94.16–23 The psalmist proclaims God’s saving help against the machinations of the wicked.
94.17 Land of silence, i.e., death (115.17).
94.20–21 See note on 94.6.
94.22 Refuge. See note on 2.10–12.
PSALM 95
A Call to Worship and Obedience
1O come, let us sing to the LORD;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3For the LORD is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
4In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
5The sea is his, for he made it,
and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
6O come, let us worship and bow down,
let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
7For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
O that today you would listen to his voice!
8Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,
as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
9when your ancestors tested me,
and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
10For forty years I loathed that generation
and said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray,
and they do not regard my ways.”
11Therefore in my anger I swore,
“They shall not enter my rest.”
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95.1–11 A liturgy of praise and admonition. This psalm may have been a temple liturgy consisting of a procession into the sanctuary (vv. 1–5) and prostration before God’s presence (vv. 6–7a), followed by words of admonition (vv. 7b–11), perhaps in preparation for the public reading of the Torah, or law of God, at the Festival of Booths, or Tabernacles (Deut 31.10–11). Cf. Pss 50; 81 for similar language and character.
95.1–7a Praise of God’s kingship and rule over all.
95.1–2 A call to praise. Rock of our salvation. See 89.26; cf. 94.22.
95.3–5 The reason for praise is God’s greatness and rule (cf. 93.1–2; 96.10); God is above all gods (cf. 82; 96.4–5) and rules the depths and heights, i.e., the whole earth, and the sea and the dry land (Gen 1.9–10; cf. Ps 24.1).
95.6–7a A call to worship God, who is creator and ruler not only of the universe (vv. 3–5) but also of people (Isa 43.1, 15). The shepherd image is a royal one, signifying rule of the people (100.3; cf. 80.1; Isa 40.11).
95.7b–11 A word of admonition to be spoken by a priest or prophet in preparation for hearing God’s law (cf. 81.8–9). On Meribah, in Hebrew “place of contention,” and Massah, “place of testing,” see Ex 17.1–7; Num 20.1–13; also Pss 78.18–20; 81.7; 106.32. Rest, the divine gift of the land. For a homiletic elaboration of vv. 7b–11, see Heb 3–4.
PSALM 96
Praise to God Who Comes in Judgment
1O sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples.
4For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be revered above all gods.
5For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
6Honor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
8Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts.
9Worship the LORD in holy splendor;
tremble before him, all the earth.
10Say among the nations, “The LORD is king!
The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.
He will judge the peoples with equity.”
11Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13before the LORD; for he is coming,
for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with his truth.
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96.1–13 A hymn of praise to God as ruler and judge. The Lord of Israel rules the universe (image of king) and does so in righteousness (image of judge). See note on 93.1–5.
96.1–3 A call to praise God in song.
96.1 A new song. See 33.3; 40.3; 98.1; 144.9; 149.1; Isa 42.10; Rev 5.9; Jdt 16.1, 13.
96.2 Bless. See note on 103.1–2.
96.4–6 The reason for praise is God’s greatness and majesty above all other claims for worship, i.e., above all other gods (95.3; 97.7; cf. 115.3–8).
96.7–9 A call to praise the glory of God. Cf. 29.1–2.
96.10–13 The Lord is proclaimed king and judge of all the earth.
96.10 The LORD is king. See note on 93.1–2. For God as judge, cf. 7.11; 50.6; 82.8; Ezek 18.30; 33.17, 20.
96.11–13 See 98.7–9.
PSALM 97
The Glory of God’s Reign
1The LORD is king!
Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!
2Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3Fire goes before him,
and consumes his adversaries on every side.
4His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
6The heavens proclaim his righteousness;
and all the peoples behold his glory.
7All worshipers of images are put to shame,
those who make their boast in worthless idols;
all gods bow down before him.
8Zion hears and is glad,
and the townsa of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O God.
9For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.
10The LORD loves those who hateb evil;
he guards the lives of his faithful;
he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
11Light dawnsc for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
12Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!
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a Heb daughters
b Cn: Heb You who love the LORD hate
c Gk Syr Jerome: Heb is sown
97.1–12 A hymn of praise celebrating the rule of God. See note on 93.1–5.
97.1 The whole earth is called to rejoice in the realization of the Lord’s rule. The LORD is king. See note on 93.1–2.
97.2–6 The divine king appears in a storm theophany (18.7–15; 50.1–3; 68.7–8; 77.18; cf. Judg 5.4–5).
97.2 On righteousness and justice as central to kingship, human and divine, see 72; 82; 85.10–13; Isa 9.7; 11.3–5).
97.3 For fire in the descriptions of God’s appearing, see Ex 19.18; 24.17; Deut 4.11–12, 15, 33; 5.4; 9.10, 15.
97.7–9 The effects of the Lord’s appearing.
97.7 Cf. Isa 42.17; 45.16; Jer 10.14.
97.9 Cf. 47.2, 9; 83.18; 95.3; 96.4–6.
97.10–12 The justice of God is security for the righteous.
97.11 For the dawning of the
light of the righteous, see 112.4; Isa 58.10; 60.1–3.
PSALM 98
Praise the Judge of the World
A Psalm.
1O sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
have gotten him victory.
2The LORD has made known his victory;
he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
3He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.
4Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
5Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody.
6With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.
7Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who live in it.
8Let the floods clap their hands;
let the hills sing together for joy
9at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.
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98.1–9 A hymn celebrating the salvation given by God as ruler and judge. See note on 93.1–5.
98.1–3 A call to praise the Lord for marvelous things done for Israel. The imagery of these verses is of God as a mighty warrior, victorious on behalf of the divine purposes and the care of the people. Cf. Ex 15.
98.1 New song. See note on 96.1. Right hand…holy arm are images of God’s power in battle. Cf. Ex 15.6, 12; Pss 44.2–3; 89.13; Isa 52.10; 59.16.
98.2 Victory, or salvation. Vindication, or righteousness.
98.4–8 Reiterated summons to the praise of God by the whole earth, the created order (cf. Ps 148) and its inhabitants.
98.9 The reason for all this praise is now given. It is in anticipation of the appearance of God to rule righteously over the earth and its peoples. Cf. 96.13; 97.2.
PSALM 99
Praise to God for His Holiness
1The LORD is king; let the peoples tremble!
He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
2The LORD is great in Zion;
he is exalted over all the peoples.
3Let them praise your great and awesome name.
Holy is he!
4Mighty King,a lover of justice,
you have established equity;
you have executed justice
and righteousness in Jacob.
5Extol the LORD our God;
worship at his footstool.
Holy is he!
6Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
Samuel also was among those who called on his name.
They cried to the LORD, and he answered them.
7He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;
they kept his decrees,
and the statutes that he gave them.
8O LORD our God, you answered them;
you were a forgiving God to them,
but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
9Extol the LORD our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for the LORD our God is holy.
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a Cn: Heb And a king’s strength
99.1–9 A hymn in praise of God’s holy and righteous rule. See note on 93.1–5. Each stanza concludes with a call to praise God, who is holy.
99.1–3 Praise of God the great ruler.
99.1 The LORD is king. See note on 93.1–2. Enthroned upon the cherubim. See note on 80.1.
99.4–5 Praise for God’s justice and righteousness.
99.5 Footstool, either the ark on Mount Zion or Mount Zion itself (1 Chr 28.2; Ps 132.7; cf. Isa 66.1).
99.6–9 Praise for God’s forgiving response to the intercessors for Israel. For Moses’ intercession, see Ex 32.11–14; Deut 9.26–29. Aaron is given the responsibility of praying for God’s blessing upon the people (Num 6.22–26). Samuel cried out to the Lord for the people in the face of the Philistines, and the Lord answered him (1 Sam 7.9). Cf. Jer 15.1.
PSALM 100
All Lands Summoned to Praise God
A Psalm of thanksgiving.
1Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.
2Worship the LORD with gladness;
come into his presence with singing.
3Know that the LORD is God.
It is he that made us, and we are his;a
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name.
5For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
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a Another reading is and not we ourselves
100.1–5 A hymn of praise and thanksgiving for the goodness of the Lord.
100.1–3 A summons to worship and praise (vv. 1–2) because of God’s shepherding care of the people (v. 3).
100.4–5 A further summons to thanksgiving and praise because of God’s goodness and faithfulness. These verses are a reflection of the prayer of thanksgiving in its essence, quoted in some form when reference is made to the people or the priests praising or giving thanks (106.1; 107.1; 118.1, 29; 136.1; 2 Chr 5.13; 7.3, 6; 20.21; Ezra 3.10–11).
100.4 Bless. See note on 103.1–2.
PSALM 101
A Sovereign’s Pledge of Integrity and Justice
Of David. A Psalm.
1I will sing of loyalty and of justice;
to you, O LORD, I will sing.
2I will study the way that is blameless.
When shall I attain it?
I will walk with integrity of heart
within my house;
3I will not set before my eyes
anything that is base.
I hate the work of those who fall away;
it shall not cling to me.
4Perverseness of heart shall be far from me;
I will know nothing of evil.
5One who secretly slanders a neighbor
I will destroy.
A haughty look and an arrogant heart
I will not tolerate.
6I will look with favor on the faithful in the land,
so that they may live with me;
whoever walks in the way that is blameless
shall minister to me.
7No one who practices deceit
shall remain in my house;
no one who utters lies
shall continue in my presence.
8Morning by morning I will destroy
all the wicked in the land,
cutting off all evildoers
from the city of the LORD.
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101.1–8 A royal psalm expressing the commitment of the ruler to a just rule. It may have been used at the king’s coronation.
101.1 A hymnic introduction by the king.
101.2 The king’s vow of integrity and blameless conduct.
101.3–8 The ruler vows to support the righteous and eliminate all such manifestations of wickedness as perversity, evil, slander, arrogance, and deceit.
101.8 Morning by morning. The king administered justice in the morning (2 Sam 15.2; Jer 21.12; cf. 1 Kings 3.16–28; Ps 72; Isa 11.4). The city of the LORD, Jerusalem.
PSALM 102
Prayer to the Eternal King for Help
A prayer of one afflicted, when faint and pleading before the LORD.
1Hear my prayer, O LORD;
let my cry come to you.
&nbs
p; 2Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me;
answer me speedily in the day when I call.
3For my days pass away like smoke,
and my bones burn like a furnace.
4My heart is stricken and withered like grass;
I am too wasted to eat my bread.
5Because of my loud groaning
my bones cling to my skin.
6I am like an owl of the wilderness,
like a little owl of the waste places.
7I lie awake;
I am like a lonely bird on the housetop.
8All day long my enemies taunt me;
those who deride me use my name for a curse.
9For I eat ashes like bread,
and mingle tears with my drink,
10because of your indignation and anger;
for you have lifted me up and thrown me aside.
11My days are like an evening shadow;
I wither away like grass.
12But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever;
your name endures to all generations.
13You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to favor it;
the appointed time has come.
14For your servants hold its stones dear,
and have pity on its dust.
15The nations will fear the name of the LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory.
16For the LORD will build up Zion;
he will appear in his glory.
17He will regard the prayer of the destitute,
and will not despise their prayer.
18Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
so that a people yet unborn may praise the LORD:
19that he looked down from his holy height,
from heaven the LORD looked at the earth,
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