An exhortation to praise God, 1-3, for his greatness, 4-7; for his kingdom, 8-10; for his general judgment, 11-13.
1 O sing to the LORD a new song./
Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD. Bless his name./
Show forth his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the heathen,/
his wonders among all people.
4 For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised./
He is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,/
but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Honor and majesty are before him./
Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Give to the LORD, O kindreds of the people,/
give to the LORD glory and strength.
8 Give to the LORD the glory due to his name./
Bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness./
Fear before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the heathen that the LORD reigns./
The world shall also be established so that it shall not be moved./
He will judge the people righteously.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad./
Let the sea roar, and its fullness.
12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it./
Then all the trees of the forest shall rejoice before the LORD.
13 For he comes,/
for he comes to judge the earth./
He will judge the world with righteousness,/
and the people with his truth.
Matthew Henry Commentary - Psalms, Chapter 96[➚]
John Calvin's Chapter Summary:
This psalm contains an exhortation to praise God, an exhortation which is directed not only to the Jews, but to all nations. We must infer from this, that it has reference to the kingdom of Christ. God's name could not be called upon in any other part of the world than Judea, until it had been revealed; and the heathen nations were at that time necessarily altogether incapacitated for any such exercise. Yet it is evident that the Holy Spirit stirred up the saints who were under the Law to celebrate the Divine praises, till the period should arrive when Christ, by the spread of the Gospel, should fill the whole earth with his glory.