Psalms 96 Study Notes: A New Song for All Nations
All the earth is called to praise the LORD and tell the nations of His salvation and glory, for the other peoples' gods are mere idols while He made the heavens. The nations are invited to worship Him, and all creation rejoices because He is on His way to rule the world as its just Judge.
General
According to 96:11-13, why are the heavens, earth, sea, fields, and trees called to rejoice?
Answer: The LORD is coming to set the world right as its Judge
The psalm ends by calling all creation to celebrate: the heavens and earth, the sea and its creatures, the fields, and even the woodlands (96:11-12). The reason is that the LORD is on His way as Judge, to govern the world rightly and deal with its peoples faithfully (96:13). For the created world, God's judgment is good news, because it means everything wrong will be put right. Psalm 98 ends the same way (Psalm 98:9). Paul announces that God has fixed a day for judging the world through Jesus, whom He raised from the dead (Acts 17:31), and that creation itself longs to be freed from decay (Romans 8:19-21).
- Psalm 96:11-13 (BSB)“Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea resound, and all that fills it. Let the fields exult, and all that is in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD, for He is coming—He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.”Heaven, earth, sea, fields, and trees are called to rejoice because the LORD is coming to judge the world.
- Psalm 98:9 (BSB)“before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.”Psalm 98 ends with the same reason for creation's joy: the LORD comes to judge the earth with righteousness.
- Acts 17:31 (BSB)“For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.””Paul announces that God has set a day to judge the world with justice through the Man He appointed, proved by His resurrection.
- Romans 8:19-21 (BSB)“The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”Paul says creation itself waits eagerly to be set free from decay, echoing the psalm's picture of creation awaiting God's coming.
Theological
What reason does 96:13 give for the rejoicing of all creation in 96:11-12?
Answer: The LORD is coming to set the world right as its Judge
The personified creation of 96:11-12, heavens, earth, sea, fields, and forest, is summoned to exult before the LORD, and 96:13 supplies the ground: He is coming as Judge, to govern the world righteously and the nations faithfully. Divine judgment here is the setting right of all things and therefore occasion for joy. Psalm 98:9 closes on the same note. The New Testament identifies the appointed Judge as the risen Christ (Acts 17:31) and speaks of creation's eager expectation of freedom from decay (Romans 8:19-21).
- Psalm 96:11-13 (BSB)“Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea resound, and all that fills it. Let the fields exult, and all that is in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD, for He is coming—He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.”Heaven, earth, sea, fields, and trees are called to rejoice because the LORD is coming to judge the world.
- Psalm 98:9 (BSB)“before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.”Psalm 98 ends with the same reason for creation's joy: the LORD comes to judge the earth with righteousness.
- Acts 17:31 (BSB)“For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.””Paul announces that God has set a day to judge the world with justice through the Man He appointed, proved by His resurrection.
- Romans 8:19-21 (BSB)“The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”Paul says creation itself waits eagerly to be set free from decay, echoing the psalm's picture of creation awaiting God's coming.
General
What message are God's people told to announce among the nations in 96:10?
Answer: That the LORD is King, the world is secure, and He judges fairly
Verse 10 gives the content of the message for the nations. First, the LORD is King. Second, because He rules, the world is stable and secure. Third, He rules the peoples with fairness as their Judge. It is not a message of Israel's military conquest but of God's just rule over everyone. Psalm 93 opens with the same confession of God's reign and a firmly established world (Psalm 93:1), and Isaiah records God calling the farthest reaches of the world to turn to Him and be saved (Isaiah 45:22-23).
- Psalm 96:10 (BSB)“Declare among the nations: “The LORD reigns!” The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.”God's people are to announce His kingship among the nations: the world stands firm, and He will judge the peoples fairly.
- Psalm 93:1 (BSB)“The LORD reigns! He is robed in majesty; the LORD has clothed and armed Himself with strength. The world indeed is firmly established; it cannot be moved.”Psalm 93 makes the same twofold confession, that the LORD reigns and the world cannot be moved.
- Isaiah 45:22-23 (BSB)“Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.”God calls all the ends of the earth to turn to Him and be saved, since every knee will bow to Him.
Theological
What proclamation to the nations is commanded in 96:10?
Answer: That the LORD is King, the world is secure, and He judges fairly
Verse 10 supplies the content of the proclamation: the LORD is King; the world is established and immovable; He renders impartial judgment to the peoples. The kingship of the LORD grounds both cosmic stability and impartial justice for every people. The formula echoes Psalm 93:1, and the universal claim of God's rule carries an invitation, as in Isaiah 45:22-23, where the remotest lands are summoned to turn to Him and be saved.
- Psalm 96:10 (BSB)“Declare among the nations: “The LORD reigns!” The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.”God's people are to announce His kingship among the nations: the world stands firm, and He will judge the peoples fairly.
- Psalm 93:1 (BSB)“The LORD reigns! He is robed in majesty; the LORD has clothed and armed Himself with strength. The world indeed is firmly established; it cannot be moved.”Psalm 93 makes the same twofold confession, that the LORD reigns and the world cannot be moved.
- Isaiah 45:22-23 (BSB)“Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.”God calls all the ends of the earth to turn to Him and be saved, since every knee will bow to Him.
General
True or False: In 96:7-9, the call to present offerings and worship the LORD is addressed only to the tribes of Israel.
Answer: False
This is false. The call is addressed to the clans of every nation and to all the earth (96:7, 9). The peoples of the world are summoned to honor Him with the glory and strength that belong to Him, to present offerings and come into His courts, and to worship Him in holy splendor with reverent trembling (96:7-9). David uses a similar summons in another psalm (Psalm 29:1-2). Paul quotes Scripture calling all the Gentiles to praise the Lord (Romans 15:11), and in Revelation an angel calls every nation to worship the Creator (Revelation 14:6-7).
- Psalm 96:7-9 (BSB)“Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and enter His courts. Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.”The families of the nations are called to give the LORD glory, bring an offering, and worship Him in holy splendor.
- Psalm 29:1-2 (BSB)“A Psalm of David. Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.”David issues a similar summons to give the LORD the glory due His name.
- Romans 15:11 (BSB)“And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and extol Him, all you peoples.””Paul quotes Scripture calling all the Gentiles to praise the Lord, showing God's purpose to be worshiped by the nations.
- Revelation 14:6-7 (BSB)“Then I saw another angel flying overhead, with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. And he said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the One who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and the springs of waters.””An angel carrying the eternal gospel to every nation calls people to fear God and worship the Maker of heaven, earth, and sea.
Theological
True or False: The summons of 96:7-9 to present offerings and worship is restricted to Israel.
Answer: False
This is false. The imperatives of 96:7-9 are addressed to the families of the peoples and to all the earth: they are to ascribe glory and strength to the LORD, present offerings in His courts, and worship Him in holy splendor. Psalm 29:1-2 addresses a similar summons to heavenly beings; here it goes out to the nations. The inclusion of the Gentiles in the worship of Israel's God is taken up by Paul (Romans 15:11) and by the eternal gospel proclaimed to every nation in Revelation 14:6-7.
- Psalm 96:7-9 (BSB)“Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and enter His courts. Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.”The families of the nations are called to give the LORD glory, bring an offering, and worship Him in holy splendor.
- Psalm 29:1-2 (BSB)“A Psalm of David. Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.”David issues a similar summons to give the LORD the glory due His name.
- Romans 15:11 (BSB)“And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and extol Him, all you peoples.””Paul quotes Scripture calling all the Gentiles to praise the Lord, showing God's purpose to be worshiped by the nations.
- Revelation 14:6-7 (BSB)“Then I saw another angel flying overhead, with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. And he said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the One who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and the springs of waters.””An angel carrying the eternal gospel to every nation calls people to fear God and worship the Maker of heaven, earth, and sea.
General
What reason does 96:5 give for the LORD's greatness above the gods that the peoples worship?
Answer: They are mere idols, while the LORD created the heavens
The LORD is great and deserves reverent awe more than any god (96:4). The reason follows (96:5): the gods the nations worship are only idols, powerless and unable to save, but the LORD is the Maker of the skies above. Being the Creator sets Him apart from every rival. Jeremiah makes the same point, that gods who did not make heaven and earth will perish (Jeremiah 10:11). Paul teaches that idols have no real existence and there is only one God (1 Corinthians 8:4-6), and with Barnabas he urged the crowd at Lystra to leave behind useless objects of worship for the Creator of all things (Acts 14:15).
- Psalm 96:4-5 (BSB)“For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but it is the LORD who made the heavens.”The LORD is to be feared above all gods, because the gods of the nations are idols, while He made the heavens.
- 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 (BSB)“So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.”Paul teaches that an idol is nothing and that there is only one God, from whom all things came.
- Jeremiah 10:11 (BSB)“Thus you are to tell them: “These gods, who have made neither the heavens nor the earth, will perish from this earth and from under these heavens.””Jeremiah says the gods who did not make the heavens and the earth will perish.
- Acts 14:15 (BSB)““Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.”Paul and Barnabas call the people of Lystra from worthless things to the living God who made heaven and earth.
Theological
On what basis does 96:5 assert the LORD's supremacy over the gods the peoples worship?
Answer: They are mere idols, while the LORD created the heavens
Verse 4 declares the LORD great and more to be revered than any god, and 96:5 supplies the ground: the peoples' gods are idols, nonentities, whereas the LORD made the heavens. Creation is the decisive mark distinguishing the true God from every pretender, as Jeremiah 10:11 also argues. Paul draws the same conclusion, that idols are nothing and that God is one (1 Corinthians 8:4-6), and with Barnabas he pointed the Gentiles at Lystra to the Creator of heaven, earth, and sea (Acts 14:15).
- Psalm 96:4-5 (BSB)“For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but it is the LORD who made the heavens.”The LORD is to be feared above all gods, because the gods of the nations are idols, while He made the heavens.
- 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 (BSB)“So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.”Paul teaches that an idol is nothing and that there is only one God, from whom all things came.
- Jeremiah 10:11 (BSB)“Thus you are to tell them: “These gods, who have made neither the heavens nor the earth, will perish from this earth and from under these heavens.””Jeremiah says the gods who did not make the heavens and the earth will perish.
- Acts 14:15 (BSB)““Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.”Paul and Barnabas call the people of Lystra from worthless things to the living God who made heaven and earth.
General
In 96:1-3, who is summoned to praise, and what are they to make known?
Answer: All the earth, spreading word of His saving deeds and glory
Psalm 96 opens by calling the whole earth, not Israel alone, to sing a new song to the LORD (96:1). The singers are to bless His name, announce His salvation every day, and tell all the nations about His glory and wonderful works (96:2-3). Much of this psalm closely matches the song of thanks recorded in 1 Chronicles 16 for the day the ark was brought to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 16:23-24). Isaiah also calls the farthest lands to sing a new song (Isaiah 42:10), and Jesus sends His followers to make disciples among every people (Matthew 28:19).
- Psalm 96:1-3 (BSB)“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless His name; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.”The psalm summons the whole earth to sing and to make God's salvation and glory known among the nations.
- 1 Chronicles 16:23-24 (BSB)“Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.”Much of Psalm 96 closely matches the song of thanks Chronicles records from the day the ark was brought to Jerusalem.
- Isaiah 42:10 (BSB)“Sing to the LORD a new song—His praise from the ends of the earth—you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who dwell in them.”Isaiah likewise calls for a new song of praise to the LORD from the ends of the earth.
- Matthew 28:19 (BSB)“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”Jesus sends His disciples to make disciples of all nations, carrying God's saving work to every people.
Theological
Whom does 96:1-3 summon to praise, and what are they to proclaim?
Answer: All the earth, spreading word of His saving deeds and glory
The psalm's summons is universal: all the earth is to sing a new song to the LORD (96:1), blessing His name, proclaiming His salvation daily, and declaring His glory and marvelous works among the nations (96:2-3). Much of Psalm 96 closely parallels the thanksgiving song of 1 Chronicles 16, sung when the ark came to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 16:23-24). The same missionary horizon appears in Isaiah 42:10 and finds its New Testament counterpart in the Great Commission to disciple all nations (Matthew 28:19).
- Psalm 96:1-3 (BSB)“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless His name; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.”The psalm summons the whole earth to sing and to make God's salvation and glory known among the nations.
- 1 Chronicles 16:23-24 (BSB)“Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.”Much of Psalm 96 closely matches the song of thanks Chronicles records from the day the ark was brought to Jerusalem.
- Isaiah 42:10 (BSB)“Sing to the LORD a new song—His praise from the ends of the earth—you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who dwell in them.”Isaiah likewise calls for a new song of praise to the LORD from the ends of the earth.
- Matthew 28:19 (BSB)“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”Jesus sends His disciples to make disciples of all nations, carrying God's saving work to every people.