What is the meaning of Psalm 96:4? For great is the LORD • “Great” is not exaggeration; it is factual. The Lord’s greatness is absolute, without limit or rival (Psalm 145:3; Jeremiah 10:6). • His greatness is seen in creation’s vastness (Psalm 19:1), redemption’s completeness (Isaiah 53:5-6), and His sovereign rule over history (Daniel 2:20-21). • Because His greatness is objective, our acknowledgment of it does not add to Him—it aligns us with reality (Malachi 1:11). and greatly to be praised • Praise should match the magnitude of the One praised. Half-hearted worship is out of step with who He is (Matthew 22:37). • The psalmist calls every nation to join in (Psalm 96:3), anticipating the universal praise pictured in Revelation 7:9-10. • Practical ways to “praise greatly”: – Speak of His works aloud (Psalm 105:1-2). – Sing with understanding and emotion (Colossians 3:16). – Live gratefully, treating obedience as worship (Romans 12:1). He is to be feared above all gods • “Feared” means reverent awe that produces submission (Proverbs 9:10). It dispels casual familiarity while deepening intimacy. • “All gods” refers to every idol or spiritual pretender—powers people trust in place of the Lord (Exodus 20:3; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6). • Why He outranks them: – He created everything; idols are created things (Psalm 96:5). – He judges righteously; false gods are powerless (Isaiah 44:9-20). – He alone saves; no rival offers redemption (Acts 4:12). • Healthy fear guards us from idolatry and fuels courageous faith (Psalm 34:9; Hebrews 12:28-29). summary Psalm 96:4 anchors worship in reality: the Lord’s greatness is unmatched, so our praise must be wholehearted and our reverence exclusive. Recognizing His supreme worth crowds out lesser allegiances and invites every heart to celebrate and submit to the only true God. |
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