Psalm 96 – All the Earth
Sing to the Lord all the earth, the psalmist proclaims in Psalm 96 – all the earth. This includes all people, all nations, and even nature as trees sing praise to our God. Why does all the earth sing to God?
Psalm 96
Psalm 96 – all the earth, speaks of widening circles of praise, starting with the church community, then the nations, and finally creation. It begins with the call to 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.
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” (1-3)
The writer then gives reasons for singing about God:
“For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.” (4-6)
God wears strength and beauty. “God’s greatness and power give Him a regal, royal bearing. He is marked by strength and beauty. “In him are combined all that is mighty and lovely, powerful and resplendent. We have seen rugged strength devoid of beauty, we have also seen elegance without strength; the union of the two is greatly to be admired.” (Spurgeon)
“Not in outward show or parade of costly robes does the glory of God consist; such things are tricks of state with which the ignorant are dazzled; holiness, justice, wisdom, grace, these are the splendors of Jehovah’s courts, these the jewels and the gold, the regalia, and the pomp of the courts of heaven.” (Spurgeon) Enduring Word Bible Commentary Psalm 96
All Creation Praises God
The writer calls all nations, even those that do not believe in the Hebrew God, to sing as well.
“Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.” (10)
All creation proclaims the wonders of God.
“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; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.” (11-12)
Why? Because God is coming to judge the world. Finally, there will be true justice, not justice provided by corrupt judges.
“Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.” (13)
Reasons to Sing
Singing has many benefits. It relieves stress, stimulates the immune response, increases pain threshold, may improve snoring, improves lung function, develops a sense of belonging and connection, enhances memory in people with dementia, helps with grief, improves mental health and mood, helps improve speaking abilities. (Benefits of Singing: 10 Ways Singing Boosts Your Health) Is it any wonder that we are called to sing out and declare God’s glory. It’s for our own benefit.
Not only that, but the psalmist calls nations that don’t believe to sing to God and even the seas, the fields, and the trees of the forest are to sing. All of creation sings to God. It is inherent in its very existence as atoms vibrate to the tune of the universe.
“This imagery reminds us that all of creation is a testament to God’s glory. As stewards of His creation, God calls us to care for it and join in the chorus of praise that echoes throughout the universe … our joy in the Lord is not just personal but communal. As we rejoice in His presence, we join with all creation in a symphony of praise, celebrating His goodness and love.” Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 96
Psalm 96 – All the Earth
Psalm 96 – all the earth, reminds us that all of creation sings the glory of God. The earth sings because all the earth is under God’s sovereignty. God is a just judge who will bring true justice to the world, unlike worldly judges.
Psalm 96 “encapsulates the universal declaration of God’s reign, the eternal stability of His creation, the righteous judgment He will exercise, and the exuberant praise that all of creation offers to Him. This passage underscores the overarching themes of God’s sovereignty, justice, and the worship due to Him from all of His creation. It serves as a poignant reminder of the unchanging nature of God and His enduring authority over all the earth.” Psalms 96 Explained – Verse by Verse Commentary – God’s Blessing
And so, let us join in the great dance of creation, praising God who is worthy of praise!
(For another take on this psalm, see Psalm 96: Sing a New Old Song – Patricia M Robertson)
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
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