Psalm 96
Proclaiming the Lord’s Salvation
_______________________________________
Intro
Psalm 96 is a vibrant call to praise God for His marvelous works and to proclaim His salvation to all nations. With the perspective of the New Covenant, it speaks powerfully to the mission of believers to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the anticipation of His return.
Section 1: Sing a New Song (Verses 1-3)
"Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples."
Harmony
The call to sing a new song and proclaim His salvation is mirrored in Revelation 5:9-10, where a new song is sung in heaven to the Lamb who was slain and has ransomed people from every tribe, language, people, and nation.
Talking Points:
The call to sing a new song to the Lord.
The command to proclaim God's salvation daily.
The instruction to share His glory and wonderful deeds among the nations.
Questions:
What does singing a "new song" to the Lord signify in our spiritual lives?
How can we practically proclaim God's salvation in our day-to-day lives?
How can we effectively share God's glory and wonderful deeds among the nations in today's global society?
Section 2: The Greatness of the Lord (Verses 4-6)
"For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and beauty are in His sanctuary."
Harmony
The greatness of the Lord and His creation is echoed in Colossians 1:16, where Christ is revealed as the Creator of all things in heaven and on earth.
Talking Points:
The greatness of the Lord above all other so-called gods.
The majesty of God as the creator of all.
The attributes of God - splendor, majesty, strength, and beauty.
Questions:
How does acknowledging the greatness of the Lord affect our worship and relationship with Him?
How does recognizing God as the creator of all things inspire our reverence and awe?
How do God's attributes of splendor, majesty, strength, and beauty shape our understanding of His character?
Section 3: Anticipating the Lord's Coming (Verses 7-13)
"Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering and come into His courts. Worship the Lord in holy attire; tremble before Him, all the earth. Say among the nations, 'The Lord reigns; indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.' Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all it contains; let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord, for He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness."
Harmony
The anticipation of the Lord's coming aligns with Acts 1:11 and Revelation 22:12, where the return of Christ is assured to bring judgment and rewards.
Talking Points:
The command to ascribe glory and strength to the Lord.
The reign of God over all the earth and His righteous judgment.
The anticipation and joyous expectation of the Lord's coming.
Questions:
How can we ascribe glory and strength to the Lord in our worship?
What does the reign of God and His righteous judgment mean for us as believers?
How does the anticipation of the Lord's coming affect our lives and our perspective on the future?
Summary:
Psalm 96:1-13 is a vibrant exhortation to praise the Lord, proclaim His salvation, recognize His greatness, and anticipate His coming. Under the New Covenant, these themes resonate with the work and return of Christ.
The new song we sing (Revelation 5:9-10) celebrates the salvation through Jesus, who is above all and through whom all things were created (Colossians 1:16).
The anticipation of His coming (Acts 1:11, Revelation 22:12) stirs us to live in righteousness and eagerly await His righteous judgment.
This Psalm thus encourages us to live lives of active praise, faithful proclamation, and joyous anticipation.