the Holy Ghost in this psalm was to give forth a song for the Gentiles, a triumphant hymn wherewith to celebrate the conversion of the nations to Jehovah in gospel times. It follows fitly upon the last Psalm, which describes the obstinacy of Israel, and the consequent taking of the gospel from them that it might be preached among the nations who would receive it, and in due time be fully won to Christ by its power. It thus makes a pair with the Ninety-fifth Psalm. It is a grand MISSIONARY HYMN, and it is a wonder that Jews can read it and yet remain exclusive. If blindness in part had not happened unto Israel, they might have seen long ago, and would now see, that their God always had designs of love for all the families of men, and never intended that his grace and his covenant should relate only to the seed of Abraham after the flesh. We do not wonder that the large hearted David rejoiced and danced before the ark, while he saw in vision all the earth turning from idols to the one living and true God. Had Michal, Saul’s daughter, only been able to enter into his delight, she would not have reproached him, and if the Jews at this day could only be enlarged in heart to feel sympathy with all mankind, they also would sing for joy at the great prophecy that all the earth shall be fitted with the glory of the Lord. (Spurgeon)
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Below is the Psalm taken from the 1560 Geneva Bible and also the notations for it….Bill
PSAL. 96. 1560 Geneva Bible
1 An exhortation both to the Jewes and Gentiles to praise God for his mercie. And this specially ought to be referred to the kingdom of Christ. Ing “a” unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing unto the Lord, and praise his Name: declare his salvation from daie to daie.
3 Declare his glorie among all nations, and his wonders among all people.
4 For the Lord is “b” great and much to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the people are ^idols: but the Lord “c” made the heavens.
6 “d” Strength and glory are before him: power and beautie are in his Sanctuarie.
7 Give unto the Lord, ye families of the people: give unto the Lord glorie and “e” power.
8 Give unto the Lord the glorie of his Name: bring “f” an offering, and enter into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in the glorious Sanctuary: tremble before him all the earth.
10 Saie among the “g” nations, The Lord reigneth: surely the world shalbe stable, and not move, and he shal judge the people “h” in righteousness. 94
11 Let the heavens rejoyce, and let the earth be glad: let the sea roar, and all that therein is.
12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it: let all the “i” trees of the wood then rejoyce
13 Before the Lord, for he commeth, for he commeth to judge the earth: he wil judge the world with righteousness, and the people in his truth.
1 a The Prophet shows that the time shal come, that all nations shall have occasion to praise the Lord for the revealing of his Gospel. 4 b Seeing he will reveal himself to all nations contrary to their own expectation, they ought all to worship him contrary to their own imaginations, and only as he has appointed. 5 ^Or, vanities. 5 c Then the idols, or whatsoever made not the heavens, are not God. 6 d God cannot be known, but by his strength and glory: the signs whereof appear in his Sanctuary. 7 e As by experience you see that it is only due unto him. 8 f By offering up yourselves wholly unto God, declare that you worship him only. 10 g He prophesies that the Gentiles shall be partakers with the Jews of God’s promise. 10 h He shall regenerate them anew with his Spirit, and restore them to the image of God. 12 i If the insensible creatures shall have cause to rejoice, when God appears, much more we, from whom he has taken malediction and sin.
Posted on 10/26/2024 by Bill
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