In Psalm 96, we are called to sing to God and worship Him.

Relational Worship

This is not a distant or mechanical worship; it’s relational. There’s nothing wrong with singing about the Lord, but there’s something very special and personal about singing to Him. We must beware of a spiritual life that talks about God only in the third person and fails to talk to Him.

Constant Worship

We don’t always want to worship or feel like doing it. When this happens, we tend to view worship as a chore. Actually, it’s more like breathing. It’s not supposed to characterize us only on special occasions. It’s supposed to infuse every moment of our daily lives.

God’s Superiority

The text offers help to those of us who struggle. We are pointed to God’s superiority. He is to be feared above all gods, because they are nothing and He is everything. Idolatry promises us the world, but it leaves us empty every time, never satisfying us. Only God can truly satisfy.

God’s Majesty

We are also pointed to God’s majesty. Consider some of the ways people attempt to describe God’s glory in the Old Testament. When Isaiah tries in Isaiah 6:1, he ends up talking about the hem of God’s robe. After seeing the Lord, the only thing he can do is describe the bottom of His garment! In Exodus 24:9–10, several men see God’s majesty, and all they can talk about is the pavement under His feet. The majestic presence of the living God is so glorious and unapproachable that all we can do is look down!

Share the Song

We are not only to prize God but also to promote Him. After worshiping Him, we must then bear witness to the nations. The song of praise to God was never intended to be a solo. Worship is meant to be shared.

We can do this wherever we live and whatever we do for a living. Not everyone has to go around the globe to reach the nations. They are coming to our cities! For some of us, reaching the nations simply means reaching our neighbors.

Psalm 96 points to the redemptive crescendo of human history described in Revelation 5. We need to bear witness until all of God’s creation sings His praise. Oh that worship and witness would hold hands until the cacophony of nations is transformed into a choir of the redeemed!