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Psalm 96 · a question people ask

Why would the heavens, the earth and the sea be glad that he comes to judge?

In the text

The psalm gives its reason in its last words. It calls, "Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar, and its fullness!" (96:11), and says why with for: "for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth" (96:13). Then it says what his judging is: "He will judge the world with righteousness, the peoples with his truth" (96:13), and before that, "He will judge the peoples with equity" (96:10) (tap equity, truth). In the psalm the one who judges is the one who "made the heavens" (96:5), and his judging goes with righteousness, equity and truth. The psalm doesn't say more about why the heavens and the sea are glad, and these notes don't add to it.

The verses

“For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.”
Psalm 96:5 · World English Bible
“Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” The world is also established. It can’t be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar, and its fullness! Let the field and all that is in it exult! Then all the trees of the woods shall sing for joy before the LORD; for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, the peoples with his truth.”
Psalm 96:10-13 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 96

Psalm 96: Say among the nations

Psalm 96 says Sing to the LORD three times and Ascribe to the LORD three times, and sends the praise out: "Declare his glory among the nations" (96:3). And it says "for he comes" twice (96:13), where the same line in 1 Chronicles 16:33 and the close of Psalm 98 say it once.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions