Declare His Glory Among the Nations
Psalm 96
• No information at beginning• But written by David•1 Chron. 16:23-33• A psalm calling upon the
nations to magnify God
Sing a New Song (1-3)• “To the Lord” – an act of
worship• “A new song” – either a new
song or a new audience – the latter seems to fit best
Sing a New Song (1-3)• “All the earth” – all nations, Titus 2:11
• “Sing to the Lord, bless His name” – glorify Him
Sing a New Song (1-3)• “Proclaim the good news of
His salvation from day to day” – declare the message! Rom. 10-14-18
Sing a New Song (1-3)• “Declare His glory among the
nations” – David does not want to keep the glory of the Lord to himself.
• Neither should we! Mark 16:15, Matt. 28:19, etc.
• Back then – message to Gentiles! Isa. 2:2-3, 40:3-5
Greatly to be Praised (4-6)• “The Lord is great…” – HE is
worthy (Psa. 18:3) • “Feared above all gods” –
feared! (Reverence Heb. 12:28, Jer. 10:6-7
Greatly to be Praised (4-6)• “All the gods of the peoples
are idols” – Boldness from a king to dignitaries!
• Their gods were NOTHING! Jeremiah 10:2-5, Also Isaiah 41:21-24
Greatly to be Praised (4-6)• “The Lord made the
heavens” – He is creator Jeremiah 10:11-12A description that often accompanies condemnation of idols
Greatly to be Praised (4-6)• “Honor and majesty are
before Him, strength and beauty are in His sanctuary” – His greatness declared in His tabernacle – TRUE beauty is His presence, not a building! Acts 17:24-25
Give to the Lord (7-9)• “Give to the Lord” (3 times) • “O families of the peoples” A
call to the nations – They too need to humbly bow before Him cf. Malachi 1:11
Give to the Lord (7-9)• Glory and strength, the glory
due His name! Psa. 111:9, Holy and awesome is His name!
• Do we respect His name? Is man worthy of His name? Matt. 23:6-10
Give to the Lord (7-9)• “Bring an offering and come
into His courts”The “offering” was a gift (not animal sacrifice). Gentiles invited to bring gifts.
• Consider this in our time? Heb. 13:15-16, 1 Pet. 2:5
Give to the Lord (7-9)• “Worship the Lord in the
beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him”As we approach Him, it ought to be with holiness. 1 Pet. 1:16
Say among the nations (10)• “Say among the nations, ‘The
Lord reigns…”Declare it! We need to declare itNations need to declare it Phil. 2:9-10
Say among the nations (10)• “The world is also firmly
established, It shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously”
Let the heavens rejoice (11-13)
• “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad.”A number of descriptions of “nature” declaring the glory of God. See Psa. 19:1, Rom. 1:20
Let the heavens rejoice (11-13)• “Let the heavens rejoice, let the
earth be glad.”Does this endorse pantheism?
• NO! God is NOT the earth, He created it!Gen. 1:1, etc.While He is omnipresent, He is not everything (Psa. 139-7-8)
Let the heavens rejoice (11-13)• “He is coming to judge the earth
with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth.”
• Judgment IS COMING! True back then and STILL true – Acts 17:30-31, John 5:28-29, 12:48
A psalm of praise and warning
But it is NOT a message to keep to ourselves –
2 Cor. 5:10-11
Will you tell others about that day?
Are YOU ready for it?