Ps. xcvi. 9. 0 worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness/
THE calling of the Gentiles was a very favourite subject with the sweet singer of Israel. It is almost always blended with his sweetest strains. If at any time his soul be inflamed with more than ordinary
devotion, it expands itself immediately to the remotest corners of the earth, and anticipates the period when the whole world shall enjoy the privileges which were then confined within the narrow limits of the Jewish nation ; yea rather, when the richer blessings of Messiah's reign should be diffused with equal liberality over the face of the whole earth. The psalm before us had a special reference to the Mes- siah. It speaks of "a new song" that was to be sung ; a song unknown to Moses, who celebrated only a temporal deliverance : and it was to be sung by " the whole earth," because it was to be com- memorative of a spiritual and eternal redemption, wrought out by the Messiah for the whole family of man. Let us read a part of this sublime composition : " O sing unto the Lord a ?iew song ! sing unto the Lord all the whole earth. Sing unto the Lord ; bless his name ; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the Heathen, his wonders among all people. Give unto the Lord, O ye kin- dreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holi- ness ! fear before him, all the earth. Say among the Heathen that the Lord reignetha." That it is of the Messiah's advent and reign that he here speaks, is evident ; because he refers, not to any thing past, but to events yet future : " Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad ; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the field be joyful, and all that is therein : then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord : for He cometh ; for he cometh to judge (to rule) the earth : he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth b."
This psalm, together with a part of the 105th, was used by David, when he carried up the ark to Mount Zion, to place it in the Tabernacle" : and well was it adapted to that occasion ; because the ark was a very eminent type of that adorable " word, who in due time became flesh, and dwelt amongst usd." Then,
a ver. 1—3, 7, 9, 10. b ver. 11—13.
c 1 Chron. xvi. 7 — 33. d John i. 14. ioKiivtaaev,