HEAVENS AND EARTH REJOICE
Let the heavens be glad H8055 and the earth rejoice;H1523 let the sea resound, and all that fills
it. Let the fields exultH5937, and all that is in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for
joyH7442 before the LORD, for He is coming—He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge
the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.
Psalm 96:11-13 (See also 1 Chronicles 15 & 16)
David composed this Psalm for the celebration of bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem from the house of Obed-edom:
1 Chronicles 16:7 On that day David first committed to Asaph and his brothers this song of thanksgiving to the LORD.
Another section of this song is recorded in Psalm 105. When the Ark of the Covenant was installed in the tent David had prepared for it, this song was sung to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, cymbals, and trumpets. David wrote that even the heavens and earth, and all that is in them, rejoice because of the greatness of God. Their joy cannot be contained. The King James Version says the “seas roar!” This Psalm looks forward to the righteous rule of the Messiah when He returns as the Righteous Judge.
96:13 He is coming. The rule of the Lord described in this psalm is not the present universal kingdom (Ps. 93), but one which will be established when Christ returns to earth. (37)
MacArthur Study Bible
For those of us who have trusted Jesus for salvation and eternal life, judgement is not to be feared because we are covered in Christ’s righteousness and not dependent on our own ability to be good enough. All evil will be extinguished, and the Lord Jesus will reign in righteousness andfaithfulness over everything. This will definitely be a time to rejoice!
Don’t let the heavens, earth, seas, fields, and trees outdo you in praising the Lord. Express your joy and thanksgiving to God even now! Maybe even sing along with Cece:
We can have joy even in this present world with all its woes because we know that ultimately Jesus wins, Satan is defeated, and we will live in perfect peace forever! As CeCe Winans sings, “Don’t have to wait ‘til the battle’s over. We can shout now!”
Father, we thank You that our joy does not depend on our current circumstances but depends entirely on Your faithfulness to us as Your chosen children.