Psalms 96

Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Wesley: O sing—upon this new and great occasion, not the ark's removal, but the coming of the Messiah. Both note: new song; all the earth.

The occasion is Messianic greatness. All-earth scope matches the newness of the song.

Calvin: sing a new song to Jehovah, all the earth—whole world summoned; new song marks extraordinary mercy when the gospel gathers the nations.

New song; all the earth. Universal praise answers unprecedented salvation.

Proclaim his salvation from day to day. Common confession: blessing the name; daily telling.

Salvation is news for every day, not a one-time shout. Blessing the name keeps the tongue busy with God.

Calvin: sing; bless his name; show forth his salvation from day to day—continuous publication, not a momentary flash.

Bless his name; salvation day to day. Persevering witness matches persevering mercy.

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.

Missions begin in declaration. Marvels of God are for all peoples' ears.

Calvin: declare his glory among the heathen; his wonders among all people—the nations must hear what Zion already knows.

Glory among nations; works among peoples. Particular mercy becomes public report.

Great is the Lord, greatly to be praised; feared above all gods. Wesley: Gods—gods of the nations (v. 5). Both readings hold: greatness; praise; fear above gods.

Fear relative to rivals. Greatness fuels both praise and holy dread.

Calvin: Jehovah is great and greatly to be praised; terrible above all gods—whatever is or is called deity cannot match him.

Doxology rests on comparison that ends all rivalry.

All the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Both agree: idols empty; Creator of heavens.

Worthless is the verdict. Maker of heavens unmasks carved nothings.

Calvin: all gods of the nations are vanities; Jehovah made the heavens—creation unmasks idolatry.

Worthless idols; Lord made the heavens. Cosmic making is the idol-breaker.

Splendor and majesty before him; strength and beauty in his sanctuary. Wesley: Before him—in his presence. Agreed: royal presence; sanctuary glory.

Beauty is not decoration only—it is God-near. Approach the sanctuary as strength's house.

Calvin: strength and honor before him; power and glory in his sanctuary—presence language for worship's theater.

Splendor, majesty, strength, and beauty surround him. Sanctuary displays what presence holds.

Ascribe to the Lord, families of the peoples, glory and strength. Both hear: family-nations; ascribe glory and strength.

Peoples come by families. Ascribe means give what is already his.

Calvin: give to Jehovah, assemblies of peoples, glory and strength—Gentiles summoned into the praise once centered in Zion; Christ's advent opens that door.

Families of peoples; glory and strength. The courts widen without shrinking God's due.

Ascribe the glory due to his name. Bring an offering; come into his courts.

The glory given to God is a debt owed to his name. Offering and entry are glad duty, not bribes.

Calvin: give the glory of his name; bring an offering; come into his courts—worship with gift and near approach.

The call is to give the glory due his name, bring an offering, and enter his courts. Name-honor is paid in drawn-near praise.

Wesley: Beauty—clothed with gifts and graces needful in God's worship. Both see: holy splendor; earth-tremble.

Holiness is attire for worshipers. Trembling is reverence, not terror without hope.

Calvin: worship in the beauty of the sanctuary; whole earth tremble before his face—holy beauty and holy fear together.

Splendor of holiness; tremble, all the earth. Beauty does not undo awe.

Say among the nations, The Lord reigns! World established, never moved; he judges peoples with equity. Wesley: Reigneth—God hath now set up his kingdom; Established—nations enjoy lasting peace by it. Undisputed: reign; established world; equitable judgment.

Proclaim the reign as present kingdom news. Equity is the nations' hope under his rule.

Calvin: say among the heathen, Jehovah reigns; world established, not moved; he judges peoples in righteousness—reign means righteous government that remakes crooked lives.

Lord reigns; world established; judge with equity. Announcement to nations is the Church's errand.

Let heavens be glad, earth rejoice; sea roar and its fullness. No dispute here: cosmic gladness; sea's roar as praise.

Creation joins the choir. Roar can be worship when the King reigns.

Calvin: heavens rejoice, earth glad, sea thunder with its fullness—nature summoned to celebrate the reign.

The reign is too large for human voices alone.

Let the field exult and all in it; trees of the woods shall sing for joy. Both affirm: field and forest in praise.

Agriculture and woodland find a voice. Joy is the forest's sermon under the coming Judge.

Calvin: field joyful and all in it; trees of the wood rejoice—creation's lower registers answer the King.

Field exults; trees sing. Judgment's approach is good news for a renewed world.

Before the Lord—he comes to judge the earth; world in righteousness, peoples in faithfulness. Wesley: Before—at presence of Lord and Maker; Cometh—to set up his throne among all nations. Double "comes"; righteous, faithful judgment.

Coming is throne-setting among the nations. Faithfulness is the peoples' comfort in the verdict.

Calvin: before Jehovah—he comes to judge the earth with righteousness and truth. Coming judgment is the reason creation sings.

He comes; judge in righteousness and faithfulness. Equity (v. 10) is sworn in again at the close.