Psalm 96

November 20, 2015

Sing about Yahweh’s victory (Ps 98:1-98:3)

A psalm

“O sing to Yahweh a new song!

For he has done marvelous things!

His right hand

Has gotten him victory.

His holy arm

Has gotten him victory.

Yahweh has made known his victory.

He has revealed his vindication

In the sight of the nations.

He has remembered his steadfast love.

He has remembered his faithfulness

To the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen

The victory of our God.”

Psalm 98 has a non-descript title, a psalm, so that it is like Psalm 96. We are called to sing a new song to Yahweh because he has done marvelous things. His right hand and holy arm have provided victories for the Israelites. He has shown his victories, vindication of Israel before all nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen God’s victories.

November 20, 2015

Yahweh rules (Ps 96:10-96:13)

“Say among the nations.

‘Yahweh is king!’

The world is firmly established.

It shall never be moved.

He will judge the peoples with equity.’

Let the heavens be glad.

Let the earth rejoice.

Let the sea roar,

With all that fills it.

Let the field exult,

With everything in it.

Then shall all the trees of the forest

Sing for joy

Before Yahweh.

He is coming

To judge the earth.

He will judge the world

With righteousness.

He will judge the peoples

With his truth.”

This psalm ends by proclaiming the universal judging kingship of Yahweh. Yahweh, the universal king of the established world, will judge the people fairly. Heaven and earth will rejoice. The seas and the fields with everything in them, including the trees in the forest, will sing for joy. Yahweh is coming to judge the world with righteousness and truth.

November 20, 2015

Worship Yahweh (Ps 96:7-96:9)

“Ascribe to Yahweh!

O families of the peoples!

Ascribe to Yahweh

Glory and strength!

Ascribe to Yahweh

The glory due his name!

Bring an offering!                                             

Come into his courts!

Worship Yahweh in holy splendor!

Tremble before him!

All the earth!”

This is a universal call for all people to worship Yahweh. They were to recognize his glory and his strength. They were to acknowledge the glory of his name. They were to bring offerings to the court of Yahweh with their best garments on them. All the earthly humans should tremble before him.

November 20, 2015

Sing a new song to Yahweh (Ps 96:1-96:6)

“O sing to Yahweh!

Sing a new song!

Sing to Yahweh,

All the earth!

Sing to Yahweh!

Bless his name!

Tell of his salvation

From day to day!

Declare his glory

Among the nations!

Declare his marvelous works

Among all the peoples!

Yahweh is great!

He is greatly to be praised!

He is to be revered above all gods.

All the gods of the peoples are idols.

But Yahweh made the heavens.

Honor and majesty are before him.

Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.”

Once again, this Psalm 96 is a worship Temple psalm without any title. This psalmist calls for a new song to be sung to Yahweh. All the earth should sing to Yahweh. His name should be blessed. His salvation should be made known daily. His glory and marvels should be known among all peoples and nations. Yahweh is great. Thus he is revered over all the other idol gods. Yahweh made the heavens so that honor and majesty are due him. His strength and beauty can be seen in his sanctuary.

November 25, 2014

The song of the creator (1 Chr 16:28-16:34)

“Ascribe to Yahweh,

O families of the peoples,

Ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength!

Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due his name!

Bring an offering, and come before him!

Worship Yahweh in holy splendor!

Tremble before him, all the earth!

The world is firmly established.

The world shall never be moved.

Let the heavens be glad!

Let the earth rejoice!

Let them say among the nations, ‘Yahweh is king!’

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it!

Let the field exult, and everything in it!

Then shall the trees of the wood sing for joy

Before Yahweh, for he comes to judge the earth.

O give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good!

For his steadfast love endures forever!”

This song or psalm follows Psalm 96, verses 7-13. Yahweh is glorious and strong. We should bring an offering and worship his glory and splendor. We tremble before him. All the earth trembles before him. Yahweh has established the world that will not be moved. We should all rejoice both heaven and earth. We should proclaim to all the nations that Yahweh is king. He rules the sea, the fields, and the trees. He will come to judge the earth. We give thanks to Yahweh, because he is good. His love lasts forever. This last verse is from Psalm 106, about the everlasting love of God.

November 25, 2014

The song of the great Yahweh (1 Chr 16:23-16:27)

“Sing to Yahweh!

All the earth!

Tell of his salvation from day to day!

Declare his glory among the nations!

His marvelous works among all the peoples!

For great is Yahweh!

Greatly to be praised!

He is to be revered above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols.

But Yahweh made the heavens.

Honor and majesty are before him.

Strength and joy are in his place.”

Whether by King David, Asaph, or the biblical author of this book, this song or psalm is similar to Psalm 96, verses 1-6. This famous psalm asks us to sing a new song. We are to sing a song to Yahweh since he saves us every day. We have to declare his glory and his marvelous works to everybody. Yahweh is really great, greater than all the other gods and their idols. Yahweh has made the heavens and the earth. Therefore he deserves our honor. With Yahweh, we have strength and joy.