Psalm 96 is a powerful composition in which its author alerts the peoples of the earth to give the Lord glorious praise, for he will surely come and judge all the nations of the earth with his truth. Jerusalem will be the prestigious place of the Lord's judgment where he will gather all the peoples of the earth and concentrate them around Jerusalem to execute judgment upon them. The psalmist tells us that all peoples must recognize that God reigns and will judge the peoples in righteousness. Before God who is coming, his coming will be to judge the earth and he will judge the world with justice and the nations with his truth. Time is running out and the glory of God must be proclaimed among the nations to announce his salvation from day to day. God is great and worthy of supreme praise, therefore, the command that God gives us is precisely to sing to Him a new song, in which His name will go throughout the whole earth. The author of Psalm 96 wrote:
Sing to the LORD a new song;
Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
Proclaim his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
Among all peoples his wondrous works.
4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols;
But the LORD made the heavens.
6 Praise and majesty before him;
power and glory in his sanctuary.
7 O ye families of the peoples, pay tribute unto the LORD,
Give to the LORD glory and power.
8 Give unto the LORD the honor due unto his name;
Bring offerings, and come into his courts.
9 Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness;
Fear before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, The LORD reigns.
The world also he hath affirmed, he shall not be moved;
He shall judge the peoples in righteousness.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
12 Let the field rejoice, and all that is therein;
Then shall all the trees of the forest rejoice,
13 Before the LORD that is come;
For he is come to judge the earth.
He shall judge the world with righteousness,
And the peoples with his truth. Reina-Valera 1960 (RVR1960).
Imagen source
While it is true that praise is like a perfume that is poured in the presence of God, it is also true that it is a fragrant offering that covers the throne of grace and makes the eternal God walk in the midst of the people who praise him. The psalmist motivates us to sing to God new songs, with creative fragrance that comes with sincerity from the depths of the heart. All the earth without exception is called to sing before God. The inhabitants of the nations should bless the name of the Lord and announce the great salvation that He has given us through His Son Jesus Christ. The glory of God must be proclaimed among all peoples with His mighty wonders.
Sing to the Lord a new song;
Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
Proclaim his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
His wondrous works among all peoples. Psalm 96: 1-3
Imagen source
The majesty of God's greatness makes him worthy of supreme praise, and worthless gods have no meaning before the majesty of the great King of all the earth. The gods of the peoples are idols, worthless, but the eternal God has made the glory of the heavens. Let us praise God for his magnificence, power and glory before his sanctuary. The psalmist expresses the great difference between the majesty of God and the vanity of idols.
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
Fearful above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols;
But the LORD made the heavens.
6 Praise and majesty before him;
Power and glory in his sanctuary. Psalm 96: 4-6
Imagen source
Psalm 96 motivates us to give God sincere praise for his glory and power. The greatness of God's omnipotence allowed the glory that envelops the heavens, the earth and the sea. God is worthy of all honor and we should present ourselves before him with offerings and praise, exalting the beauty of his holiness and the holy fear that we should have before him. The psalmist was inspired by saying:
Give glory to the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people,
Give to the LORD glory and power.
8 Give unto the LORD the honor due unto his name;
Bring offerings, and come into his courts.
9 Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness;
Fear before him, all the earth. Psalm 96: 7-9
Imagen source
The author of Psalm 96 culminates his composition, alerting the peoples of the earth to be prepared because the coming of the Lord will be in conformity with the establishment of his righteousness over all the nations of the earth, which must declare that Jehovah alone is the one who reigns. The coming of the Lord will be a cause of joy and gladness to the peoples who in truth and holiness await him. God will judge the peoples in righteousness. The seas shall roar with joy, and the fields shall rejoice, and the trees of the forest shall be glad, because his righteousness shall be before God, wherewith he shall judge the world and the peoples in truth.
Say among the nations: Jehovah reigns.
He has also affirmed the world, he will not be shaken;
He will judge the peoples in righteousness.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
12 Let the field rejoice, and all that is therein;
Then shall all the trees of the forest rejoice,
13 Before the LORD that is come;
For he is come to judge the earth.
He shall judge the world with righteousness,
And the peoples with his truth. Psalm 96: 10-13
Imagen source
Another beautiful word about the awesomeness of God. The book of psalm is sure a motivation to us and a call to everyone to praise God for His grace will be poured out on those who praise Him wholeheartedly. Thanks for the reminder again.
Thank you my sister for your valuable and important comments. Happy afternoon.
Interesting message. Blessings.
Thanks for reading and commenting. Happy afternoon.