The God Above All Gods

Psalm 96:1-6

1Sing a new song to the LORD!

Let the whole earth sing to the LORD!

2Sing to the LORD; bless his name.

Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.

3Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.

Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.

4Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise!

He is to be revered above all the gods.

5The gods of other nations are merely idols,

but the LORD made the heavens!

6Honor and majesty surround him;

strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

In the early fourth century Constantine legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire and made it the official religion. But less than fifty years later Constantine’s nephew Julian tried to undo those reforms. Julian was committed to the traditional pagan gods of Rome, and he tried to force those beliefs on Roman society. He arranged for paganism to be taught in the schools, repaired the old pagan temples, and reserved high government posts for his fellow pagans. He did everything he could to undermine Christianity.

Christians were surprised by this sudden opposition, for Julian himself (later called “the Apostate”) had professed to be a Christian until he took office. Christians had enjoyed a free ride for half a century. Now they had to defend their beliefs, showing their pagan neighbors that Jesus Christ really is the answer.

One of the church’s favorite psalms during this time was Psalm 96, and it’s no wonder. It asserts that the Lord “is to be revered above all the gods” (verse 4). All other gods (elohim in Hebrew) are merely idols (elilim). You can hear the wordplay there, and the word for idols can carry the sense of “useless objects.”

Eventually Julian was killed in a battle with the Persians, and Christians regained control of the empire. Once again their God had emerged victorious over “the gods of other nations.”

Let all on earth their voices raise

To sing the great Jehovah’s praise

And bless his holy name.

His glory let the people know,

His wonders to the nations show,

His saving grace proclaim.

ISAAC WATTS

Psalm at a Glance

There’s a subtle direction change in verse 2. Those who have been singing to the Lord are now to tell the world. Worship and evangelism are intimately connected.

Thought to Ponder

Notice that even though the psalmist was proving a point—the Lord’s superiority over other gods—he kept singing. God’s people are always strongest when their lives are characterized by joy and singing.