Psalm 96 is another one of the Royal Psalms (Psalms 93, 95-100) that speak of God’s sovereignty over the earth. Looking around the world today, one can easily conclude that it’s all out of control. Therefore, we need to pray or sing these Psalms to remind ourselves that Jesus is King — meaning He is SOVEREIGN — He reigns over ALL the world. He is still in control. Finally, ultimately, He will come back to judge the world with Justice and His Truth. let’s dig in…
Psalm 96
1 Sing a new song to the Lord!
Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!
2 Sing to the Lord; praise his name.
Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
3 Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.
Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.
4 Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
He is to be feared above all gods.
5 The gods of other nations are mere idols,
but the Lord made the heavens!
6 Honor and majesty surround him;
strength and beauty fill his sanctuary.7 O nations of the world, recognize the Lord;
recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong.
8 Give to the Lord the glory he deserves!
Bring your offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.
Let all the earth tremble before him.
10 Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.
He will judge all peoples fairly.11 Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice!
Psalm 96 NLT
Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
12 Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!
Let the trees of the forest sing for joy
13 before the Lord, for he is coming!
He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice,
and the nations with his truth.
Interesting Structure
In the Bible, when something is repeated, pay attention. It’s something that God wants you to understand, to listen, and obey.
The first section’s main focus is to sing, to the Lord, proclaim the Good News, that He Saves, and tell everyone how amazing He is. Above all, He is the one to be feared above the gods and idols of the pagan world. Come one! He is the Creator of everything!
ALL world nations need to recognize that He is glorious and strong. We are to give Him the glory He deserves. Give the glory to God, not ourselves or any human.
Lastly, let us be joyful because He is coming to judge the earth — the nations — with justice and His truth. In other words, no one will escape His judgment.
Praise and Worship God — NOT an Idol!
Having been raised Catholic, we had statues of Mary all over the house — more than those of Jesus. Unfortunately, venerating — that is raising and worshiping Mary — even praying to her — is a sin! That is idolatry!
You can’t give Jesus, our Sovereign Lord, all the glory if you are venerating
His human mother!
And Justice for ALL!
In America, when we pledge allegiance to the flag, we recite the last stanza which goes…
One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.
The American Pledge of Allegiance
Tragically, we’ve lost that. Between the defunding of the police and the far-left district attorneys who let criminals run free, there is no justice for the victims.
Nevertheless, our HOPE rests in Jesus’ imminent return. Pastor Sandy Adams wraps it up for us…
Jesus is coming back to planet Earth. He came for the first time to redeem our souls. He comes the next time to restore our planet… Romans 8, tells us that all creation groans in anticipation of the Lord’s return…
Nature’s instability and randomness is the result of sin. Because of the fall, Mother Nature has gone hormonal. She suffers from perpetual PMS. The world is not what God created. But when He returns, He’ll right the wrongs, remove the curse, and restore the earth to its original ideal.
Pastor Sandy Adams
First, He will come in the clouds and call up His born-again followers — that’s the Rapture! Soon afterward, the Great Tribulation will kick off God’s judgmental wrath on the world.
Yes, EVERYONE will be judged. However, Jesus paid the price of our punishment for our sins on the cross once and for all. Only through Him are we guaranteed, a one-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven where we’ll receive the crowns and rewards that we deserve. Additionally, He’s preparing a Wedding Banquet!
For those NOT saved by His blood, those NOT born-again, the Tribulation will be very rough. Afterwards comes the White Throne Judgment where everyone — dead or alive — will be judged and His justice will rule.
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
Believe. Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit.
- Believe — have Faith — that Jesus is the Christ and He died taking your sins away forever and that He rose from the dead 3 days later.
- Repent of your sins — stop sinning! Do a complete 180-degree turn in your life and surrender your life to Him. When you ask Jesus to forgive you He will. ALL your sins will be wiped clean — past, present, and future! And All means ALL!
- Be Baptized by water baptism — show the world and yourself that you have died to your old life and are born again in Christ.
- Receive the gift of Holy Spirit in your heart.
