1.
O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
(1) A new song.—See Note, Psalms 33:3. It appears to have been a kind of national and religious “lyric cry” after the Restoration. (Comp. Isaiah 42:10.)
2.
Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew 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.
(5) Idols.—Literally, nothings; Heb., elîlîm, with a play on the word el, God. This plainly shows that by Gods, in Psalms 96:4, the heathen deities, and not angels, are meant. (See Note, Psalms 95:3.) The LXX. sometimes renders the Hebrew word “idols,” sometimes “vanities,” but here “demons.” Symmachus “nonexistences.”
But the Lord made the heavens.—Nothings could not do that, but only Jehovah.
6.
Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
(6) Honour . . . The whole universe displays Jehovah’s majesty, but chiefly his sanctuary in Israel, where it is typified by the costly splendour of the building and its rites. So the version of Apollinaris, “Pureness and stately glory fit his shrine.” The chronicler having adopted this psalm as suitable for the occasion when the ark was brought to Zion by David, has substituted “strength and gladness are in his place” possibly because the Temple was not built at that time.
7.
Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
8.
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
(8) Offering.—The minchah, or sacrifice of fine flour.
9.
O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
(9) O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.—Better, Bow before Jehovah in holy attire. But the LXX. and Vulgate have as in margin.
Fear before him.—Or literally, let all the earth be moved before his face.
10.
Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
(10) Say among the heathen.—The watchword of the Restoration, “Jehovah has become King” (see Psalms 93:1, note, and comp. Isaiah 52:7), is an Evangel not only for Jerusalem but for the world at large. But to it is added (see the difference of arrangement in 1 Chronicles 16:29-31) the further statement of the stability of the world, emblem of the stability and justice of the Divine Government.
11.
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
12.
Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
(12) Then shall all the trees . . .—Comp.—
“His praise, ye winds that from four quarters blow,
Breathe soft or loud, and wave your tops ye pines,
With every plant in sign of worship wave.”—MILTON.
13.
Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
(13) For he cometh, for he cometh.—Notice the striking repetition, the natural expression of gladness.