Psalm 96 – “Call to Praise”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The psalmist calls upon the inhabitants of the world to praise God because God is the greatest and is coming to judge the world.

II. Photo
God is the greatest god: “All the gods of the peoples are mere idols, but the Lord made the heavens!” (v. 5)

III. Select Verses    
2-3: Sing to the LORD, bless His name, proclaim His victory day after day.  Tell of His glory among the nations, His wondrous deeds, among all peoples
4-5: For the LORD is great and much acclaimed, He is held in awe by all divine beings. All the gods of the peoples are mere idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
7-10: Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.  Ascribe to the LORD the glory of His name, bring tribute and enter His courts.  Bow down to the LORD majestic in holiness; tremble in His presence, all the earth!  Declare among the nations, “The LORD is king!” the world stands firm; it cannot be shaken; He judges the peoples with equity.
11-13:  Let the heavens rejoice and the earth exult; let the sea and all within it thunder,  the fields and everything in them exult; then shall all the trees of the forest shout for joy at the presence of the LORD, for He is coming, for He is coming to rule the earth; He will rule the world justly, and its peoples in faithfulness.

IV. Outline
1-3. Call to praise
4-5. Rationale: God is the greatest god
6. Praise
7-10. Call for the nations to worship
11-13a. Anticipated praise
13b. Rationale: God is coming to judge

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
(Note: Psalm 96 is copied, with some differences, by 1 Chron 16:23-33)

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Gerstenberger, Erhard. Psalms Part 2 and Lamentations (Forms of Old Testament Literature; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001).
Photo copied from http://www.lessing-photo.com/p2/080502/08050246.jpg