Reflection on Psalm 96:10, 11–12a, 12b–13
“The Lord comes to judge the earth.”
These words are not meant to fill us with fear, but with hope. The Psalm presents the coming of the Lord as such joyful news that heaven rejoices, the earth is glad, the sea resounds, and even the fields and trees seem to celebrate.
Why such joy at the coming of a Judge? Because the One who comes is perfectly just and perfectly good. Human judgment can be clouded by prejudice, self-interest, anger or incomplete knowledge. God sees what no one else sees. He knows every hidden sacrifice, every silent act of kindness, every injustice endured and every sincere effort to remain faithful.
For those who suffer because the world seems unfair, this Psalm carries a powerful promise: evil will not have the final word. God will.
It also asks us to examine our own lives. If Christ came before us today, would He find hearts shaped by mercy, truth and love? Waiting for the Lord is not passive. We prepare for Him whenever we forgive, defend the dignity of another person, care for someone in need, reject injustice and choose what is right even when no one is watching.
So when we respond, “The Lord comes to judge the earth,” we proclaim our confidence that history belongs to God. We await not merely judgment, but the final triumph of His truth, justice and mercy.
May we live in such a way that the coming of the Lord is not something we fear, but something our hearts are ready to welcome with joy.