Psalm 96
A Study of Psalm 96
Psalm 96 was to be sung by Asaph and his brethren on the day of the ark’s entrance into Jerusalem. David was bringing the ark to Jerusalem and it was an occasion for great joy to the nation. The Ark is a type of the complete body of Christ—Jesus and his bride. The antitype of this is when God’s Word is in Jerusalem in the future—the Kingdom.
Isa_2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (See also Mic. 4:2)
Psa 96:1 O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
Psa 96:2 Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
The striking thought in verse one is this “new song”. This implies a change. We see in Revelation that only the hundred and forty four thousand can sing this new song. They are the Bride of Christ as opposed to the Great Multitude who are still stars, but differ in glory—they are not as glorious.—Rev. 14:3
But this context is with the world—sing this song all the earth. The setting is the Kingdom we pray for when God’s will is done in the earth as it is done in heaven.
God’s plan of salvation is not just the calling of the Christian. That is only the first part of the plan. We as Christians are called to be kings and priests—but not now. Kings need a Kingdom and we don’t have one now—we haven’t even completed our course and overcome or endured to the end.
The Church sings the “new song” when the body of Christ is complete and the marriage of the Lamb has come. The world will sing a new song after Satan is bound and Jesus and his bride take control of their kingdom.
Paul tells us in 1st Timothy (2:5,6) that Jesus’ ransom sacrifice will be testified in due time—this is the time. This is when God’s plan of salvation will be shown forth from day to day—it will be a reality for the rest of mankind. They will be living it on a daily basis.
Isaiah 35 describes this time when a highway is opened for all the redeemed. The way will be so simple that even the fool or the stupid can’t get lost on it. We know this isn’t a current prophecy because the only way for the righteous now is a narrow and straight way—and few there be that find it.—Matt. 7:14
It is important when we study God’s Word that we are able to determine the dispensation being referred to. It is also important to understand that there are dispensations. Paul tells us we are in the “Present Evil World” –Gal. 1:4
Psa 96:3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
Declare his glory among the heathen—this is directed at the Holy Remnant (Isa. 4:3; Zech 12:10). When the natural holy Jew recognizes that Jesus was indeed the Messiah they will quickly understand like the Apostle Paul did and be remorseful. Then they will not be able to contain themselves. They will declare God’s glory in how they are saved from the forces of Gog in Jacob’s Trouble (Ez. 38,39, Jer 30, Zech 12, 14; Dan 12:1).
We find out that as the kingdom progresses that Jews who are in other lands or who have been resurrected in other lands where they had lived, will be like celebrities among the people. (God established the New Covenant (see Jer. 30) with the Holy Remnant of Israel and as the people would accept God’s way, they would come under the New Covenant as well.) These Jews will need to return to Israel (this is the second regathering described in scriptures--
Zeph 3:20; Isa. 11:11) and the non-Jewish peoples will want to go with them (Zech 8:23) because they understand it was the God of the Jews, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that is now in control of the world. Jesus and his bride are reigning and bringing the world back into harmony with the Father so that He may be all in all.
Also as the Kingdom progresses we find that “all will know the LORD, from the least unto the greatest. (Jer. 31:34; Heb. 8:11)
Psa 96:4 For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
Psa 96:5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
Mankind will come to realize everything that they had put their faith or trust in the past was just a lie.—Isa. 8:21
The gods of nations are different for different peoples throughout the world. Take for instance North Korea—the rulership there attempt to pass themselves off as a god—just like the kings and Caesars did in the past. The Pope tries to pass himself off as god on earth and the “Holy Father”—which is a title for God Himself. The Communistic countries also make themselves gods and some of the gods nations have made may not be in human form, but capitalism or greed may be their god.
But Jehovah or YHWH is the only one who made the heavens. All the heavens, there are multiple heavens in scriptures and context in necessary to understand which is being spoken of. There is the heavens of the earth –which is simply the sky, then there is the hosts of heavens which is the universe and then there is God’s abode. God made them all. We witness the first two on daily basis and once mankind comes to recognize YHWH for who He is, they will understand His awesomeness! He is greatly to be praised! His is greatly to be feared. You cannot come to a recognition of His great Power and Presence and not have the respect He is due. God is not our buddy, the Big Guy Upstairs! He is the Creator, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who dwells in the light which no man can approach.
Psa 96:6 Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
At the time this was written the temple had not yet been built. The Ark of the Covenant was in a tent—but even that had David so excited with joy. It is not the building that is important, but the ark. The ark represents Jesus as the propitiatory lid.
Rom_3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
1Jn_2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1Jn_4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
G2435
ἱλαστήριον hilastērion hil-as-tay'-ree-on
Neuter of a derivative of G2433; an expiatory (place or thing), that is, (concretely) an atoning victim, or (specifically) the lid of the Ark (in the Temple): - mercyseat, propitiation.
Everything that was made was made on account of Jesus. He is the center or YHWH’s plan for mankind. It is the Shekinah glory that rests over the mercyseat or Propitiatory lid—Jesus and his sacrifice. When the ransom is truly seen (1 Tim. 2:5,6)—God’s glory will be understood and when God’s plan is understood, one cannot help but praise, honor and glorify God.
Psa 96:7 Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
Psa 96:8 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
Psa 96:9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
In the Kingdom all of mankind (all that ever lived all the way back to Adam) will have to give reverence and obedience to YHWH and bow the knee to Jesus and his bride to get life. When they see that God did not forget them but made an escape for all those under the influence of sin and Satan in the Kingdom, they will praise him and bring offerings.
We know from Ezekiel that there will literally be a temple in Jerusalem constructed to educate the masses about why God permitted evil, the significance of the ransom and sin offering and other sacrifices. It is here mankind will have to make a pilgrimage to bring offerings and come into his courts. Jerusalem and this temple will be the capital of the world and headquarters for the Ancients (Heb. 11; Psa. 45:16) to rule mankind as physical agents for the spiritual government of Jesus and his Bride.
Psa 96:10 Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
When Jesus takes control of the world and begins his reign with his bride—it will not be a matter of debate. It will start in Jerusalem when he fights for the people of Daniel and saves the tents of Judah first. People all over the world will know there has been a change. They will feel a weight lifted off them when Satan is bound. They may not understand exactly what has happened but they will know something has happened, and when it is declared that the Kingdom we pray for has begun and that the Day of Judgment has come to the world of mankind, those who have been oppressed and abused by others will see justice. God is not mocked, He will judge—but He can read the heart and knows the degree of guilt each person is. While people do not come back in the resurrection with a clean slate, they will have to repent and make recompense for injustices done to fellow man—they will be given time to walk up the highway of holiness before them. Satan can no longer blind them to the Truth and they will learn of God.
Just as when we come to Christ now, that is only the beginning of our journey and salvation, so it will be too with the world of mankind. Our job as King will be to see that justice prevails. But our job as Priest will be to see that all that is necessary is done to reconcile the individual with God. There is a two part mission of our Christian training. To love righteousness and justice which will be put to practice in our kingship and to have love and mercy which comes out in our job as priests. We want to see reconciliation between God and Man—this is the job of the Great Mediator—the Christ head and body. (1 Tim. 2:5, 6)
Psa 96:11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
Psa 96:12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
Psa 96:13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
Many are scared to death about the coming judgements on the earth. True the coming judgements will mean a destruction of society as we know it. This is Satan’s world and all of it will have to go. But for the poor and oppressed of mankind the Kingdom where God’s will is done in the earth will be something to rejoice in. Those who were falsely imprisoned or killed or had lands and possessions or even a good name taken from them will be vindicated. Those who have been the oppressors won’t be rejoicing, but hopefully they will come to repent in their hearts and walk up the highway of holiness and come to love the Lord and get life.
Psalm 96 was to be sung by Asaph and his brethren on the day of the ark’s entrance into Jerusalem. David was bringing the ark to Jerusalem and it was an occasion for great joy to the nation. The Ark is a type of the complete body of Christ—Jesus and his bride. The antitype of this is when God’s Word is in Jerusalem in the future—the Kingdom.
Isa_2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (See also Mic. 4:2)
Psa 96:1 O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
Psa 96:2 Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
The striking thought in verse one is this “new song”. This implies a change. We see in Revelation that only the hundred and forty four thousand can sing this new song. They are the Bride of Christ as opposed to the Great Multitude who are still stars, but differ in glory—they are not as glorious.—Rev. 14:3
But this context is with the world—sing this song all the earth. The setting is the Kingdom we pray for when God’s will is done in the earth as it is done in heaven.
God’s plan of salvation is not just the calling of the Christian. That is only the first part of the plan. We as Christians are called to be kings and priests—but not now. Kings need a Kingdom and we don’t have one now—we haven’t even completed our course and overcome or endured to the end.
The Church sings the “new song” when the body of Christ is complete and the marriage of the Lamb has come. The world will sing a new song after Satan is bound and Jesus and his bride take control of their kingdom.
Paul tells us in 1st Timothy (2:5,6) that Jesus’ ransom sacrifice will be testified in due time—this is the time. This is when God’s plan of salvation will be shown forth from day to day—it will be a reality for the rest of mankind. They will be living it on a daily basis.
Isaiah 35 describes this time when a highway is opened for all the redeemed. The way will be so simple that even the fool or the stupid can’t get lost on it. We know this isn’t a current prophecy because the only way for the righteous now is a narrow and straight way—and few there be that find it.—Matt. 7:14
It is important when we study God’s Word that we are able to determine the dispensation being referred to. It is also important to understand that there are dispensations. Paul tells us we are in the “Present Evil World” –Gal. 1:4
Psa 96:3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
Declare his glory among the heathen—this is directed at the Holy Remnant (Isa. 4:3; Zech 12:10). When the natural holy Jew recognizes that Jesus was indeed the Messiah they will quickly understand like the Apostle Paul did and be remorseful. Then they will not be able to contain themselves. They will declare God’s glory in how they are saved from the forces of Gog in Jacob’s Trouble (Ez. 38,39, Jer 30, Zech 12, 14; Dan 12:1).
We find out that as the kingdom progresses that Jews who are in other lands or who have been resurrected in other lands where they had lived, will be like celebrities among the people. (God established the New Covenant (see Jer. 30) with the Holy Remnant of Israel and as the people would accept God’s way, they would come under the New Covenant as well.) These Jews will need to return to Israel (this is the second regathering described in scriptures--
Zeph 3:20; Isa. 11:11) and the non-Jewish peoples will want to go with them (Zech 8:23) because they understand it was the God of the Jews, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that is now in control of the world. Jesus and his bride are reigning and bringing the world back into harmony with the Father so that He may be all in all.
Also as the Kingdom progresses we find that “all will know the LORD, from the least unto the greatest. (Jer. 31:34; Heb. 8:11)
Psa 96:4 For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
Psa 96:5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
Mankind will come to realize everything that they had put their faith or trust in the past was just a lie.—Isa. 8:21
The gods of nations are different for different peoples throughout the world. Take for instance North Korea—the rulership there attempt to pass themselves off as a god—just like the kings and Caesars did in the past. The Pope tries to pass himself off as god on earth and the “Holy Father”—which is a title for God Himself. The Communistic countries also make themselves gods and some of the gods nations have made may not be in human form, but capitalism or greed may be their god.
But Jehovah or YHWH is the only one who made the heavens. All the heavens, there are multiple heavens in scriptures and context in necessary to understand which is being spoken of. There is the heavens of the earth –which is simply the sky, then there is the hosts of heavens which is the universe and then there is God’s abode. God made them all. We witness the first two on daily basis and once mankind comes to recognize YHWH for who He is, they will understand His awesomeness! He is greatly to be praised! His is greatly to be feared. You cannot come to a recognition of His great Power and Presence and not have the respect He is due. God is not our buddy, the Big Guy Upstairs! He is the Creator, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who dwells in the light which no man can approach.
Psa 96:6 Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
At the time this was written the temple had not yet been built. The Ark of the Covenant was in a tent—but even that had David so excited with joy. It is not the building that is important, but the ark. The ark represents Jesus as the propitiatory lid.
Rom_3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
1Jn_2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1Jn_4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
G2435
ἱλαστήριον hilastērion hil-as-tay'-ree-on
Neuter of a derivative of G2433; an expiatory (place or thing), that is, (concretely) an atoning victim, or (specifically) the lid of the Ark (in the Temple): - mercyseat, propitiation.
Everything that was made was made on account of Jesus. He is the center or YHWH’s plan for mankind. It is the Shekinah glory that rests over the mercyseat or Propitiatory lid—Jesus and his sacrifice. When the ransom is truly seen (1 Tim. 2:5,6)—God’s glory will be understood and when God’s plan is understood, one cannot help but praise, honor and glorify God.
Psa 96:7 Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
Psa 96:8 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
Psa 96:9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
In the Kingdom all of mankind (all that ever lived all the way back to Adam) will have to give reverence and obedience to YHWH and bow the knee to Jesus and his bride to get life. When they see that God did not forget them but made an escape for all those under the influence of sin and Satan in the Kingdom, they will praise him and bring offerings.
We know from Ezekiel that there will literally be a temple in Jerusalem constructed to educate the masses about why God permitted evil, the significance of the ransom and sin offering and other sacrifices. It is here mankind will have to make a pilgrimage to bring offerings and come into his courts. Jerusalem and this temple will be the capital of the world and headquarters for the Ancients (Heb. 11; Psa. 45:16) to rule mankind as physical agents for the spiritual government of Jesus and his Bride.
Psa 96:10 Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
When Jesus takes control of the world and begins his reign with his bride—it will not be a matter of debate. It will start in Jerusalem when he fights for the people of Daniel and saves the tents of Judah first. People all over the world will know there has been a change. They will feel a weight lifted off them when Satan is bound. They may not understand exactly what has happened but they will know something has happened, and when it is declared that the Kingdom we pray for has begun and that the Day of Judgment has come to the world of mankind, those who have been oppressed and abused by others will see justice. God is not mocked, He will judge—but He can read the heart and knows the degree of guilt each person is. While people do not come back in the resurrection with a clean slate, they will have to repent and make recompense for injustices done to fellow man—they will be given time to walk up the highway of holiness before them. Satan can no longer blind them to the Truth and they will learn of God.
Just as when we come to Christ now, that is only the beginning of our journey and salvation, so it will be too with the world of mankind. Our job as King will be to see that justice prevails. But our job as Priest will be to see that all that is necessary is done to reconcile the individual with God. There is a two part mission of our Christian training. To love righteousness and justice which will be put to practice in our kingship and to have love and mercy which comes out in our job as priests. We want to see reconciliation between God and Man—this is the job of the Great Mediator—the Christ head and body. (1 Tim. 2:5, 6)
Psa 96:11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
Psa 96:12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
Psa 96:13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
Many are scared to death about the coming judgements on the earth. True the coming judgements will mean a destruction of society as we know it. This is Satan’s world and all of it will have to go. But for the poor and oppressed of mankind the Kingdom where God’s will is done in the earth will be something to rejoice in. Those who were falsely imprisoned or killed or had lands and possessions or even a good name taken from them will be vindicated. Those who have been the oppressors won’t be rejoicing, but hopefully they will come to repent in their hearts and walk up the highway of holiness and come to love the Lord and get life.
