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?