“Sing to the Lord.” “Give to the Lord.” Worship the Lord.” Can you think of a better use of your time?
If we peek at the very end of Psalm 96, we’ll see the psalmist is looking forward to the day when the Lord intervenes in human history once more to set everything right, “for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth” (v 13). But should we wait until then before we give Him His due? No, he says. Let’s start right now. Why? Because He has already intervened in the most spectacular way. And that time He “did not come to judge the world but to save the world” ( Jn 12:47). “Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day” (Ps 96:1-2). In other words, bring a freshly harvested offering of “the fruit of our lips” to Him (Heb 13:15). Let everyone join in. Rejoice in His character revealed in His names. And make much of the good news we have to proclaim! Yes, “Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples” (Ps 96:3). We have so much to share with others about Him. But the psalmist doesn’t just tell us to “sing to the Lord.” He also strongly suggests that we “give to the Lord.” What do you give to the Person who has everything? “Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples, give to the Lord glory and strength. Give to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!” (vv 7-9). What can I give Him that He hasn’t already given me? I can give Him the adoration of my heart. And all creation joins in to bless the Lord: “the heavens…the earth…the sea…the field…and all that is in it” (vv 11-12). Let’s get to it! It would be a shame if the stars and the seas, the flora and fauna, outpraised us!