Psalm 96
I was struck by all the collective nouns: peoples (vv. 3, 5, 7, 10, 13); nations (vv. 3, 10); world (vv. 10, 13); earth (vv. 1, 9, 11, 3); some of the uses of “world” and “earth” could refer to the physical created order, which is also called forth to praise God. See also the heavens, the sea, the field, the trees in vv. 11-12. Truly the Lord is a universal King – King over the heavens, other gods, the created order, and its peoples.
I love the images of the created order praising God. For me, praise from the fields stands out: …let the field exult, and everything in it! (v. 12a) We sing of “amber waves of grain”, but I’ve also seen the glory of fields of sunflowers and rapeseed in full bloom. Even now we can look upon the lush green of soybeans and tobacco soon to be harvested and corn standing taller than the tallest men on earth. What a beautiful created order in which we live!