Psalm 96: Presence. Promises. Praise.

​Key Verse
Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!
 
Meditation
The awareness of God’s presence with us and the experience of the fulfillment of His promises for us will awaken our hearts to sing His praise. Yes, sing praise, joining the cosmic choir detailed in today’s reading: all nations, all the earth, and all the heavens! Let us sing!
 
David sung this psalm after the ark was brought into Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15). God fulfilled His promise by restoring His presence to the center of life with His people. Shouting and singing sprang forth! We too will have praise pour out when our soul is saturated with our Savior and His salvation, the fullness of God’s presence and fulfillment of all His promises in Jesus.
 
Singing is not the only response when rejoicing in our redeemer and His redemption. Believers also share of His salvation day to day (v. 2), declare His glory among the nations (v. 3), and ascribe to the Lord glory and strength (vv. 7-8)! We worship the Lord in His splendor, trembling before His holiness (v. 9) as we say among the nations, “Our God reigns!” (v. 10) The heavens and earth join the celebration (v. 11) of day-to-day jubilation from our great salvation.
 
Singing is a normal response to redemption, whether with exiles returning home (Isaiah 40:3) or the redeemed men and women from every tribe, tongue, and nation (Revelation 5:9). People who know God’s presence and experience the fullness of His promises go beyond a joyful noise to celebration of God’s salvation-SING! SHARE! And DECLARE! Joining the cosmic chorus of the Lord to sing a new song!
 
Today’s Reading
Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
    tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
 
7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
    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 holiness;
    tremble before him, all the earth!
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!
    Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
    he will judge the peoples with equity.”
 
11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
    let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12     let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13     before the Lord, for he comes,
    for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
    and the peoples in his faithfulness.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Are you hesitant to celebrate the salvation of Jesus in a public way? Timid to sing of your salvation? Why or why not?
 
-The scope of celebration is cosmic- every nation, all the earth, and all the heavens. Your song is not a solo! Does the cosmic scope of this redemptive response strengthen your desire to sing?
 
- After focusing on our Savior and His salvation which imperative from the passage is most inviting? Which one can you choose to obey today?
 
Key Verse
Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!