Then comes the full blessing in this Psalm. It is the avowal of Israel that it is not their praise but Jehovah's-that Jehovah, their God, He is the Elohim, their unknown God; "We are his people," therefore we are in this position-therefore you are to own us, because He owns us. "Come " therefore " into his courts"—He is your God—here His place of worship; we can tell you what He is. The faithfulness of the Jews says, "Praise Jehovah, bless him, for he is good, his mercy endures forever"—this is the special Jewish song—and "His truth to generation and generation." This can only be sung and declared by Jews—the restored Remnant—but, being revealed to them, He is this, and now developedly, and so "Rejoice in Jehovah, all ye lands" is the song now. It is consequent upon the other two or four.
It is a very beautiful Psalm, and, if understood in this connection, its force is very obvious and glorious, and full. It is a Psalm of blessing—the summons from Zion, to all nations, to rejoice in Jehovah.
In this Psalm Israel, blessed of the honorable for ancient associations, instructs the nations (kol haaretz, the whole earth) how to behave themselves in the courts of Israel's God. Israel could now well teach how His gates should be entered with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise—a lesson taught of old—an ancient title of mastership with the heathen, but how deeply learned now! Then shall call the ministers of the Lord, and the priests of their God, they say, "Know ye"—"Enter"—"for see, Jehovah is good!" With what heart could they say this; and, observe, it is Israel's choral song from David, the time of assured grace in all times, as often observed. "The Lord is good" (l' olam chas'do, His mercy is forever)—so in Hebrews—so in many songs of Zion's mercy.
I apprehend this term haaretz (the earth) is used on purpose to serve for Israel proper as an instruction to them, as a whole people, as when David, etc., brought them up together, addressed by the Levites and priests to all the land, and for all the earth, as we say, when they should become, before the Lord in the eyes of the nations, the ministers and priests of their God. Such a place is sweetly beautiful, and blessed for Israel. It is a song of grace too, always—"It is he that hath made us."
"The Land " or " Earth "; " lands " has no warrant at all.