Sunday, June 2, 2013 pm
STUDIES IN PSALMS
Declare His Glory Among the Nations
Psalm 96
While there is no information given as to the origin of this
psalm in a superscription, we know exactly when it was written and by
whom. 1 Chronicles 16:23-33
are the basis for this psalm.
There are a few variations, but it is clearly a portion of that
psalm rewritten. It was
spoken by David as the ark was brought into Jerusalem, delivered to
Asaph and his brethren to thank the Lord. (1 Chron. 16:7)
As to the content of this psalm, it is another psalm that
seeks to magnify God and calls for the rejection of idols.
It has been observed that Psalm 95 was written to Israel and
their need to sing to the Lord.
This psalm seems to be a call to all the world to also worship
Him.
a.
Sing to the Lord a new
song!
“To the Lord” - In our
last psalm we discussed singing in our worship (and will do so more in
the future). It is an
act of worship TO HIM which means we must respect His instructions as to
how He is pleased. Let
us NEVER forget this in our worship!
While we are edified and even teaching and admonishing one
another, it is to Him.
“A new song” – either the
song is new or the audience is new (i.e. in our song books we have
hundreds of hymns that would be NEW if we sung them, yet the book is
some 60 years old, with many of them over a century old).
In this particular psalm it could reference a new AUDIENCE, as
David declares His Lord “to all the nations”.
Also, let us notice that the use of “sing” has reference to glorifying
God – more about the message than the music.
b.
All the earth
– a reference to all nations – an invitation for all nations to hear and
worship the one True God. Titus
2:11, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.”
c.
“Sing to the Lord, bless His name” – in song and teaching we glorify Him in many ways
d.
“Proclaim the good news
of His salvation from day to day” – let the message be declared (published, preached) regularly
and continually. Romans
10:14-18 reminds us that is through the message preached that mankind
has opportunity to be saved.
e.
“Declare His glory among
the nations, His wonders among all peoples” –
David sings this psalm as the tabernacle is brought to Jerusalem and the
ark is now resting there. He
does not want to keep this to himself, or even to Israel.
David wants the message of the glory of God proclaimed among all
the nations (foreign nations, Gentiles, “heathen” – KJV).
It is OUR task to reveal this
message - NOTE: This psalm is an indicator that from early times, God
intended ALL NATIONS to follow Him.
He was not to be just a local or national deity.
If Israel had faithfully followed Him, His influence to all
nations would have been much greater.
Note Isa. 2:2-3, 40:3-5 – both of which speak of a time when ALL NATIONS
shall flow to Zion.
Today, it is OUR task to “go into all the world” -
Mark 16:15, Matt. 28:19.
a.
“For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised”
– Amen! But keep in mind
David is speaking to other nations. Psa. 18:3, “I will call upon the
Lord who is worthy to be praised.”
b.
“He is to be feared above all gods” – as we have noted on many
occasions, fear and reverence, especially in considering God, are
related. It is a healthy
fear of God that produces repentance that will lead to giving Him the
awe and respect He deserves (reverence).
Recall Heb. 12:28, Jeremiah
10:6-7, “Inasmuch as there is none like You, O Lord, (You are great, and Your
name is great in might),
Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is
Your rightful due. For among
all the wise men of the nations, And in all their kingdoms, There is
none like You.
“
c.
“For
all the gods of the peoples are idols” – David declares an oft
repeated thought throughout the history and prophets of Israel (and
Judah). Consider the boldness of
his statement from a king that dealt with heads of states all around
him. He called their gods
NOTHING! The above passage
in Jeremiah 10 was in response to idols.
Consider Jeremiah 10:2-5, “Thus
says the Lord: "Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed
at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them. For the
customs of the peoples are futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest,
The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with
silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will
not topple. They are
upright, like a palm tree, And they cannot speak; They must be carried,
Because they cannot go by themselves.
Do not be afraid of them, For they cannot do evil, Nor can they
do any good." See also
Isaiah 41:21-24 which speaks of impotence of idols – they cannot
prophecy, or do anything either good or evil.
d.
He made the heavens
– there is ONE God and He is Creator of all – Jeremiah 10:11-12, “Thus
you shall say to them: ‘The gods that have not made the heavens and the
earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.’
He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world
by His wisdom, and has stretched out the heavens at His discretion.”
NOTE: This description often accompanies the condemnation of
idols. Jehovah God vs. them!
e.
“Honor and majesty are
before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.” – A statement
oft emphasized in the psalms, but here we notice David declaring the
awesome qualities of God are manifest in HIS tabernacle.
Think of it – A TENT (the temple had not yet been built) and in
the face of the shrines of the gods surrounding Israel, David declares
the TRUE beauty of being in God’s presence.
That trumps any building and is worthy of consideration.
See Acts 17:24-25.
a.
“Give to the Lord” – mentioned 3 times here, we find the call for bringing an offering
(gift) to God. NOTE: In vs.
1-2 the word “sing” is used 3 times, a word indicating a call to praise
and glorify God. Here the
word “give” (“ascribe” – NASU) is used 3 times here.
b.
O families of the
peoples –
a reference to the nations previously mentioned (i.e. the Gentiles).
David is inviting, yea calling, for other nations to humbly bow
before the LORD. Again, we
note this was God’s intent early on (see Mal. 1:11).
c.
“Give to the LORD glory and strength, give to the Lord the glory due His
name” –
another description of the greatness of the TRUE God and how at His name
everyone should tremble.
Psalm 111:9, “He has sent
redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy
and awesome is His name.”
Note: The KJV says, “Holy and reverend is His name.”
In the KJV, that is the only time the word is used (though the
Hebrew word is found more than 20 times).
There is something to be said about a man who takes a title that
is ascribed to God (i.e. “reverend” – see Matt. 23:6-10)
d.
“Bring an offering and
come into His courts”
– the word for “offering” here is not the one usually associated with
animal sacrifices, but the idea of a gift that is presented to God.
That is what Gentiles are invited to give to Him – NOT the animal
sacrifices of the Old Law.
Could this be looking toward that time when all nations would see the
salvation of the Lord in the same way (i.e. Acts 2)?
It is offerings like these that please God, even to this day –
Heb. 13:15-16, 1 Pet. 2:5
e.
“Worship
Him in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth.”
a.
In this verse we find
the declaration to these nations that Jehovah God reigns supreme.
He established the world and it shall not be moved, except He
determines so. See 2 Pet.
3:5-7.
b.
The Lord reigns
– declare it! I see this
application in 2 ways:
1) WE have the responsibility to declare it to others.
2) It is that which “the nations” need to declare – that salvation comes
through Him. Contextually,
this is probably the intended meaning. – Phil. 2:9-10.
c.
The world is established – it shall not be moved.
d.
He shall judge
righteously
– Acts 17:31
a.
“Let
the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad” -
Let sea roar in its
fullness, the field be joyful, trees rejoice before the Lord.
NATURE declares the glory of God – He created all things – Psa. 19:1, “The
heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.”
Romans 1:20.
Note: What does this say about pantheism?
Pantheism is the belief that God is all and all is God.
It teaches that all that is created is God and this is the belief
system of most eastern religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism,
Shinto, etc.). Verses like
these might cause one to see God in everything.
But the Bible teaches that God is separate from His creation – Gen. 1:1
b.
“He
is coming to judge the earth with righteousness, and the peoples with
His truth” – David’s warning to the world was to be prepared and
live in truth. The message
applies today - there is a day of judgment coming – John 5:28-29 – a day
when all who are in the grave will come forth and be judged.
It is God’s word that will render this judgment – John 12:48.
What about you?
Will you tell others about that day?
Are you ready for that day?