30 Days in the PsalmsSýnishorn

Day #21: Psalm 96

Psalm 96 is another Adonai malakh psalm (“the Lord reigns”). This prayer-song rings out as a loud invitation to others to join God’s praying people in their worship of the Lord. The invitation goes out to an expansive group: all the earth (v. 1), the nations and all the peoples (v. 3), all the families of the peoples (v. 7), and even the heavens and the earth (v. 11). The group of worshipers that offers this prayer invitation has recognized that the Lord is too great and glorious for his praise to be contained inside a single location or a single people group; he is worthy of the adoration of the entire human race and even the wordless praise of the creation (as we saw in Psalm 19). God himself stated this in Isaiah 49:6, when addressing his servant on behalf of his exiled people: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (NIV). This expansive vision of a worshiping people begins to be seen in Jesus’ own ministry, is part of the DNA of the church’s mission (Acts 1:8), and comes to gloriously beautiful culmination in the picture of the multilingual, and multiethnic multitude that will worship around the throne of the King (Revelation 7).

The invitation extended to all the peoples in Psalm 96 is to engage their voices in the exuberant, exultant public worship of the King. The poet piles up strong verbs of communication, calling the nations and all of creation to sing to the Lord (v. 1), to declare his glory (v. 3), to speak out his honor and strength (v. 7), to rejoice because of who he is (v. 11). But their worship will not just be in words, it will also include bodily actions. They are invited to “bring an offering and come into his courts” (v. 8), that is, to situate themselves physically in the gathering of God’s people for corporate worship. This kind of worship doesn’t happen in isolation, but in the context of the gathered people of God. They are called to “tremble” before him, allowing their bodies to respond to the splendor of his presence (v. 9).

Why is this invitation extended, and what will motivate the peoples to respond? Verses 4–6 give the first reason: the Lord’s incomparable greatness. All the other gods are merely idols, the psalmist declares (v. 5), but the Lord is the Creator of all things, surrounded by honor, majesty, strength, and beauty (v. 6). The second reason is the one that lies at the heart of this series of psalms (93–99): “The Lord is King!” (v. 10). And his rule over all things is characterized by justice, equity, righteousness, and truth (vv. 10–13). This is the good news that makes God’s people rejoice and that fuels their exuberant invitation to others to join in God’s praise.

Today is a good day to be in the company of God’s people to celebrate the just, equitable, righteous, and true reign of the King, and to invite others to join you!