For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.
The Lord is supremely great, worthy of great praise and to be revered above every other god. He alone is to be feared above all gods because the gods of the nations are idols while He made the heavens. The song belongs to the psalm David gave to be sung when the ark was brought to Jerusalem, standing in 1 Chronicles 16:23-33 as a revised version of Psalm 96. It is a call to make His glory, salvation, deeds and praise known among all peoples throughout the whole world by His works and by His Word. Therefore singing is to make Him the object of all praise, adoration, reverence and gratitude rather than merely to please, excite or display talent, and the passage points to the judgment at the close of probation when cases are examined and sentences passed and executed.
Setting, Form, and Meaning
The verse belongs to the inspiring psalm David gave to be sung when the ark of God was brought to Jerusalem. It stands in 1 Chronicles 16:23-33, which is the same as Psalm 96 in a revised and somewhat altered version with slight variations. Just so, 1 Chronicles 16:8-22 reproduces the first fifteen verses of Psalm 105. It is Hebrew poetry, not prose to be pressed literally, and its wording carries the fervor and figurative character of poetic diction.
It declares that the Lord is great and supremely great, greatly to be praised and worthy of great praise, and to be feared and revered above all gods and above every other god. That supreme claim to reverence rests on this contrast: the gods of the nations are idols while the Lord made the heavens.
Mission, Worship, and Judgment
The verse stands within an invitation to make known God's deeds and glory among all peoples, for the gods of the nations are idols while the Lord made the heavens. His salvation and praise are to be proclaimed throughout the whole world, and within that call the verse teaches that the Lord is supremely great, worthy of great praise, and to be feared above every other god. That salvation was to be proclaimed to all the world both by His works and by His Word.
God gave His truth and law in the solitudes of the world to a pilgrim people called out to be priests to the whole world, not for themselves alone but to live the law so other nations would be won. Israel was to declare Jehovah's glory among the nations and Gentiles so that the Gentiles might be converted, proclaiming Jehovah so others would turn to Him. When people of the nations gave themselves to God, one law was for both. The call to proclaim God's salvation to all the world is proof that the preaching of the gospel had already been worldwide in the past.
The passage containing the verse belongs to the judgment that comes at the close of probation, when cases are examined, sentences are passed, and sentences are carried out. Because the Lord is great and greatly to be praised and to be revered above all gods, He is to be the object of all praise and adoration in singing. Singing should therefore direct praise and adoration to God and express gratitude to Him, rather than serve merely to please, excite, or display a singer's talent.
The Lord is supremely great, worthy of great praise and to be revered above every other god. He alone is to be feared above all gods because the gods of the nations are idols while He made the heavens. The song belongs to the psalm David gave to be sung when the ark was brought to Jerusalem, standing in 1 Chronicles 16:23-33 as a revised version of Psalm 96. It is a call to make His glory, salvation, deeds and praise known among all peoples throughout the whole world by His works and by His Word. Therefore singing is to make Him the object of all praise, adoration, reverence and gratitude rather than merely to please, excite or display talent, and the passage points to the judgment at the close of probation when cases are examined and sentences passed and executed.
Setting, Form, and Meaning
The verse belongs to the inspiring psalm David gave to be sung when the ark of God was brought to Jerusalem.
It stands in 1 Chronicles 16:23-33, which is the same as Psalm 96 in a revised and somewhat altered version with slight variations.
Just so, 1 Chronicles 16:8-22 reproduces the first fifteen verses of Psalm 105.
It is Hebrew poetry, not prose to be pressed literally, and its wording carries the fervor and figurative character of poetic diction.
It declares that the Lord is great and supremely great, greatly to be praised and worthy of great praise, and to be feared and revered above all gods and above every other god.
That supreme claim to reverence rests on this contrast: the gods of the nations are idols while the Lord made the heavens.
Mission, Worship, and Judgment
The verse stands within an invitation to make known God's deeds and glory among all peoples, for the gods of the nations are idols while the Lord made the heavens. His salvation and praise are to be proclaimed throughout the whole world, and within that call the verse teaches that the Lord is supremely great, worthy of great praise, and to be feared above every other god. That salvation was to be proclaimed to all the world both by His works and by His Word.
God gave His truth and law in the solitudes of the world to a pilgrim people called out to be priests to the whole world, not for themselves alone but to live the law so other nations would be won. Israel was to declare Jehovah's glory among the nations and Gentiles so that the Gentiles might be converted, proclaiming Jehovah so others would turn to Him. When people of the nations gave themselves to God, one law was for both. The call to proclaim God's salvation to all the world is proof that the preaching of the gospel had already been worldwide in the past.
The passage containing the verse belongs to the judgment that comes at the close of probation, when cases are examined, sentences are passed, and sentences are carried out. Because the Lord is great and greatly to be praised and to be revered above all gods, He is to be the object of all praise and adoration in singing. Singing should therefore direct praise and adoration to God and express gratitude to Him, rather than serve merely to please, excite, or display a singer's talent.