Psalm 96, A New Song!

Like Psalms 93 and 95, this psalm is a call to worship, a call to begin worship with singing. Kidner argues that this psalm represents the march of the ark into Jerusalem and suggests that parts of this psalm, along with parts of Psalms 105 and 106, were sung by Asaph and others, at the orders of King David, when the ark first entered Jerusalem (see 1 Chronicles 16:7-36.)

Psalm 96:1-2, Sing!

 Sing to the LORD a new song; 

sing to the LORD, all the earth.

 Sing to the LORD, praise his name; 

proclaim his salvation day after day.

The song begins with a challenge, to sing to YHWH a new song. I do recall, in my younger days, longing to hear something new in worship! (Of course now, at 70, I can be a grumbly old man muttering, "I never heard of that one!") 

The first verses build with a threefold repetition of "Sing!". Everyday, says the psalmist, we are to sing of God's glory, proclaiming His protective works around us.

Psalm 96:3-4, Great among nations, greater than all gods!

 Declare his glory among the nations, 

his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; 

he is to be feared above all gods.

As both Kidner and Alter point out, the perspective here is global, looking to all the world, looking to the Gentile nations especially, telling them of the work of the God of Israel. The last verse is almost identical with verse 3 of the previous psalm.

Psalm 96:5, The True God

 For all the gods of the nations are idols, 

but the LORD made the heavens.

Lest we misunderstand the phrase "above all gods" in the previous verse, this verse reminds us that the other gods are but fake idols; they are not the One Creator of the universe!

Psalm 96:6-10a, Ascribe!

 Splendor and majesty are before him; 

strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, 

ascribe to theLORD glory and strength.

 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; 

bring an offering and come into his courts.

 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness;

tremble before him, all the earth.

 Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." 

Alter translates the first line here as "Greatness and grandeur are before Him," attempting to preserve the alliteration in the Hebrew text, "hod wehadar."

Psalm 96:10b, Established and stable

The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; 

he will judge the peoples with equity.

Once again, YHWH is described as establishing the earth, keeping it stable -- not just physically but also stable in justice.

Psalm 96:11-13, Heavens, sea, field, trees rejoice!

 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; 

let the sea resound, and all that is in it;

 let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. 

Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;

 they will sing before the LORD, for he comes,

 he comes to judge the earth. 

He will judge the world in righteousness 

and the peoples in his truth.

Personification is given to the earth, the sea, the trees ... to the immaterial things in God's creation. They are also to rejoice, be glad, be jubilant and sing.