Wednesday: Declare His Glory Among the Nations
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 20th of March 2024
Read Psalms 96:1-13. What manifold aspects of worship are mentioned in this psalm?
Worship includes singing to the Lord (Psalms 96:1-2), praising His name (Psalms 96:2), proclaiming His goodness and greatness (Psalms 96:3-4), and bringing gifts to His temple (Psalms 96:8). In addition to these familiar traits of worship, Psalms 96:1-13 highlights one not so obvious aspect of worship—the evangelical dimension in proclaiming the Lord’s kingdom to other peoples (Psalms 96:2, 3, 10).
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Yet, singing, praising, bringing gifts, and proclaiming the gospel are not separate actions but are varied expressions of worship. The proclamation of God’s salvation to all nations gives substance to praise and content to worship. Notice how the reasons for worship coincide with the message proclaimed to other peoples: “for the Lord is great” (Psalms 96:4), “for all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens” (Psalms 96:5, NKJV), “ ‘the Lord reigns’ ” (Psalms 96:10, NKJV), and “for He is coming to judge the earth” (Psalms 96:13, NKJV). Thus, the goal of evangelism is to unite other peoples with God’s people, and ultimately the whole creation in the worship of the Lord (Psalms 96:11-13).
Worship springs from the inward recognition of who the Lord is, that is, Creator, King, and Judge (Psalms 96:5,10,13). Worship thus involves remembering God’s past acts (Creation), celebrating His present wonders (God’s sustaining of the world and His present reign), and anticipating His future deeds (end-time judgment and a new life in a new heavens and earth).
Judgment in the Psalms means restoration of the divine order of peace, justice, and well-being in a world presently burdened by injustice and suffering. Hence, the whole earth rejoices in anticipation of God’s judgments (Psalms 96:10-13, Psalms 98:4-9). The fact that the Lord is a righteous Judge should additionally motivate people to worship Him in holiness and “tremble,” and should caution them against taking worship lightly (Psalms 96:9). Worship involves both immense joy and confidence (Psalms 96:1-2, 11-13) and holy fear and awe (Psalms 96:4, 9).
The universal appeal of Psalms 96:1-13 to worship the Creator and the Judge is reflected in God’s final gospel proclamation to the world, the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12. In many ways this psalm seems to incorporate this end-time message: creation, salvation (“everlasting gospel”), worship, and judgment. It’s all there.
Compare this psalm with the three angels’ messages (Revelation 14:6-12). In what ways does it teach the same basic truths as does this end-time message that we are to proclaim to the world?
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I have purposely emphasised that true worship is something we live, not just the liturgy of Sabbath services or even family worship. There are many references to God's distaste for worship that goes through the motions but does not come from the heart. (Liturgy is a word that means all that happens in a formal church service)
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That said, it does not mean that liturgical worship is unimportant and that we should do away with it. Rather it should be an integral part of our lives and together both the liturgy and living should bring honor to God.
In my teaching days, I used to get my students to write papers on current technical topics. Some students would pick up on some esoteric issue and ignore the important background and boring stuff. They would essentially give me the icing on the cake without the cake. My task in training these students was to teach them the value of both. I wanted to know that they understood all the boring stuff and then surprise me with their application and extension of that knowledge. Both parts were essential to the assignment.
Our liturgy is an essential part of our spiritual experience. By itself, it can be likened to the cream without the cake. When our liturgy is combined with the cake of everyday living and sharing it can become a powerful part of our Christian experience.
And if that is true, it may be important for us to be a bit more creative in our liturgy. I am glad that so many readers took the opportunity to write their own psalms and share them here early this year. Would it be a good idea to share these in your local church services too?
In this life of so many things that constantly drag energy and attention out of us, how do we equalize the will of God for ourselves? Time spent with the Master. He is our single hope. We need to learn to do everything in constant communion with the Lord. Not one second should be wasted.
I get the impression when reading Psalm 96:1-13 that it is a call for the believer to be made ready for the time when – vs.13, ‘He is coming to judge the earth, judging the world with righteousness and the people with His Truth.’ Continuous praise, prayer, and faithfulness in living His Truth is the hallmark of those who love God with all their heart.
It appears to me to be the essential difference between those of the world and those touched and changed by the Son of God – they can exclaime the New Song and sing a New Melody heared throughout the earth as they rejoice in the Glory of God and His Goodness. And it is not just His people, but heaven and the whole earth ‘rejoice before the LORD’!
Yes, praising God and rejoicing in His Glory is His testimony; showing the world its Creator and sustainer and what He has done and what He will do! Then the time comes when all will sing the New Song reflecting His Righteousness as He reigns unchallenged in all the earth and heaven. Amen
Declaring God's glory among the nations is not just telling mankind about His love and message of salvation but also showing the world who He is by living His character in our daily life.
Our actions speak louder than words. The way we treat other people, the way we live our life, the way we deal with circumstances - are the powerful tools in declaring God's MESSAGE and GLORY to the world.
Thank you Maurice Ashton for bringing out the distinction and the importance of the two 'worships'in a way I understood..