Slideshow image

Throughout the book of Psalms, we see a prophetic expectation of the Lord’s return. The New Testament penman, as well as the Christians from the past two millennia, have expected the same. We understand that the Bible teaches of the imminent return of Christ. We are thankful that we do not have to look for the Antichrist, but instead Scripture tells us to look for our Savior (Titus 2:13). One of the expectations that we have in thinking about the return of the Lord is that He will set things right. In Psalm 96, a wonderful psalm of praise, we have these powerful words in verses 12 and 13:

12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice 13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
Psalm 96:12-13

Psalm 96 is indeed a psalm of rejoicing. The psalmist, over and over again, declares that we ought to sing, praise, rejoice, worship, and give glory unto the Lord (Verses 1-11). In the end, the psalmist declares several reasons for this hope. 

1. The Lord cometh.
In verse 13, there is no question concerning the Lord’s return. The Word of God declares the fact that the Lord is coming. The verb “cometh” is spoken as something already done, irrespective of its accomplishment. Just as the Lord came, lived, and died according to the Scriptures, He is coming again. 

2. The Lord will judge the world. 
The followers of Christ expect that the evil and wickedness that abounds would be dealt with, and the world would be set right by the One whose name is the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jeremiah 23:6).  This is the repeated promise found in the Scriptures. Here in Psalm 96, it is repeated that the Lord will judge the earth (“… to judge the earth…” “…he shall judge the world…” vs. 13)

3. The Lord’s judgment will be according to HIS truth. 
We may have the idea that things need to be done a certain way. We may even understand how certain people should be judged or situations dealt with. However, we see that the Lord will judge according to His truth and His righteousness. There is no other standard by which men shall be judged. We can take comfort in the Scriptures that all that the Lord does is perfect and right. All will be dealt with one day, and we will be with our Savior for all of eternity.