Psalm 96 (1 Chronicles 16.23-33; see our study)
This psalm does not tell us who wrote it but 1 Chronicles 16 informs us it is David. The account for this is the bringing of the Ark to Jerusalem This is called a royal psalm emphasizing God’s judgment. One commentary states there are “At least seventeen different ways of praising the Lord, given in the form of crisp commands, are found in Psalm 96” (Believer’s Bible Commentary, 1997). If you are able to list them, please comment.
Verses 4-6 describes the Lord as full of beauty and splendor. He is Creator and Sustainer. He is unlike the idols (אֱלִילִים), which by definition are “worthless” (the root of the Hebrew word for idol is worthless [אלל]).
David is calling us to sing a new song, to tell of God’s glory to those around us (1-3). David then celebrates who God is and how great is our God (4-6). David then calls us to great and festive worship of God with our whole life (7-9). David then celebrates who God is in that He will judge righteously (10-13). This psalm is like what Paul does in a few of his writings (Ephesians 3 with verses 20-21 for example). He writes of what God has done then goes into a hymnic praise of Him not by Israel alone but by the whole earth. All the peoples will praise Him.
How does your life lead to a celebration of life for God? Even in our dark times, our life should celebrate what He does for us. Who has praised God because of what He has done in your life? He is active. What have you shown or told others about Him?
For those of you who tried, here is another author’s attempt at finding the commands.
Three times in verses 1–2 we hear the summons, “sing to the LORD”; three times in verses 7–8, “ascribe to the LORD.” In each case further injunctions follow: “bless … tell … declare” in verses 2–3; “bring … come … worship … tremble” in verses 8–9 (Davidson, R. 1998).