Bible Commentaries
Psalms 96

Verse 1

96:1 O sing {a} unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.

(a) The prophet shows that the time will come, that all nations will have opportunity to praise the Lord for the revealing of his gospel.

Verse 4

96:4 For the LORD [is] {b} great, and greatly to be praised: he [is] to be feared above all gods.

(b) Seeing he will reveal himself to all nations contrary to their own expectation, they should all worship him contrary to their own imaginations, and only as he has appointed.

Verse 5

96:5 For all the gods of the nations [are] idols: but the LORD {c} made the heavens.

(c) Then the idols or whatever did not make the heavens, are not God.

Verse 6

96:6 {d} Honour and majesty [are] before him: strength and beauty [are] in his sanctuary.

(d) God cannot be known but by his strength and glory, the signs of which appear in his sanctuary.

Verse 7

96:7 Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and {e} strength.

(e) As by experience you see that it is only due to him.

Verse 8

96:8 Give unto the LORD the glory [due unto] his name: bring {f} an offering, and come into his courts.

(f) By offering up yourselves wholly to God, declare that you worship him only.

Verse 10

96:10 Say among the {g} heathen [that] the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people {h} righteously.

(g) He prophecies that the Gentiles will be partakers with the Jews of God’s promise.

(h) He will regenerate them anew with his Spirit, and restore them to the image of God.

Verse 12

96:12 Let the field be joyful, and all that [is] therein: then shall all the {i} trees of the wood rejoice

(i) If the insensible creatures will have reason to rejoice when God appears, much more we, from whom he has taken malediction and sin.