Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” (Ps. 96:10)
Expanded Passage: Psalm 96
On the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8, 2022, the Prince of Wales became king as King Charles III. His accession to the throne brought many changes, not least the national anthem, which reverted to its former name, “God Save the King,” and now uses the masculine pronoun to refer to the new monarch.
The words of the United Kingdom’s national anthem changed in honor of the earthly and ephemeral reign of the new king, but God’s Word remains the same and never changes. In parallel, Psalm 96, considered a royal psalm, extols God’s eternal sovereignty as King, as depicted in verse 10. This psalm is divided into four parts: the first invites us to sing the Lord’s praises among the nations (vs. 1–3); the second speaks of the reasons why we should praise the Lord (vs. 4–6); the third, addressed to the nations, invites them to give glory and honor to the Lord and proclaim his kingship (vs. 7–10); and the fourth invites the creation to rejoice before the Lord and prepare for his just and faithful judgment.
Amid transient earthly reigns, God continues to reign sovereignly, reminding everyone that his reign lasts forever. We must get on board, making it known with our songs of praise among the nations, in every place and in every generation, that the Lord reigns.
Let us proclaim everywhere with our melodies that the Lord reigns.
Handy Calixte is the national director of Christian education for L’Église Wesleyenne d’Haïti. He is pursuing his master of divinity at Wesley Seminary (IN). He is married to Johane and has three children.
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
