◄ Psalm 96:1 ►
Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Study Bible
Sing to the LORD a new song;
This phrase calls for a fresh expression of worship and praise to God, indicating a renewal or a new act of divine intervention. The concept of a "new song" is found throughout Scripture, often associated with God's deliverance or a new revelation of His power (e.g., Psalm 33:3, Isaiah 42:10, Revelation 5:9). It suggests a response to God's ongoing work in the world and in the lives of His people. Historically, the Israelites would compose new songs to commemorate significant events, such as victories in battle or deliverance from enemies. This reflects the dynamic nature of worship, which is not static but continually evolving as God reveals Himself in new ways.

sing to the LORD, all the earth.
This phrase extends the call to worship beyond Israel to include all nations and peoples, emphasizing the universal sovereignty of God. It reflects the biblical theme that God's glory and salvation are intended for all creation, not just a single nation (e.g., Psalm 67:4, Isaiah 49:6). The phrase anticipates the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his descendants (Genesis 12:3). In the New Testament, this is echoed in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) and the vision of a diverse multitude worshiping God in Revelation 7:9. The call for "all the earth" to sing underscores the inclusivity of God's kingdom and the ultimate reconciliation of all creation to Him.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The central figure in this verse, Yahweh is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. The call to sing a new song is directed to Him, highlighting His worthiness of worship.

2. All the Earth
This phrase indicates the universal scope of the call to worship. It is not limited to Israel but extends to all nations and peoples, emphasizing the inclusivity of God's invitation to praise.

3. The Psalmist
Traditionally attributed to David, the psalmist is the inspired author who calls for a new song, reflecting a fresh expression of worship and gratitude.
Teaching Points
The Call to Worship
Worship is a command, not just an invitation. We are called to actively participate in praising God.

A New Song
A "new song" signifies a fresh experience or understanding of God's grace and works. It encourages believers to continually renew their worship and not rely solely on past experiences.

Universal Worship
The call to "all the earth" reminds us of the global mission of the Gospel. Worship is not confined to one group but is a universal response to God's majesty.

Creative Expression in Worship
Worship should be vibrant and creative, reflecting the new mercies and revelations we receive from God daily.

Joyful Praise
Singing to the LORD should be an expression of joy and gratitude, acknowledging His sovereignty and goodness.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does it mean to sing a "new song" to the LORD, and how can this be applied in your personal worship?

2. How does the call for "all the earth" to sing to the LORD challenge your understanding of worship and evangelism?

3. In what ways can you incorporate creativity and freshness into your worship practices?

4. How do other scriptures, such as Isaiah 42:10 and Revelation 5:9, enhance your understanding of Psalm 96:1?

5. Reflect on a recent experience where you felt compelled to worship God in a new way. How did this impact your relationship with Him?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 42:10
This verse also calls for a new song to the LORD, emphasizing the theme of God's salvation reaching the ends of the earth.

Revelation 5:9
In the New Testament, the concept of a new song is echoed in the heavenly worship of the Lamb, signifying redemption and the gathering of people from every tribe and nation.

Psalm 33:3
Another call to sing a new song, highlighting the joy and creativity in worshiping God with skill and enthusiasm.
Sermons
The Call for a New SongR. Tuck Psalm 96:1
Songs and SermonsS. Conway Psalm 96:1-3
A Supreme Existence and a Supreme ServiceHomilistPsalm 96:1-13
How and Why Jehovah is to be WorshippedC. Short Psalm 96:1-13
The New Song and the Old StoryPsalm 96:1-13
People
Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Melody, O, Oh, Sing, Song
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 96:1

     4203   earth, the
     8352   thankfulness

Psalm 96:1-2

     7960   singing

Psalm 96:1-3

     8624   worship, reasons

Psalm 96:1-9

     8440   glorifying God

Library
Psalm Xcvi. 1, 2
Psalm xcvi. 1, 2. Sing a new song unto the Lord; His mercies, every morning new, His truth and faithfulness record; Give to our God the glory due. God is the Lord; around His throne In heaven, adoring seraphim, And ransom'd saints, ascribe alone All power, might, majesty, to Hiin. On earth His church impregnable, Built on the rock of ages, stands, And yet, against the gates of hell, Shall send salvation through all lands. Thou, by whose word the worlds were made, In wisdom and in goodness framed, …
James Montgomery—Sacred Poems and Hymns

Letter Xlii to the Illustrious Youth, Geoffrey De Perrone, and his Comrades.
To the Illustrious Youth, Geoffrey de Perrone, and His Comrades. He pronounces the youths noble because they purpose to lead the religious life, and exhorts them to perseverance. To his beloved sons, Geoffrey and his companions, Bernard, called Abbot of Clairvaux, wishes the spirit of counsel and strength. 1. The news of your conversion that has got abroad is edifying many, nay, is making glad the whole Church of God, so that The heavens rejoice and the earth is glad (Ps. xcvi. 11), and every tongue …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Therefore Go On, Saints of God, Boys and Girls...
27. Therefore go on, Saints of God, boys and girls, males and females, unmarried men, and women; go on and persevere unto the end. Praise more sweetly the Lord, Whom ye think on more richly: hope more happily in Him, Whom ye serve more instantly: love more ardently Him, whom ye please more attentively. With loins girded, and lamps burning, wait for the Lord, when He cometh from the marriage. [2075] Ye shall bring unto the marriage of the Lamb a new song, which ye shall sing on your harps. Not surely …
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

A Letter from Origen to Africanus.
Origen to Africanus, a beloved brother in God the Father, through Jesus Christ, His holy Child, greeting. Your letter, from which I learn what you think of the Susanna in the Book of Daniel, which is used in the Churches, although apparently somewhat short, presents in its few words many problems, each of which demands no common treatment, but such as oversteps the character of a letter, and reaches the limits of a discourse. [3028] And I, when I consider, as best I can, the measure of my intellect, …
Origen—Origen's Letters

Period iii. The Dissolution of the Imperial State Church and the Transition to the Middle Ages: from the Beginning of the Sixth Century to the Latter Part of the Eighth
The third period of the ancient Church under the Christian Empire begins with the accession of Justin I (518-527), and the end of the first schism between Rome and Constantinople (519). The termination of the period is not so clearly marked. By the middle and latter part of the eighth century, however, the imperial Church has ceased to exist in its original conception. The Church in the East has become, in great part, a group of national schismatic churches under Moslem rulers, and only the largest …
Joseph Cullen Ayer Jr., Ph.D.—A Source Book for Ancient Church History

Hiram, the Inspired Artificer
BY REV. W. J. TOWNSEND, D.D. The Temple of Solomon was the crown of art in the old world. There were temples on a larger scale, and of more massive construction, but the enormous masses of masonry of the oldest nations were not comparable with the artistic grace, the luxurious adornments, and the harmonious proportions of this glorious House of God. David had laid up money and material for the great work, but he was not permitted to carry it out. He was a man of war, and blood-stained hands were …
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known

Ye Also who have not yet Made this Vow...
30. Ye also who have not yet made this vow, who are able to receive it, receive it. [2093] Run with perseverance, that ye may obtain. [2094] Take ye each his sacrifices, and enter ye into the courts [2095] of the Lord, not of necessity, having power over your own will. [2096] For not as, "Thou shall not commit adultery, Thou shall not kill," [2097] can it so be said, Thou shalt not wed. The former are demanded, the latter are offered. If the latter are done, they are praised: unless the former are …
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

The First Commandment
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.' Exod 20: 3. Why is the commandment in the second person singular, Thou? Why does not God say, You shall have no other gods? Because the commandment concerns every one, and God would have each one take it as spoken to him by name. Though we are forward to take privileges to ourselves, yet we are apt to shift off duties from ourselves to others; therefore the commandment is in the second person, Thou and Thou, that every one may know that it is spoken to him, …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

The Prophet Micah.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. Micah signifies: "Who is like Jehovah;" and by this name, the prophet is consecrated to the incomparable God, just as Hosea was to the helping God, and Nahum to the comforting God. He prophesied, according to the inscription, under Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. We are not, however, entitled, on this account, to dissever his prophecies, and to assign particular discourses to the reign of each of these kings. On the contrary, the entire collection forms only one whole. At …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The History of the Psalter
[Sidenote: Nature of the Psalter] Corresponding to the book of Proverbs, itself a select library containing Israel's best gnomic literature, is the Psalter, the compendium of the nation's lyrical songs and hymns and prayers. It is the record of the soul experiences of the race. Its language is that of the heart, and its thoughts of common interest to worshipful humanity. It reflects almost every phase of religious feeling: penitence, doubt, remorse, confession, fear, faith, hope, adoration, and …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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