Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy …
Psalm 96:11–12
Daily Verse Psalm 96:11–12 | Daily verse by logos.com | Faithlife
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Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy …
Psalm 96:11–12
96:11–13 The psalmist describes personified creation as looking forward to Yahweh’s judgment, which will be right and fair. As Yahweh’s reign is fully established over everything in the way that it should be—with justice and equality (righteousness)—everything on heaven and earth that knows Yahweh will rejoice.
John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ps 96:11–13.
John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ps 96:11–13.
Verse 11. Let the heavens rejoice] The publication of the Gospel is here represented as a universal blessing; the heavens, the earth, the sea, and its inhabitants, the field, the grass, and the trees of the wood, are all called to rejoice at this glorious event. This verse is well and harmoniously translated in the old Psalter:—
Fayne be hevenes,—and the erth glad;
Styrde be the see,—and the fulnes of it;
Joy sal feldes,—and al that ere in thaim.
And the paraphrase is at least curious:—
Hevens, haly men. Erthe, meke men that receyves lare (learning.) Feldes, that is even men, mylde and softe: they shall joy in Criste. And all that is in thaim, that es, strengh, wyttes & skill.”
I shall give the remaining part of this ancient paraphrase, which is an echo of the opinion of most of the Latin fathers.
Verse 12. Thou sal glad al the trese of woddes.—Thou, that is in another lyfe. Trese of woddes.—Synful men that were fyrst withouten frut, and sithen taken into God’s temple.
Verse 13. For he coms, he coms. He coms, fyrste to be man.—Sythen he comes to dome the erth.
He sal deme in evenes the erth:—and folk in his sothfastnes. Nothing is evener, or sothfaster, than that he geder with hym perfyte men; to dome and to deperte to the rig hande (thaim) that did mercy:—pase to the lefte hande (thaim) that did it nogt.
The psalmist here in the true spirit of poetry, gives life and intelligence to universal nature, producing them all as exulting in the reign of the Messiah, and the happiness which should take place in the earth when the Gospel should be universally preached. These predictions seem to be on the eve of complete fulfilment. Lord, hasten the time! For a fuller explanation see the following analysis.
Adam Clarke, The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes, New Edition., vol. 3 (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife Corporation, 2014), 525–526.
Fayne be hevenes,—and the erth glad;
Styrde be the see,—and the fulnes of it;
Joy sal feldes,—and al that ere in thaim.
And the paraphrase is at least curious:—
Hevens, haly men. Erthe, meke men that receyves lare (learning.) Feldes, that is even men, mylde and softe: they shall joy in Criste. And all that is in thaim, that es, strengh, wyttes & skill.”
I shall give the remaining part of this ancient paraphrase, which is an echo of the opinion of most of the Latin fathers.
Verse 12. Thou sal glad al the trese of woddes.—Thou, that is in another lyfe. Trese of woddes.—Synful men that were fyrst withouten frut, and sithen taken into God’s temple.
Verse 13. For he coms, he coms. He coms, fyrste to be man.—Sythen he comes to dome the erth.
He sal deme in evenes the erth:—and folk in his sothfastnes. Nothing is evener, or sothfaster, than that he geder with hym perfyte men; to dome and to deperte to the rig hande (thaim) that did mercy:—pase to the lefte hande (thaim) that did it nogt.
The psalmist here in the true spirit of poetry, gives life and intelligence to universal nature, producing them all as exulting in the reign of the Messiah, and the happiness which should take place in the earth when the Gospel should be universally preached. These predictions seem to be on the eve of complete fulfilment. Lord, hasten the time! For a fuller explanation see the following analysis.
Adam Clarke, The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes, New Edition., vol. 3 (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife Corporation, 2014), 525–526.
Ps 96:1–13. The substance of this Psalm, and portions of the ninety-seventh, ninety-eighth, and hundredth, are found in 1 Ch 16:7–36, which was used by David’s directions in the dedication of the tabernacle on Mount Zion. The dispensation of the Messiah was typified by that event, involving, as it did, a more permanent seat of worship, and the introduction of additional and more spiritual services. Hence the language of these Psalms may be regarded as having a higher import than that pertinent to the occasion on which it was thus publicly used.
1. All nations are invited to unite in this most joyful praise.
new song—literally, “fresh,” or new mercies (Ps 33:3; 40:3).
2. show forth—literally, “declare joyful tidings.”
salvation—illustrates His glory in its wonders of love and mercy.
4, 5. For He is not a local God, but of universal agency, while idols are nothing.
6. Honour and majesty—are His attendants, declared in His mighty works, while power and grace are specially seen in His spiritual relations to His people.
7. Give—or, “ascribe” (Ps 29:1) due honor to Him, by acts of appointed and solemn worship in His house.
8. offering—of thanks.
9. beauty of holiness—(Ps 29:2).
fear … him—(Ps 2:11).
10. Let all know that the government of the world is ordered in justice, and they shall enjoy firm and lasting peace (compare Ps 72:3, 7; Is 9:6, 7).
11. For which reason the universe is invoked to unite in joy, and even inanimate nature (Ro 8:14–22) is poetically represented as capable of joining in the anthem of praise.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 1 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 375.
1. All nations are invited to unite in this most joyful praise.
new song—literally, “fresh,” or new mercies (Ps 33:3; 40:3).
2. show forth—literally, “declare joyful tidings.”
salvation—illustrates His glory in its wonders of love and mercy.
4, 5. For He is not a local God, but of universal agency, while idols are nothing.
6. Honour and majesty—are His attendants, declared in His mighty works, while power and grace are specially seen in His spiritual relations to His people.
7. Give—or, “ascribe” (Ps 29:1) due honor to Him, by acts of appointed and solemn worship in His house.
8. offering—of thanks.
9. beauty of holiness—(Ps 29:2).
fear … him—(Ps 2:11).
10. Let all know that the government of the world is ordered in justice, and they shall enjoy firm and lasting peace (compare Ps 72:3, 7; Is 9:6, 7).
11. For which reason the universe is invoked to unite in joy, and even inanimate nature (Ro 8:14–22) is poetically represented as capable of joining in the anthem of praise.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 1 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 375.