Psalms 96
Big idea: A missionary psalm. Sing to Yahweh a new song — and the audience is all the earth, the nations, all the peoples, the families of nations. Its argument against idolatry is one line long: all the gods of the peoples are idols, but Yahweh made the heavens. And its ending is one of the strangest and best things in the Psalter: the sea, the fields and the trees are told to celebrate a coming judgment. He comes to judge the earth, and the forest sings about it, because judgment here means the world finally being set right.
Psalm 96 has the trees sing at the judgment. Psalm 97 shows the same arrival, with the mountains melting.
96:1–6 — All the gods of the peoples are idols
A new song commissioned for the whole earth, and its first job is comparative. Verse 5 makes the argument in half a line — the gods of the peoples are idols, but Yahweh MADE the heavens — so the difference named is not power but manufacture: one made the sky, the others were made. And what is in his sanctuary is an unexpected pairing: strength and beauty.
1 Sing to Yahweh a new song! Sing to Yahweh, all the earth. 2 Sing to Yahweh! Bless his name! Proclaim his salvation from day to day! 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. 4 For Yahweh is great, and greatly to be praised! He is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but Yahweh made the heavens. 6 Honor and majesty are before him. Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
96:7–13 — Then all the trees of the woods shall sing
The nations are told to bring an offering into the courts — which is a striking invitation, not a summons to surrender — and then the psalm hands the singing to the landscape. Heavens, earth, sea, fields, and finally the trees. And what they are celebrating is the arrival of a JUDGE, which is the psalm's best claim: for the created world, judgment is good news.
7 Ascribe to Yahweh, you families of nations, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come into his courts. 9 Worship Yahweh in holy array. Tremble before him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns.” The world is also established. It can’t be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity. 11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar, and its fullness! 12 Let the field and all that is in it exult! Then all the trees of the woods shall sing for joy 13 before Yahweh; for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, the peoples with his truth.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).