Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 96

Psalm 96 is a great psalm of worship and praise to our God. It looks forward to the day when Jesus will return and will reign over all the earth. In this psalm are no small number of verbs that instruct us on how we are to live as His bride, awaiting the day of the marriage of His Church to its betrothed, King Jesus.

Psalm 96:1-3
Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!  Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.  Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!

We are to sing to the Lord. We are to bless Him. We are to declare His glory to all the world.

Psalm 96:4-6
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.  For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens.  Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

All the gods of the peoples are worthless idols. This not only includes the gods of other religions, such as Buddha, it includes the gods of modern man, such as money, sex, and power. But great is our God, who is to be greatly praised and feared above all others.

Psalm 96:7-9
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!

Ascribe, bring offerings, come into His courts, and worship and tremble before Him.

Psalm 96:10
Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.”

Say among the nations that our Lord reigns. Tell the world that God has established it and it shall not be moved. When Christ returns, we will finally see true justice.

Psalm 96:11-13
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;  let

the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy  before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Be glad and rejoice. Jesus is coming back. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness. This is good news. We must sing to our God. We must so loud that the whole earth sees the folly of following false idols and turns in joyful faith to Jesus. Then, and only then, will we have justice.