Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Reflections on Psalm 96

 
    Psalm 96 (Contemporary English Version)

  1. Sing a new song to the LORD! Everyone on this earth, sing praises to the LORD,
  2. sing and praise his name. Day after day announce, "The LORD has saved us!"
  3. Tell every nation on earth, "The LORD is wonderful and does marvelous things!
  4. The LORD is great and deserves our greatest praise! He is the only God worthy of our worship.
  5. Other nations worship idols, but the LORD created the heavens.
  6. Give honor and praise to the LORD, whose power and beauty fill his holy temple."
  7. Tell everyone of every nation, "Praise the glorious power of the LORD.
  8. He is wonderful! Praise him and bring an offering into his temple.
  9. Everyone on earth, now tremble and worship the LORD, majestic and holy."
  10. Announce to the nations, "The LORD is King! The world stands firm, never to be shaken, and he will judge its people with fairness."
  11. Tell the heavens and the earth to be glad and celebrate! Command the ocean to roar with all of its creatures
  12. and the fields to rejoice with all of their crops. Then every tree in the forest will sing joyful songs
  13. to the LORD. He is coming to judge all people on earth with fairness and truth.




Psalm 96 follows closely the form of psalm 95, beginning with a general call to worship, followed with a description of the object of our worship, then a specific call to Israel to worship. Next a word about proclaiming the Lord to the heathen, and finally even the heavens and the earth are commanded to rejoice before the Lord. This psalm is an excerpt of one composed and sung by David when the ark of the Covenant was moved to Jerusalem from Obed-Edom (1Chronicles 16:7). For what are we to give praise to God? For His salvation, His glory, and for His wonderful works. We praise Him as the only God, for all the other so-called gods are only idols. But God made the heavens and everything else. Further, we are to praise Him for His splendor and majesty and His strength and beauty.

How are we to worship God? First we are to ascribe to Him glory and strength. In other words, to credit Him, not other sources, for what He has done. What an affront to God, who has created all that exists, to claim that His creation has other sources or no source at all. It just happened. In fact, God, Himself, doesn't exist. What foolishness! Further, we are to worship God by bringing offerings and entering His courts. Why offerings? Does He have to be paid off to avoid His wrath? Offerings acknowledge that God has given us everything we have and therefore in thankfulness we return a portion to Him. By hanging onto all we have we act as though what we have is ours and God has had no part in our having it. Our worship to God also involves entering His courts (verse 8). Though originally a reference to the temple courts, I see it not so much a reference to location as to coming into God's presence. Today it might be at a church or in our own private place where we spend time alone with God. Finally, worshiping God involves trembling before Him with an appropriate level of fear. Does this seem strange? Can you love and give praise to one you fear? I see this term, as used in reference to God, as a mixture of fear and respect. We cannot regard God's power without realizing He could easily destroy us, but we do not regard His power without also regarding His love, mercy, and justice. Because of these qualities He does not destroy us but instead blesses those who worship Him. This adds to our reasons to worship Him.

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