John Calvin Commentary Psalms 66:1

"Make a joyful noise unto God, all the earth:" — Psalms 66:1 (ASV)

Shout unto God, all the earth. The psalm begins with this general declaration, which is later reduced to particulars. He addresses the whole world, and from this it seems evident that he predicts the extent to which the kingdom of God would reach at the coming of Christ.

In the second verse, the call is repeated with increasing vehemence to stir up to the praises of God those who might otherwise be remiss in this service. The expression To sing the honor of his name, is sufficiently obvious, meaning that we should extol his sacred name in a manner suitable to its dignity, so that it may receive its due and deserved adoration.

But the following clause is rather ambiguous. Some think that it conveys a repetition of the same idea in other words and read, set forth the glory of his praise. I prefer taking the Hebrew word signifying praise to be in the accusative case, rendering the words literally, make a glory his praise. By this, I understand him to mean not, as some do, that we should glory exclusively in his praises, but simply that we should highly exalt his praises, so that they may be glorious.

The Psalmist is not satisfied with our declaring them moderately and insists that we should celebrate his goodness in some measure proportionately to its excellence.