INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 96 This psalm was written by David, as appears from 1 Chronicles 16:7 to whom it is ascribed by the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions. This and part of Psalm 105 were first composed and sung at the bringing of the ark from the house of Obededom to the ci... [ Continue Reading ]
O SING UNTO THE LORD A NEW SONG,.... A famous excellent one, suited to Gospel times, on account of the new benefit and blessing of redemption and salvation lately obtained by the Messiah; which should be sung to him, who is the Lord or Jehovah here designed, by all the redeemed ones, Revelation 5:9,... [ Continue Reading ]
SING UNTO THE LORD,.... Which is repeated to show the vehemency of the speaker, and the importance of the work exhorted to: this being the third time that the word Lord or Jehovah is mentioned, have led some to think of the trinity of Persons, Father, Son, and Spirit, the one only Jehovah, to whom t... [ Continue Reading ]
DECLARE HIS GLORY AMONG THE HEATHEN,.... What a glorious Person the Messiah is; the brightness of his Father's glory; having all the perfections of deity in him; how the glory of God appears in him, and in all that he has done; and especially in the work of redemption, in which the glory of divine w... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD IS GREAT,.... In the perfections of his nature; in the works of his hands, of creation, providence, and redemption; and in the several offices he bears and executes: AND GREATLY TO BE PRAISED; because of his greatness and glory; Psalms 48:1, HE IS TO BE FEARED ABOVE ALL GODS; the ang... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ALL THE GODS OF THE NATIONS ARE IDOLS,.... Or are "nothings" o, nonentities; such as have not, and never had, any being, at least many of them, but in the fancies of men; and all of them such as have no divinity in them; AN IDOL IS NOTHING IN THE WORLD, 1 Corinthians 8:4, BUT THE LORD MADE THE... [ Continue Reading ]
HONOUR AND MAJESTY ARE BEFORE HIM,.... He being set down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, and having honour and majesty laid upon him; being arrayed in robes of majesty, crowned with glory and honour, sitting on the same throne of glory with his Father, and having a sce... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE UNTO THE LORD, O YE KINDREDS OF THE PEOPLE,.... Or families p: the Targum is, "give unto the Lord a song, ye families of the people;'' by whom are meant not the tribes and families of the people of Israel, but the Gentiles, the nations of the world, who were to be blessed in the seed of Abrah... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE UNTO THE LORD THE GLORY DUE UNTO HIS NAME,.... Or "the glory of his name" q; whose name is glorious and excellent, because of his nature and perfections, because of the works done by him, and because of his benefits and blessings bestowed on his creatures; wherefore it is his due, and their dut... [ Continue Reading ]
O WORSHIP THE LORD IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS,.... Psalms 29:2, in this and the three preceding verses there is a manifest allusion to the form of addresses made to kings in the eastern nations; who being arrayed, and seated in a majestic manner, with all the marks of royal honour and dignity about... [ Continue Reading ]
SAY AMONG THE HEATHEN,.... This is a direction to such as were converted to Christ among the Jews, or were first called out from among the Gentiles; or to the ministers of the word, the apostles and first preachers of the Gospel more especially, who were sent into all the world to preach the Gospel... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE HEAVENS REJOICE,.... At the coming and kingdom of Christ; at what is said and done in the Gentile world; even the hosts of heaven, as the Targum, the angels that dwell there, and never left their habitation and first estate: these rejoiced at the incarnation of Christ, at the first setting u... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE FIELD BE JOYFUL, AND ALL THAT IS THEREIN,.... Not the field of the world, but of the church, separated from others by distinguishing grace; the peculiar property of Christ, cultivated and manured by his Spirit and grace, and abounding with the fruits and flowers thereof; of a wilderness beco... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE THE LORD,.... At the face of him, in his presence; meeting him as he comes, and rejoicing at his coming: this clause is to be joined to everyone in the two preceding verses: FOR HE COMETH, FOR HE COMETH; which is repeated to show the certainty of Christ's coming, and the importance of it, an... [ Continue Reading ]