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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1710)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>P S A L M S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>PSALM XCVI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This psalm is part of that which was delivered into the hand of Asaph
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and his brethren
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+16:7">1 Chron. xvi. 7</A>),
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by which it appears both that David was the penman of it and that it
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has reference to the bringing up of the ark to the city of David;
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whether that long psalm was made first, and this afterwards taken out
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of it, or this made first and afterwards borrowed to make up that, is
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not certain. But this is certain, that, though it was sung at the
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translation of the ark, it looks further, to the kingdom of Christ, and
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is designed to celebrate the glories of that kingdom, especially the
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accession of the Gentiles to it. Here is,
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I. A call given to all people to praise God, to worship him, and give
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glory to him, as a great and glorious God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+96:1-9">ver. 1-9</A>.
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II. Notice given to all people of God's universal government and
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judgment, which ought to be the matter of universal joy,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+10-13">ver. 10-13</A>.
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In singing this psalm we ought to have our hearts filed with great and
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high thoughts of the glory of God and the grace of the gospel, and with
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an entire satisfaction in Christ's sovereign dominion and in the
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expectation of the judgment to come.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ps96_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps96_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps96_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps96_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps96_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps96_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps96_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps96_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps96_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>An Invitation to Praise and Honour God; A Call to Glorify God.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 O sing unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> a new song: sing unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, all the
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earth.
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2 Sing unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, bless his name; show forth his salvation
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from day to day.
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3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all
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people.
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4 For the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>is</I> great, and greatly to be praised: he <I>is</I>
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to be feared above all gods.
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5 For all the gods of the nations <I>are</I> idols: but the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
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made the heavens.
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6 Honour and majesty <I>are</I> before him: strength and beauty
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<I>are</I> in his sanctuary.
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7 Give unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> glory and strength.
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8 Give unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> the glory <I>due unto</I> his name: bring an
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offering, and come into his courts.
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9 O worship the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> in the beauty of holiness: fear before
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him, all the earth.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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These verses will be best expounded by pious and devout affections
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working in our souls towards God, with a high veneration for his
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majesty and transcendent excellency. The call here given us to praise
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God is very lively, the expressions are raised and repeated, to all
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which the echo of a thankful heart should make agreeable returns.</P>
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<P>
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I. We are here required to honour God,</P>
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<P>
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1. With songs,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+96:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.
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Three times we are here called to <I>sing unto the Lord;</I> sing to
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the Father, to the Son, to the Holy Ghost, as it was <I>in the
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beginning,</I> when <I>the morning stars sang together, is now,</I> in
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the church militant, and <I>ever shall be,</I> in the church
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triumphant. We have reason to do it often, and we have need to be often
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reminded of it, and stirred up to it. <I>Sing unto the Lord,</I> that
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is, "<I>Bless his name,</I> speak well of him, that you may bring
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others to think well of him."
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(1.) <I>Sing a new song,</I> an excellent song, the product of new
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affections, clothed with new expressions. We speak of nothing more
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despicable than "an old song," but the newness of a song recommends it;
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for there we expect something surprising. A new song is a song for new
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favours, for those compassions which are new every morning. A new song
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is New-Testament song, a song of praise for the new covenant and the
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precious privileges of that covenant. A new song is a song that shall
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be ever new, and shall never wax old nor vanish away; it is an
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everlasting song, that shall never be antiquated or out of date.
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(2.) Let all the earth sing this song, not the Jews only, to whom
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hitherto the service of God had been appropriated, who could not
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<I>sing the Lord's song in</I> (would not sing it to) <I>a strange
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land;</I> but let <I>all the earth,</I> all that are <I>redeemed from
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the earth, learn</I> and sing <I>this new song,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+14:3">Rev. xiv. 3</A>.
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This is a prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles; all the earth shall
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have this <I>new song put into their mouths,</I> shall have both cause
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and call to sing it.
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(3.) Let the subject-matter of this song be <I>his salvation,</I> the
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great salvation which was to be wrought out by the Lord Jesus; that
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must be shown forth as the cause of this joy and praise.
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(4.) Let this song be sung constantly, not only in the times appointed
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for the solemn feasts, but from day to day; it is a subject that can
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never be exhausted. Let day unto day utter this speech, that, under the
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influence of gospel devotions, we may daily exemplify a gospel
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conversation.</P>
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<P>
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2. With sermons
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+96:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
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<I>Declare his glory among the heathen,</I> even <I>his wonders among
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all people.</I>
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(1.) Salvation by Christ is here spoken of as a work of wonder, and
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that in which the glory of God shines very brightly; in showing forth
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that salvation we declare God's glory as it shines in the face of
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Christ.
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(2.) This salvation was, in the Old-Testament times, as heaven's
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happiness is now, <I>a glory to be revealed;</I> but in the fulness of
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time it was declared, and a full discovery made of that, even to babes,
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which prophets and kings desired and wished to see and might not.
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(3.) What was then discovered was declared only among the Jews, but it
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is now declared <I>among the heathen, among all people;</I> the nations
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which long sat in darkness now see this great light. The apostles'
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commission to preach the gospel to every creature is copied from this:
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<I>Declare his glory among the heathen.</I></P>
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<P>
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3. With religious services,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+96:7-9"><I>v.</I> 7-9</A>.
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Hitherto, though in every nation those that feared God and wrought
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righteousness were accepted of him, yet instituted ordinances were the
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peculiarities of the Jewish religion; but, in gospel-times, the
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kindreds of the people shall be invited and admitted into the service
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of God and be as welcome as ever the Jews were. The court of the
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Gentiles shall no longer be an outward court, but shall be laid in
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common with the court of Israel. All the earth is here summoned to fear
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before the Lord, to worship him according to his appointment. <I>In
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every place incense shall be offered to his name,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+1:11,Zec+14:17,Isa+66:23">Mal. i. 11;
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Zech. xiv. 17; Isa. lxvi. 23</A>.
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This indeed spoke mortification to the Jews, but, withal, it gave a
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prospect of that which would redound very much to the glory of God and
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to the happiness of mankind. Now observe how the acts of devotion to
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God are here described.
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(1.) We must <I>give unto the Lord;</I> not as if God needed any thing,
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or could receive any thing, from us or any creature, which was not his
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own before, much less be benefited by it; but we must in our best
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affections, adorations, and services, return to him what we have
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received from him, and do it freely, as what we give; for <I>God loves
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a cheerful giver.</I> It is debt, it is rent, it is tribute, it is what
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must be paid, and, if not, will be recovered, and yet, if it come from
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holy love, God is pleased to accept it as a gift.
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(2.) We must acknowledge God to be the sovereign Lord and pay homage to
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him accordingly
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+96:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
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<I>Give unto the Lord glory and strength, glory and empire,</I> or
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<I>dominion,</I> so some. As a king, he is clothed with robes of glory
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and girt with the girdle of power, and we must subscribe to both.
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<I>Thine is the kingdom,</I> and therefore <I>thine is the power and
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the glory.</I> "Give the glory to God; do not take it to yourselves,
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nor give it to any creature."
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(3.) We must <I>give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name,</I>
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that is, to the discovery he has been pleased to make of himself to the
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children of men. In all the acts of religious worship this is that
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which we must aim at, to honour God, to pay him some of that reverence
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which we owe him as the best of beings and the fountain of our being.
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(4.) We must <I>bring an offering in to his courts.</I> We must bring
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ourselves, in the first place, the <I>offering up of the Gentiles,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+15:16">Rom. xv. 16</A>.
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We must offer up the <I>sacrifices of praise continually</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+13:15">Heb. xiii. 15</A>),
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must often appear before God in public worship and never appear before
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him empty.
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(5.) We must <I>worship him in the beauty of holiness,</I> in the
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solemn assembly where divine institutions are religiously observed, the
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beauty of which is their holiness, that is, their conformity to the
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rule. We must worship him with holy hearts, sanctified by the grace of
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God, devoted to the glory of God, and purified from the pollutions of
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sin.
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(6.) We must <I>fear before him;</I> all the acts of worship must be
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performed from a principle of the fear of God and with a holy awe and
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reverence.</P>
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<P>
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II. In the midst of these calls to praise God and give glory to him
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glorious things are here said of him, both as motives to praise and
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matter of praise: <I>The Lord is great, and</I> therefore <I>greatly to
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be praised</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+96:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>)
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and <I>to be feared,</I> great and honourable to his attendants, great
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and terrible to his adversaries. Even the new song proclaims God great
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as well as good; for his goodness is his glory; and, when the
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everlasting gospel is preached, it is this, <I>Fear God, and give glory
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to him,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+14:6,7">Rev. xiv. 6, 7</A>.
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1. He is great in his sovereignty over all that pretend to be deities;
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none dare vie with him: <I>He is to be feared above all gods</I>--all
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princes, who were often deified after their deaths, and even while they
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lived were adored as petty gods--or rather all idols, <I>the gods of
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the nations</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+96:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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All the earth being called to sing the new song, they must be convinced
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that the Lord Jehovah, to whose honour they must sing it, is the one
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only living and true God, infinitely above all rivals and pretenders;
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he is great, and they are little; he is all, and they are
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<I>nothing;</I> so the word used for idols signifies, for we know that
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<I>an idol is nothing in the world,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+8:4">1 Cor. viii. 4</A>.
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2. He is great in his right, even to the noblest part of the creation;
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for it is his own work and derives its being from him: <I>The Lord made
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the heavens</I> and all their hosts; they <I>are the work of his
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fingers</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+8:3">Ps. viii. 3</A>),
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so nicely, so curiously, are they made. The gods of the nations were
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all made--gods, the creatures of men's fancies; but our God is the
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Creator of the sun, moon, and stars, those lights of heaven, which they
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imagined to be gods and worshipped as such.
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3. He is great in the manifestation of his glory both in the upper and
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lower world, among his angels in heaven and his saints on earth
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+96:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>Splendour and majesty are before him,</I> in his immediate presence
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above, where the angels cover their faces, as unable to bear the
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dazzling lustre of his glory. <I>Strength and beauty are in his
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sanctuary,</I> both that above and this below. In God there is every
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thing that is awful and yet every thing that is amiable. If we attend
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him in his sanctuary, we shall behold his beauty, for <I>God is
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love,</I> and experience his strength, for <I>he is our rock.</I> Let
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us therefore go forth in his strength, enamoured with his beauty.</P>
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<A NAME="Ps96_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps96_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps96_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ps96_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Kingdom of Christ.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1> <! -- Date --> </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>10 Say among the heathen <I>that</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> reigneth: the world
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also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall
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judge the people righteously.
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11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the
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sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
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12 Let the field be joyful, and all that <I>is</I> therein: then
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shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
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13 Before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the
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earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the
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people with his truth.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here instructions given to those who were to preach the gospel
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to the nations what to preach, or to those who had themselves received
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the gospel what account to give of it to their neighbours, what to
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<I>say among the heathen;</I> and it is an illustrious prophecy of the
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setting up of the kingdom of Christ upon the ruins of the devil's
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kingdom, which began immediately after his ascension and will continue
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in the doing till the mystery of God be finished.</P>
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<P>
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I. Let it be told <I>that the Lord reigns,</I> the Lord Christ reigns,
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that King whom God determined to set upon his holy hill of Zion. See
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how this was first said <I>among the heathen</I> by Peter,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+10:42">Acts x. 42</A>.
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Some of the ancients added a gloss to this, which by degrees crept into
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the text, <I>The Lord reigneth from the tree</I> (so Justin Martyr,
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Austin, and others, quote it), meaning the cross, when he had this
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title written over him, <I>The King of the Jews.</I> It was because he
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became obedient to death, even the death of the cross, that God exalted
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him, and gave him a name above every name, a throne above every throne.
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Some of the heathen came betimes to enquire after him that was <I>born
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King of the Jews,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+2:2">Matt. ii. 2</A>.
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Now let them know that he has come and his kingdom is set up.</P>
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<P>
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II. Let it be told that Christ's government will be the world's happy
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settlement. <I>The world also shall be established, that it shall not
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be moved.</I> The natural world shall be established. The standing of
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the world, and its stability, are owing to the mediation of Christ. Sin
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had given it a shock, and still threatens it; but Christ, as Redeemer,
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upholds all things, and preserves the course of nature. The world of
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mankind shall be established, shall be preserved, till all that belong
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to the election of grace are called in, though a guilty provoking
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world. The Christian religion, as far as it is embraced, shall
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establish states and kingdoms, and preserve good order among men. The
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church in the world shall be established (so some), that it <I>cannot
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be moved; for it is built upon a rock, and the gates of hell shall
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never prevail against it;</I> it is a <I>kingdom that cannot be
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shaken.</I></P>
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<P>
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III. Let them be told that Christ's government will be incontestably
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just and righteous: <I>He shall judge the people righteously</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+96:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
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<I>judge the world with righteousness, and with his truth,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+96:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
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Judging is here put for ruling; and though this may be extended to the
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general judgment of the world at the last day, which will be <I>in
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righteousness</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+17:31">Acts xvii. 31</A>),
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yet it refers more immediately to Christ's first coming, and the
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setting up of his kingdom in the world by the gospel. He says himself,
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<I>For judgment have I come into this world</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+9:39,12:31">John ix. 39; xii. 31</A>),
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and declares that <I>all judgment was committed to him,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+5:22,27">John v. 22, 27</A>.
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His ruling and judging with righteousness and truth signify,
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1. That all the laws and ordinances of his kingdom shall be consonant
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to the rules and principles of eternal truth and equity, that is, to
|
|
the rectitude and purity of the divine nature and will.
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2. That all his administrations of government shall be just and
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|
faithful, and according to what he has said.
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3. That he shall rule in the hearts and consciences of men by the
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commanding power of truth and the Spirit of righteousness and
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sanctification. When Pilate asked our Saviour, <I>Art thou a king?</I>
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he answered, <I>For this cause came I into the world, that I should
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bear witness unto the truth</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+18:37">John xviii. 37</A>);
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for he rules by truth, commands men's wills by informing their
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judgments aright.</P>
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<P>
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IV. Let them be told that his coming draws nigh, that this King, this
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Judge, <I>standeth before the door; for he cometh, for he cometh.</I>
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Enoch, the seventh from Adam, said so. <I>Behold, the Lord cometh,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jude+1:14">
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Jude 14</A>.
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Between this and his first coming the revolutions of many ages
|
|
intervened, and yet he came at the set time, and so sure will his
|
|
second coming be; though it is now long since it was said, <I>Behold,
|
|
he comes in the clouds</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+1:7">Rev. i. 7</A>)
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and he has not yet come. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+3:4">2 Pet. iii. 4</A>,
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&c.</P>
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<P>
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|
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V. Let them be called upon to rejoice in this honour that is put upon
|
|
the Messiah, and this great trust that is to be lodged in his hand
|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+96:11,12"><I>v.</I> 11, 12</A>):
|
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<I>Let heaven and earth rejoice, the sea, the field,</I> and <I>all the
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|
trees of the wood.</I> The dialect here is poetical; the meaning is,
|
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1. That the days of the Messiah will be joyful days, and, as far as
|
|
his grace and government are submitted to, will bring joy along with
|
|
them. We have reason to give that place, that soul, joy into which
|
|
Christ is admitted. See an instance of both,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+8:4-25,26-40">Acts viii.</A>
|
|
|
|
When Samaria received the gospel <I>there was great joy in that
|
|
city</I>
|
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|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+8:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
|
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|
|
and, when the eunuch was baptized, <I>he went on his way rejoicing,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+8:39"><I>v.</I> 39</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. That it is the duty of every one of us to bid Christ and his
|
|
kingdom welcome; for, though he comes conquering and to conquer, yet he
|
|
comes peaceably. <I>Hosanna, Blessed is he that cometh;</I> and again,
|
|
<I>Hosanna, Blessed be the kingdom of our father David</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+11:9,10">Mark xi. 9, 10</A>);
|
|
|
|
not only <I>let the daughter of Zion rejoice that her King comes</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+9:9">Zech. ix. 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
but let all rejoice.
|
|
|
|
3. That the whole creation will have reason to rejoice in the setting
|
|
up of Christ's kingdom, even <I>the sea</I> and <I>the field;</I> for,
|
|
as by the sin of the first Adam the whole creation was made <I>subject
|
|
to vanity,</I> so by the grace of the second Adam it shall, some way or
|
|
other, first or last, be <I>delivered from the bondage of corruption
|
|
into the glorious liberty of the children of God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:20,21">Rom. viii. 20, 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
4. That there will, in the first place, be <I>joy in heaven, joy in the
|
|
presence of the angels of God;</I> for, when the First-begotten was
|
|
brought into the world, they sang their anthems to his praise,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+2:14">Luke ii. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
5. That God will graciously accept the holy joy and praises of all the
|
|
hearty well-wishers to the kingdom of Christ, be their capacity ever so
|
|
mean. <I>The sea</I> can but <I>roar,</I> and how <I>the trees of the
|
|
wood</I> can show that they <I>rejoice</I> I know not; but <I>he that
|
|
searches the heart knows what is the mind of the Spirit,</I> and
|
|
understands the language, the broken language, of the weakest.</P>
|
|
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