Bird's-eye view
Psalm 96 is a missionary summons, a call for all the earth to sing a new song to Yahweh. This new song is not just for human voices; it is a full-orbed cosmic symphony. The closing verses of this psalm, our text here, provide the crescendo. All of creation is summoned to break forth in jubilant praise because the Lord is coming. This is not a sentimental nature poem. This is hard-nosed theology, a declaration that the material world is not mute or neutral but is rather an active participant in the drama of redemption and judgment. The reason for this universal gladness is the central event of history: the coming of the Lord to judge the earth. For the modern mind, joy and judgment are polar opposites. But for the psalmist, and for the Christian, the coming of the judge is the best news there is. It means things will finally be set right.
The passage moves from the highest heavens down to the trees of the forest, enrolling all of creation in the choir. The heavens, the earth, the sea, the fields, and the forests are all personified and given one grand task: to rejoice before the Lord. Why? Because He is coming. The repetition of "for He is coming" underscores the certainty and imminence of His arrival. And His coming is for the purpose of judgment, a judgment characterized by two glorious attributes: righteousness and faithfulness. This is not the arbitrary wrath of a pagan deity, but the settled, perfect, and true judgment of the Creator and Redeemer. This is the great hope of the saints and the terror of the wicked.
Outline
- 1. The Cosmic Choir Assembled (Ps. 96:11-12)
- a. The Heavens and Earth Rejoice (v. 11a)
- b. The Sea and its Fullness Roar (v. 11b)
- c. The Field and Trees Exult (v. 12)
- 2. The Reason for the Song (Ps. 96:13)
- a. The Imminent Advent of the Judge (v. 13a)
- b. The Standard of His Judgment: Righteousness (v. 13b)
- c. The Foundation of His Judgment: Faithfulness (v. 13c)
Context In Psalms
Psalm 96 is one of the "enthronement psalms" (along with Psalms 47, 93, 97-99), which celebrate the reign of Yahweh as King over all the earth. A significant portion of this psalm is found in 1 Chronicles 16, where it was sung when David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. This historical context anchors the psalm in Israel's corporate worship. The "new song" (v. 1) is not simply a freshly composed ditty; it signifies a new act of God in history that demands a new response of praise. While it had an immediate application in David's time, its ultimate fulfillment points to the work of Christ. The call for the nations, or "heathen," to hear of His glory (v. 3) and the declaration that "Yahweh reigns" (v. 10) are profoundly evangelistic. Our passage forms the climax of this global call to worship, showing that even the non-human creation is swept up in this glorious reality.
Clause-by-Clause Commentary
v. 11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, as well as its fullness;
The worship service begins, and the call goes out to the entire cosmos. This is not poetic hyperbole in the sense of being an unreal exaggeration. It is a theological statement about the nature of reality. The heavens, the very sky above us, and the earth, the ground beneath our feet, are summoned to express gladness and joy. We live in a world that has been taught to see creation as a silent, impersonal machine governed by blind forces. But Scripture reveals a world that is alive, a theater of God's glory, groaning under the curse of sin (Rom. 8:22) but also waiting with eager longing for redemption. This verse is a command, a divine imperative. The heavens are to be glad. The earth is to rejoice. This is their created purpose.
Then the summons goes to the sea. "Let the sea roar." This is not the roar of a chaotic, destructive force, as the sea often represents in the ancient world. This is the roar of acclamation, the bass section of the cosmic choir. And it is not just the water, but "its fullness" as well. Everything in the sea, from the great whales to the smallest plankton, is to join the chorus. This is a picture of total, unreserved praise from every corner of creation. God is speaking both in His Word and in His world, and He is silent nowhere.
v. 12 Let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
The camera, so to speak, moves from the vast sea to the land. The field, representing cultivated land and civilization, is to exult. All that is in it, the crops, the livestock, the wildflowers, are included. Then the focus narrows further to the uncultivated parts of the world: "all the trees of the forest." They are not just to rustle their leaves; they are to "sing for joy." We see a similar picture in Isaiah, where the mountains and hills break forth into singing and the trees of the field clap their hands (Is. 55:12). This is the proper response of a creation that recognizes its Creator and King. We, the redeemed, are called to lead this choir, but we must never think we are soloists. We are part of a grand orchestra, and our job is to sing in a manner worthy of all our companions.
v. 13 Before Yahweh, for He is coming, For He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness And the peoples in His faithfulness.
Here is the reason for the universal celebration. All this cosmic joy is happening "before Yahweh." The presence of the Lord is the cause of it all. And why is He here? "For He is coming." The repetition is for emphasis. It is certain. It is happening. He is on His way. This refers to both the first and second advents of Christ. He came once in humility to deal with the sin problem, and He is coming again in glory to finalize the solution. His purpose in coming is "to judge the earth."
For the modern evangelical, the word "judgment" often has a grim, negative connotation. We think of wrath and condemnation. And for the unrepentant, that is precisely what it will be. But for the believer, and for the creation itself, the judgment of God is the great hope. It is the final house cleaning. It is when the King arrives to throw out the squatters, to right all wrongs, to wipe away every tear, and to make all things new. This is why all creation rejoices. The coming of the Judge means the end of the curse.
And how will He judge? On what basis? The last two lines give us the glorious standard. "He will judge the world in righteousness." This is not a judgment based on whim or caprice. It is a judgment based on the perfect, unbending standard of God's own holy character. There will be no miscarriages of justice, no plea bargains, no technicalities. Everything will be set perfectly straight. And He will judge "the peoples in His faithfulness." The Hebrew word here is often translated as "truth." His judgment is rooted in His covenant faithfulness, His absolute reliability. He has made promises, and He will keep them. He promised to save His people, and He will. He promised to judge His enemies, and He will. His faithfulness is the bedrock on which the hope of the saints rests. Because He is faithful, we can be sure that His righteous judgment is not just a possibility, but a future certainty. And that is why the trees sing.
Application
First, we must recover this vision of a vocal creation. We are not singing our praises into a void. The world around us is not neutral; it is either groaning under the curse or rejoicing in its Creator. This should transform how we view the world. We are not Gnostics who despise the material realm. We worship a cosmic Christ who is Lord of heaven and earth. Every sunset, every mountain range, every crashing wave is part of the symphony. Our worship on the Lord's Day is simply us taking our appointed place as the lead singers in this vast, cosmic choir.
Second, we must learn to rejoice at the thought of God's judgment. If the idea of Christ coming to judge the world makes you nervous, it may be because you are trying to establish your own righteousness instead of submitting to the righteousness of God that is found in Christ alone. For those who are in Christ, the judgment seat holds no terror. It is the place where our justification is publicly declared and vindicated. The coming of the Judge is our great hope because it means the final victory of righteousness and truth. It is the end of Satan's long and miserable usurpation.
Finally, our evangelism should be shaped by this reality. We declare His glory among the nations (v. 3) so that they too can join the new song. The message is not just "Jesus loves you," but "Yahweh reigns!" He is coming to judge the earth. Therefore, repent and believe the good news. The good news is that the righteous Judge is also the faithful Savior, and all who take refuge in Him will find themselves on the right side of His final, glorious verdict.