Psalm 96 - Give Glory to the Judge of all the Earth

Introduction

What is the role of the believer? It is to preach Christ. It is to tell of his coming, his mighty works, his death and resurrection, and call all peoples to repentance and belief in the gospel. It is to proclaim the Lordship of Christ and the righteous judgment which he brings. He alone is King of kings and Lord of lords and all creation shall acknowledge his lordship. We have such a message of psalm 96.

Background

We can break this psalm in 4 parts:

The call for all peoples to praise the LORD (vs. 1 - 3)

The Lord alone is the majestic God (vs. 4 - 6)

The call for all peoples to worship and acknowledge His glory (vs. 7 - 9)

Rejoice for the LORD the righteous Judge shall reign (vs. 10 - 13)

Exposition

Verses 1 - 3: The psalmist begins with a call for all people everywhere to praise the LORD. Three times we are told to sing to the LORD. Yahweh alone is to be the object of our adoration. The new song is based on a new thing the LORD has done for His people. Concerning blessing His name, Charles Spurgeon states: “His name, his fame, his character, his revealed word and will are to be delighted in, and remembered with perpetual thanksgiving.”[1] “When it is naturally melodious and skilfully trained, (and every true worshipper should be zealous to dedicate his richest talent and his highest acquirement to this sacred service,) there can be no music under heaven that can equal the combination of voices which belong to men, women, and children whose hearts really love the Saviour.”

Spurgeon, C. H. (1903). The New Song and the Old Story. In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 49, p. 458). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

“As ye stand up to sing, there should be a fixed intent of the soul, a positive volition of the mind, an absolute determination of the heart, that all the flame which kindles in your breast, and all the melody that breaks from your tongue, and all the sacred swell of grateful song shall be unto the Lord, and unto the Lord alone.”

Spurgeon, C. H. (1903). The New Song and the Old Story. In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 49, p. 459). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

Show them the justice of the great substitution, and the mercy of it. Show them the wisdom which devised the plan whereby, without a violation of the law, God could yet pardon rebellious sinners. Impress upon those, whom you talk with, that the gospel you have to tell them of is no common-place system of expediency, but really it is a glorious revelation of divinity

Spurgeon, C. H. (1903). The New Song and the Old Story. In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 49, p. 465). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

Praise to God includes telling of His great salvation of His people. He saved Israel of our Egypt. He repeated delivered His people in the times of the judges. He delivered them from Goliath and the Philistines. Daily He preserves His peoples and keeps them from dangers seen and unseen. We must not fail to tell of His goodness. Indeed the LORD told Israel if they kept His commandments they would be to Him and kingdom of priests and holy nation (Ex. 19:6 cf. 1 Pet 2:5;9). Israel was to be a light for the nations. For believers today we are to tell of the goodness of God everywhere we go and in all we do. We must speak of His righteousness, the wonder of the incarnation, the great salvation accomplished by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the eternal danger of refusing him.

Verses 4 - 6: The psalm writer provides the reasons why we are to give the LORD great praise. The LORD is a great God. He is unlike anything in heaven and earth. He is far above anything in creation, without comparison or equal. The NIV says He is very worthy of praise. He is to be worshipped above, and rather than, any other so called gods. This is the command to the nations. Supreme allegiance is due to Yahweh. Why? The gods of the nations are works of men’s hands. The are statues of stone or wood. Yahweh is the creator of the universe. He is the all powerful God whom is due the worship of all He created. The LORD is a glorious God, as seen in his creation and manifest presence, and this glory inspires amazement in those whom look to Him. His dwelling is one of power and one in which we marvel at the work of His hands.

Verses 7 - 9: The psalmist calls for all people everywhere to give Yahweh His due glory and worship. This glory is due to Him. Indeed, all of creation exist to give glory to the triune God and it will do so. This is not any old worship. This is worship in holiness. This is worship that considers His supreme otherness. This is worship that recognizes we are dealing with supreme sovereign being in the universe. This is worship that recognizes what He has done in the midst of His people. This is worship expressed in bowing down and surrendering. This the worship that goes on continuously in heaven. This worship is directed at the personal, covenantal name of God. It is the name by which God revealed himself to Moses. His name reveals and stands in for His divine nature and character.

Verses 10: The psalmist declares that the LORD reigns. The world will continue because Yahweh keeps it. He shall bring judgment upon all peoples of the earth. This judgment will we fair and impartial, based on His perfect knowledge of both events and intents of the heart. The standard of judgment will be His perfect law which from His perfect character. This standard is found in the word of God, our bibles which we read and study from every day.

Verses 11 - 13: All of creation rejoices at the coming of the King to judge. He will set things right in heaven and earth. He will restore order to all creation (Rom. 8:20-21). This is reason for rejoicing, not sorrow. When the LORD of all the earth renders His final judgment, which according to His truth, all will be as it should have been. Praise the name of the LORD.

Bibliography

1. Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 88-110 (Vol. 4, p. 181). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers