By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, University of Mobile
GOD’S REIGN
Psalm 96:1–13
This enthronement psalm recaptures for us the triumphal entry of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem.
Thousands of people were assembled, led by hundreds of priests clothed in white linen. As the priests moved toward Jerusalem with the Ark, the sounds of rams’ horns and trumpets, clashing cymbals and large numbers of lyres and harps could be heard.
God crowned His victories by planting His throne in the enemy’s former citadel. David called Israel to proclaim the good news of the Lord’s salvation and to tell of His glory and wondrous works among all the nations. All the families from every nation should worship the Lord and declare that God reigns.
God’s Reign (1–6)
The verb “sing” implies active, verbal praise, not just silent appreciation. Nothing passionless is befitting the worship of the true and living God. There is a crescendo in the threefold repetition of the command to sing to the Lord. The whole earth is considered to be the proper choir to praise the Lord.
The “new song” in verse 1 is not simply a newly composed song. It is a call to sing about some new thing God has done. In this case, it refers to how God has placed His throne in Jerusalem.
In Revelation 5 the “new song” is about Christ’s atonement on the cross, which saves people from all the nations of the earth.
As the people sing to the Lord they are to “bless His name” — or speak well of who He is and what He has done. Worshippers are to bring the good news of the reign of God to the world at large.
God alone is worthy of our worship. There were many supposed deities worshipped in the ancient world, but the greatness of the Lord puts Him in a class by Himself. So-called gods designed by fallen human hearts are not worthy of worship. They are empty frauds.
God’s Majesty (7–9)
In these verses we see a call to repentance. Every people group of every nation is commanded to forsake their false gods and declare their allegiance to the Lord. Because the Lord reigns over all peoples, He is worthy of universal praise.
The Gentiles are commanded to bring an offering and to enter into the temple courts with the people of Israel and worship the only God who is King over all.
The Gentiles are to bow down before the Lord as they recognize His holy splendor. The nations of the world are to tremble in reverential awe before God as they recognize that He is overwhelming in His holiness.
God’s Judgment (10–13)
The glorious proclamation that the Lord reigns is to be shared “among the nations.” The peoples of the nations are to turn from their idols to the living God. We are to repent while there is time because the Lord is coming to judge all the peoples of the earth. The universal rule of the One true God is good news to those who acknowledge His reign and bow before Him in obedience.
When the earth is filled with people who gladly submit to God’s rule, the curse on creation will be reversed and all of creation will rejoice.
All the world is to worship the Lord, who created it in the past, rules over it in the present and will come to judge it in the future.
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