Psalms 95, 96
Psalm 95 is a call to Israel, and Psalm 96 is addressed to all the earth. The time has now come of which Psalms 2, 24 and 45 speak, and Jehovah the Lord of the earth takes His power and reigns. What a contrast these psalms present to the first coming of the Messiah as portrayed by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John! For Jehovah here is Jesus whom the heavens have received until the time of restitution of all things (Acts 3:19-23).
Notice how the Holy Spirit makes use of the latter part of Psalm 95 in the Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 3. It is a last appeal for repentance; presently the opportunity for salvation will be closed forever. What a story of divine grace this psalm contains!
Psalm 96 presents Jehovah to the nations in the spirit of the everlasting gospel (see Revelation 14:6, 7). At the close, the heavens, earth and sea are called upon to rejoice. In its full expression, this rejoicing is shown in the last three psalms, 148, 149 and 150.
The Christian rejoices already in the thought of the day of which these psalms speak. We too own Jesus as Jehovah, but He is our Lord whom we have known by faith (whom having not seen we love) in the time of His rejection and absence, and when Israel beholds Him we shall be with Him. Then the heavens, the heavenly people, will rejoice with the earth. What hallelujahs will fill both heaven and earth when the once thorn crowned, now glory crowned Jesus is revealed to adoring hearts!
ML 06/28/1931