Psalms Reading – 3.30.2022
Psalm 96
1 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
13 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.
12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
13 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.
Psalm 96 is a universal call to recognize that the Lord reigns. In verses 1-6, it calls us to worship the Lord because of his beauty and glory, and verses 7-13 call us to worship because of His righteous judgment.
The psalms often call us to sing a new song because God loves new music! When we have a fresh experience of God’s grace, we should offer a fresh expression of praise in prayer and worship. A new song not only speaks of music, but of our hearts in prayer. God grows tired if we offer the same old, routine, heartless prayers. Because God is continually doing a new thing within and among us, we should continually be offering him a fresh response of praise.
He is worthy of such praise because He is great and is to be feared above all the so-called gods of the nations. In contrast to these human-contrived objects of worship is the true Lord who actually made the heavens. Compare the handiwork of man with the handiwork of God and what a vast contrast you have!
This is why the psalmist calls all nations to join in the worship because there is one God full of splendor and majesty who reigns over all. Then, he calls the heavens, the earth, the sea, the fields, the forests, and all creation to rejoice and sing jubilantly to the Lord. We can rest assured that our holy Lord will one day judge the world with equity and righteousness. All things will be made whole again.
Memory Verse: Psalm 95:6-7, Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.
Question(s) to Consider: What is the fresh expression of grace God has most recently offered you? What is your new song of praise you are offering in response?