Psalm 96
Sing! Sing!
Often what strikes people about a true church is how well they sing. I don’t mean the quality of their voices and harmonising, but I refer to the whole hearted and full throated worship of the church. The love, gratitude, trust and joy that is so evident.
But there are a number of questions we should ask about our sung worship: What do we sing? How should we sing? Why do we sing? Where do we sing? When do we sing?
Well the Psalm answers all these questions but it presses a question to us. Who should sing?
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 marvellous 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 Splendour 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 to his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the LORD in the splendour 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.
What do we sing?
First, it is a a new song. But what does the Psalmist mean when we are invited to sing a “new song” (1)? There are a few layers to this. This is the song that celebrates the new thing God is doing and has done. The new mercies we experience afresh each morning (see Lamentations 3.23) and new creation we are in Christ are cause to sing the new song of God’s salvation and provision.
Second, we praise the salvation, glory and marvellous deeds of our God(2-3). Because over all and at the centre of it all is God, our sustainer and Redeemer. We remember that the heart of the gospel message is not what we do, but what God has done in Christ. Jesus said “it is finished” because his death on the cross eternally secured the salvation of all who believe in him. Therefore, because he is the sum and substance of our salvation, so he is the centre and circumference of our praise!
How should we sing?
We are told to tremble in our in our worship. But why? For we worship “in the splendour of his holiness” (9). We are small, weak, finite and unclean. Isaiah cowered before the Lord, who burns in holiness (see Isaiah 6). God is a consuming fire, so we must not be lax as we approach him but remember we stand before the perfectly righteous One.
Trembling does not mean anxious though. For we are invited to come with gladness and joy (11), singing jubilantly (12) remembering who God is and what he has done.
Why do we sing?
He is alone the true God. He is great and mighty. He has no equals and is forever peerless (4-5). The gods of the nations are mere vapour. They are empty idols with no power or authority.
The LORD is the one who demonstrated his power in creating the heavens and earth (5), his strength is unmatched (6), and upholds the world by the power of his word (10; see Hebrews 1.1-4). Jesus showed his power when with a word he stilled the seas and silenced his enemies.
God alone, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is worthy of all praise and adoration. He is not just worthy though but it is his due (8).
Where do we sing?
Twice we are called on to sing the praises of God “among the nations” (3 & 10). Christianity is a personal faith but it is not a private religion. The whole earth was created by God, the totality of creation is under his reign and all the peoples need to be reminded of this truth.
When do we sing?
“Day after day” (2).
See that does not say Sunday after Sunday. We are to praise God every single day of the week. We aren’t just Christians on Sundays. We aren’t just under God’s rule one day a week. His mercies are new every day and so is our song!
Notice also it doesn’t say sunny day after sunny day. We don’t just praise when things are looking great. We praise God because he is great and holy and mighty all the time.
Who should sing?
All the earth (1).
The families of the earth (7).
The heavens and earth and seas (11).
The fields and forests (12).
All creation (13).
You!
Glory be to God the Father, for he made the heavens and earth.
Glory be to God the Son, for he will come to judge the world with equity and faithfulness.
Glory be to God the Spirit, for worship and praise is due his name.
Ever three and ever One.
Home Group: Luke 12.13-34
How often in a week do worries about money and possessions play on your mind and heart? Why do they worry us so much?
What does Jesus see as the root of the man’s complaint (13-15)? Do you think this heart issue affects everyone? How does his parable address the problem (16-21)? In what ways are we susceptible to putting our trust in money and possessions? What would a healthy relationship to money and possessions look like?
Randy Alcorn wrote, “Our use of money and possessions is a decisive statement of our eternal values.” Is this true? How do we see that in our lives?
According to Jesus, how ravens and lilies help to free us from the anxieties of greed (22-28)? What are we to pursue of first importance above clothing and food (29-31)? How do we do that (32-34)?