ALL THE PEOPLES HAVE SEEN HIS GLORY

The expectation of Psalm 96 is fulfilled in this psalm. The Coming One has arrived and is reigning. The Messiah, the divine King, is the Lord Jesus Christ who “must reign”, 1 Cor. 15. 25, and the nation that had said “We will not have this man to reign over us”, Luke 19. 14, has now seen the folly of her ways and gladly acknowledges Him.

In that day “the people” will see His glory and the heavens will “declare his righteousness”, v. 6. Some will be ashamed, v. 7, while others will be glad, v. 8. When the Lord comes for us, the same situation will pertain; which group will we be in?

In verse 10, we have the memorable statement “Ye that love the Lord, hate evil”. Those that love the Lord are His saints, His favoured ones, whom He preserves. For them, “Light is sown”, v. 11. Just as the sower casts his seed, so the sun casts its beams for them. Gladness is sown in their heart and springs up; “Rejoice in the Lord … and give thanks”, v. 12.

The N.T. clearly teaches that believers will be associated with the Lord Jesus when He reigns on earth, 2 Tim. 2. 12; Rev. 5. 10; thus these Messianic psalms have a special interest for us. One of the problems of the Corinthian church was that they assumed such an air of spirituality that they behaved as if the kingdom had already come and they were reigning all on their own, even without the apostle and his co-workers, 1 Cor. 4. 8. Paul indeed looked forward to reigning with them, but for the moment there must be suffering, 4. 9-14. After suffering for Christ, comes reigning with Him, 2 Tim. 2. 12.

A willingness to suffer for Christ now arises from our love for Him which in turn is because of His love to us, 1 John 4. 19. If we, like the psalmist, “love the Lord” (cf. 1 Peter 1. 8), then we should love others also, 1 John 4. 21; Eph. 5. 25.

Love should lead to obedience, as the Lord Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments”, John 14. 15, 23. These commandments are not burdensome, 1 John 5. 3, and thus offer no obstacle to reciprocal love, but rather they give us opportunities to express our appreciation to the One who “preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked”, Psa. 97. 10. May we love the things that He loves, and hate the things which He hates.