The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 4 · Psalm 96
PSALM XCVI.
ARGUMENT.
This Pſalm alſo wants a Title in the Hebrew: but the Greeks are juſtified in the former part of their Inſcription (which calls it An Ode of David's) by the 1 Chron. XVI. where we find, that at the bringing up the Ark from the houſe of Obed Edom, to the place he had prepared for it on Mount Sion; David delivered this Pſalm (together with the CV.) into the hand of Aſaph, to expreſs the joy he had in God's ſpecial preſence among them: which, all their neighbours round about, he foretells, ſhould be made ſenſible of, as well as themſelves.
This Pſalm indeed is not exactly the very ſame with that; but there is a difference in ſome expreſſions: ex. gr. it is called here A new Song, but not there; which ſhews it was afterward altered by ſome divine perſon, who accommodated it to other uſes. And very probably by Ezra, when they came out of Babylon: which occaſioned the Greeks to add, in the latter part of the Inſcription of this Pſalm, theſe words; when the houſe was built after the Captivity. Ezra, that is, made uſe of it to expreſs their joy at the re-edification of the Temple.
But it never had a compleat fulfilling, anſwerable to the height of it, till the Meſſiah (who was indeed the Temple of God) came to dwell among us; to give eternal Salvation to us. Several of the Jewiſh Writers acknowledge that it belongs to His times: and accordingly we not onelyonly may, but ought, to have Him in our minds, when we ſay Sing unto the Lord a new Song (for his new Grace, that is, in ſending Him to give Salvation to all Nations) and the Lord reigneth, Ver. 10. and hath all things put under his feet. See Euſeb. in his Demonſtrat. Evangelica, L. 1. c. 4.
1. O Sing unto the LORD a new ſong: ſing unto the LORD, all the earth.
1. O Sing praiſes unto the Lord, for his new and extraordinary benefits, which He hath beſtowed upon us: Let all the earth join together with us, to ſing his praiſes.
2. Sing unto the LORD, bleſs his name: ſhew forth his ſalvation from day to day.
2. We can never praiſe Him enough; and therefore ceaſe not to bleſs his Name, and to ſpread the fame of his Almighty Goodneſs towards us: but publiſh every day, with joyfull hearts, the great deliverances He hath wrought for us.
3. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
3. Tell the Nations round about how He hath glorified Himſelf: let none of them be ignorant of the wonderfull things He hath done among us.
4. For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praiſed: he is to be feared above all gods.
4. For all our praiſes fall infinitely ſhort of the greatneſs of the Lord; who is worthy of the higheſt praiſe of the whole world: and hath ſhewn both to us (1 Chron. XIII. 10, 12. 1 Sam. VI. 20.) and to others (1 Sam. V. 3, 4, &c.) how dreadfull He is above all that are called Gods.
5. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
5. For all the Gods of the Nations are nothing worth; being able to doe neither good nor harm: But the Lord not onelyonly made the earth, but the heavens too; which abundantly declare the greatneſs and the ſplendour of his Majeſty.
6. Honour and majeſty are before him: ſtrength and beauty are in his ſanctuary.
6. Whoſe heavenly Court infinitely out-ſhines all the ſtate and pomp, wherein the greateſt earthly Monarchs live, (1. Eſther 4.) For all the words we have, are not able to expreſs the brightneſs and magnificence, the power and comely order, of ſo much as his Miniſters: an image of which we have in his holy place; wherein He manifeſts Himſelf among us.
7. Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and ſtrength.
7. Aſcribe therefore unto the Lord, O ye people, from whatſoever Family ye come; aſcribe unto Him, that incomparable Majeſty, and ſupreme Dominion and Authority; which you give to imaginary gods.
8. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts.
8. And renounce them all; and acknowledging the Lord alone to be the omnipotent King of all the world, doe Him honour ſutable to the excellency of his Majeſty: bring Him an oblation, in token of your ſubjection to Him; and humbly worſhip Him in his Temple.
9. O worſhip the LORD in the beauty of holineſs: fear before him all the earth.
9. O come and caſt down your ſelves before the Lord in his Sanctuary; where He hath fixed his glorious reſidence among us: Adore his tranſcendent perfections; and let all the people approach into his preſence, with a pious trembling and dread, to offend their Sovereign.
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.
10. Go ye, that are already become Proſelytes unto Him, and publiſh every where, in all Countries; that the Lord [CHRIST] is the Sovereign of the World, who alone can make it happy: For He ſhall ſettle thoſe in peace that ſubmit unto his Government; and they ſhall not be ſo diſturbed as they were wont, with wars and tumults: He ſhall adminiſter equal juſtice unto all; and neither ſuffer the good to be unrewarded, nor the evil to eſcape unpuniſhed.
11. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad: let the ſea roar, and the fulneſs thereof.
11. Let the whole Univerſe therefore be filled with joy, at this bleſſed news; which the Angels themſelves ſhall gladly receive, (I. Luk. 30, 32.) much more ought all mankind, whereſoever they are diſperſed, on the Earth, or on the Sea, and the Iſlands thereof, exceedingly rejoice; and fill all places with the loud ſound of their joyfull praiſes.
12. Let the field be joyfull, and all that is therein: then ſhall all the trees of the wood rejoice.
12. Let the husbandmen, and the ſhepherds, and all that dwell in the fields, leap for joy: and the woodmen and foreſters ſhout for joy, to ſee the happy day approaching; when all the Idols that are worſhipped there, ſhall be thrown down together with their groves.
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.
13. Let them welcome that day; and meet the Lord with forward affection, who is coming to them: For he comes to reform the earth, and will govern mankind by righteous and mercifull Laws; and faithfully keep his word with all thoſe that truly obſerve them.