A manual of the book of Psalms · Martin Luther
PSALM XCVI.
_An exhortation to praise God,—for his greatness,—for his kingdom,—for his general judgment._ O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. For the LORD _is_ great, and greatly to be praised: he _is_ to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations _are_ idols: but the LORD made the heavens. Honour and majesty _are_ before him: strength and beauty _are_ in his sanctuary. Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory _due unto_ his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. 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. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that _is_ therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice 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.
This is a prophecy concerning the kingdom of Christ, and the spreading of the gospel over the whole world and before every creature; which gospel will be a word of joy and thanksgiving, of peace, of rejoicing, and of a continued sacrifice of praise: as the clear text of the Psalm of itself plainly shows. Here, commandment is given to all nations, kingdoms, peoples, woods, rivers, fountains, trees, &c. that they should praise and magnify the Lord, and celebrate his name with rejoicing, because he judgeth the world in righteousness and in truth: that is, because, through Christ, the promised seed, he delivers, and will deliver the people from sin, from the power of the devil, from the wrath of God, and from eternal death: and because, instead of the kingdom of death and of darkness, he sets up the kingdom of light, of the remission of sins, and of eternal life, before all men. This is that most joyful shout of victory, that peculiar song, that most sweet note of the New Testament, concerning the kingdom and grace of Christ; in which kingdom there are born new men and new creatures; not by the law or by the works of Moses, but by faith, by the Spirit of God through Christ, so that each believer is a new creature and a marvellous work of God; and all believers daily do marvellous works and are marvellous monuments, in that they continue in spiritual life, and are finally conquerors over the mighty powers of sin and the devil; hence it is that David says, verse 1. “Declare his wonders among all people.”
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.