This is a Restoration hymn. It’s very hard to argue against the Septuagint’s comment that this was written on the occasion of the rebuilding of the Temple after the Exile. It reflects too much the rather unique viewpoint of the prophetic tag-team Haggai and Zechariah serving during the Second Temple construction. Zechariah in particular offered a fresh emphasis on the global scope of Israel’s mission, and made more of the coming Day of Judgment than any previous prophet.
The flavoring is somewhat less of the ancient eastern nomad sheikhs and more of the experience they had with Babylonian and Persian rulers. From our perspective, the difference is subtle, but it works best to think of a Mesopotamian ruler in his palace. From what we can tell, there is a far broader exposure to different music styles and instruments than before the Exile.
Thus, this psalm hammers home the call to sing and rejoice. Forget the exaggerated myths of Solomon’s Temple; we have obeyed His command and He is pleased with the results. We have a proper imperial court for His divine Presence among us, so let’s observe the proper protocols and present our tribute and ourselves.
Much of this psalm quotes older psalms with a renewed emphasis. All of it is rather familiar and we need not review line by line the language. Rather, it’s critical to see the familiar imagery in this new context. Thus, along with traditional calls to worship and celebrate His majesty as one might the greatest of earthly rulers, the emphasis is on doing so particularly for the reason that the whole world needs to know. We see no particular marshal call to conquest, but to impress the nations with their devotion to Him.
The whole human race is His domain, so we need to make sure they see our example, along with the miraculous blessings we reap from our devotion. Overwhelm the heathen resistance with the sheer weight of His glory. They claim their gods are in the heavens, a figure of speech for the higher realm of existence commonly understood across the Ancient Near East. However, Jehovah made that heavenly domain, along with all of the earth, so it’s His home, not theirs.
All of Creation will join in with us when we render due honor to God. Nature is alive; this is no mere figure of speech. We need to be about this mission of His glory because all too soon He will come in wrath to judge all the earth.
