Introduction: The Psalms improve your song. If your song is exuberant, a psalm will sound like seventy-six trombones in a marching band. If your song is a lament, the psalm will sound like the blues. For every season of the heart, there is a psalm. Much like the preaching of Jesus, there is something for everyone. One characteristic of church music today is putting new lyrics to old tunes. Another characteristic of church music today is putting old lyrics to new tunes. People have their preferences, but God’s people always have a song. The Christian faith is a singing faith—in contrast to so many world religions today. Psalm 96 is only 13 verses long, but it is filled with commands to sing and reasons for doing so.
Jesus Saves, Jesus Saves
Psalm 96:1-5 KJV
O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
4 For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.
Six verbs carry the imperatives related to singing. Sing is used three times; praise, proclaim, and declare each appear once. Singing does not seem optional. When the heart is caught up in the wonder of God, the only response of the lips is to sing. The song is new (fresh). The song is worldwide (all the earth and the nations and among all peoples). The song centers on the character of God (praise his name—name standing for his person and character). The song’s content is salvation. To accomplish this salvation, God’s glory showed up in marvelous deeds (miracles). The psalmist gives five reasons why we would sing the song of salvation: First, the Lord is great. There is no one like him. Second, the Lord is most worthy of praise. He is the only one who deserves the honor. Third, the Lord is feared above other so-called gods (1 Corinthians 8:4-6). Other gods are worshiped in the world, but there is only one true God. Fourth, the nations are idol worshipers—unlike God’s people—and in worshiping their idols they are really worshiping themselves. Fifth, the Lord made the heavens. He is the Creator. “We have heard the joyful sound, Jesus saves, Jesus saves; spread the tidings all around Jesus saves, Jesus saves.”
Holy, Holy, Holy
Psalm 96:6-9 KJV
6 Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength.
8 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
9 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
Once again six verbs carry the imperatives related to this song. Ascribe is used three times; bring, worship, and tremble each appear once. The singer remembers who is worshiped—none other than God, our “blessed trinity.” He is holy—he is totally other and distinct from his creation. He dwells in splendor, majesty, strength, and glory. These qualities of God are personified as standing before God. Since God is holy, those who worship him must be holy in their worship. First, this involved bringing an offering that was without blemish. Second, ascribing to God his worth was to be done in the splendor of his holiness. Worship must be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40), but it must also capture the holy heart of the one being worshiped. Third, all the families of nations and all the earth were to participate in this grand worship of God. No spot on the globe is exempt. “Only Thou art holy—there is none beside Thee; perfect in power, in love and purity.”
Great Is the Lord, He Is Holy and Just
Psalm 96:10-13 KJV
10 Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
13 Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
he church often sings itself to health. God’s people sing the song of the redeemed, and in so doing, they sing health to their weary souls. The psalmist invites the nations, the earth, and the world to sing (or say) that God is in charge. He is great, holy, and just, and “by his power we trust in his love.” At the end of the day he will have the last word. He will judge (a verb that appears twice in this paragraph). His judgment is as sure as the world and is always done with equity. The psalmist personifies creation by calling it to witness God’s sovereignty. The heavens, the earth, the sea, the fields, the trees, and all of creation are called forth to testify to God’s pure and righteous judgment. In fact, God himself is the standard by which all judgment takes place. He will judge the world (pagans) and the peoples (Israel) in two ways—righteousness and faithfulness. God is the judge, but he is also the standard by which people will be judged. Put that to music.
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