Psalm 96

What’s Happening?

The song of Psalm 96 is recorded in your Bible more than once: here in the Psalms and the book of Chronicles (1 Chronicles 16:23-33). In Chronicles, it’s a coronation song. Israel sang it to commemorate that God’s temple had been finished and that God was finally enthroned as Israel’s God and king. So the psalmist calls every nation on earth to join in celebrating God as not only the King of Israel but of the whole world (Psalm 96:1). His royal seat in Jerusalem was just a small reflection of his reign in heaven, where he sits on the highest throne surrounded by eternal praise and ruling over the entire universe (Psalm 96:2-3). In fact, the God who reigns in Jerusalem is unlike every man-made god because Israel’s God made mankind and the earth they live on (Psalm 96:4-5). Israel’s God is the supreme king of all creation and every earthly family (Psalm 96:6).

Again, the psalmist calls all nations and foreigners to celebrate God’s coming to his temple in Israel. But this time, it’s because the psalmist believes God’s enthronement marks the beginning of an eternal reign of justice and equity for all people (Psalm 96:7-10). This reign of justice is so sure and vivid that the psalmist depicts the skies, oceans, fields, animals, and trees as joining the nations in celebrating that their common creator has taken his throne (Psalm 96:11-12). The psalm ends with all God’s people and all God’s creation singing for joy and welcoming God’s reign in their midst (Psalm 96:13).

Where is the Gospel?

God’s descent into Jerusalem’s temple was a cause for global celebration. But that was not the only time God visited his temple to begin his reign as king. God appeared again in Jerusalem when Jesus came to his people riding on a donkey. Just as Psalm 96 was sung as God’s presence fell in Israel many years before, Jesus arrived in Jerusalem among songs of joy as Israel’s long-awaited king rode into town (Mathew 21:7-11). And like the psalmist expected, God’s reign as king began with establishing justice. Jesus stopped the corrupt practices he saw in the temple and gave relief to the poor and victimized (Matthew 21:12-16). Jesus is the God of Psalm 96, who has come to his temple to rule the world in justice.

However, the people of the world did not celebrate Jesus’ claims to be king. Instead, they tried to kill him for threatening their power and sovereignty. But in the nation’s rejection of God as king, they only hastened his coronation and enthronement. Like a king, they dressed him in purple, placed a crown on his head, and enemy soldiers willingly bowed to him (Matthew 27:27-29). Jesus was buried under their watch, but only three days later, he rose from the dead and ascended to a heavenly throne above all world powers (Hebrews 12:2; Matthew 28:18). Through his death and resurrection, Jesus has proven himself more powerful than any man-made god. And from his throne of eternal power, he promises to punish all evil, vindicate those falsely accused, and bring perfect justice to our unjust world. One day soon, the Bible tells us that mountains, oceans, birds, trees, and people from every nation will sing and celebrate that Jesus is the enthroned King of the universe (Revelation 5:13, 19:1-11). So, as the psalmist calls us to do, let’s celebrate that Jesus is King and will rule the world in justice forever. 

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who made everything and rules everyone. And may you see Jesus as the king who rules the world in justice.