“Over the past few weeks, we’ve been dreaming big, praying hard, and thinking long. We’ve been circling people and problems and promises. But the goal wasn’t just circling for forty days—it was also to still be praying on day forty-one. There is no expiration date on prayer! Every prayer you pray has a chain reaction, and those chain reactions set off a thousand other chain reactions. Every prayer you pray ripples all the way into eternity!”
- Mark Batterson
TODAYS READING: Psalms 96
PRAYER: "God, as I open myself up to you in these moments to read this passage fresh and anew, I ask that you reveal to me that which you would have me learn today. Help me see. More than that, I pray for transformation as I take what you show me and apply it to my life. Amen."
As I meditated on this passage, my thoughts seemed to center around what I think is this psalm’s central thrust, its thesis if you will. That thesis is well summarized in v.8a: “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name.” Ascribe (not “give”)—the idea of attributing some quality to God that is already His. This attribution is the central concept of worship in this psalm. In other words, to put this thesis in my own words, we are to give God the worship that He is due.
We are to worship God who is worthy of our worship; and the measure, scope, and intensity of our worship is to correspond to the worthiness of the God to whom that worship is given. And, of course, the psalm goes on to make unavoidably clear that the worship due God is immeasurable great. Therefore, our worship of God must not be limited.
The psalm goes on to make this point clear in a variety of ways, exploring the limitlessness of our worship in an assortment of spheres. Notice the universality and comprehensiveness of the worship: All of the nations are compelled; the psalmist involves every nook and cranny of creation. In sum, the infinitely worship-worthiness of our God demands immeasurably grand worship.
As I meditated on this psalm, I began to notice that the motivations for our worship of God could be categorized into two categories: (1) who God is and (2) what He’s done. The nature of who God is, demands our worship. He is not an idol, some manmade object of worship belonging to the category that is “creation.” No, he belongs to that category which is “creator.”
He is the sovereign, the ruler, and the judge. He is righteous, faithful, and majestic. But more so, His works provide further motivation for worship. He has created; and He has saved. Our worship not something of our invention or initiative; but it is always in response to His gracious intervention.
I was challenged by the notion that my worship of God ought to correspond to the greatness and worthiness of God. That’s why after saying “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name” (v.8a), the psalmist follows up by calling the worshiper to respond in a manner appropriate to his particular covenant (v.8b). But as my worship fails to execute this thesis, this psalm provides a remedy: dwell on the greatness of God and His saving works; and let that be the motivation for worship due God. In sum, worship is based on great thoughts of God; and great thoughts of God fuel the worship of God.
As we pray Psalm 96 this week, I want us to meditate on three images that will keep us grounded in reality in these uncertain times. Be sure to spend extended time simply picturing God with your mind’s eye, seeing him as he is described in this psalm. Then pray using the ACTS method and the following prompts. I advise breaking up the psalm into three parts and praying over one section each day.
GOD THE CREATOR (VV. 1-6)
1Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!... 5For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
Picture it: God formed heaven and earth out of nothing. Everything else we bow down to is dead and worthless, a creation rather than a Creator. One day, all the earth will know that. His salvation will be known throughout everything he has made.
Adoration: Worship God as the only true God, maker of everything.
Confession: Confess the ways you have worshiped anything else.
Thanksgiving: Thank God for making salvation possible in Christ and making it known to you through the preaching of the gospel.
Supplication: Ask God to make his glory known everywhere—through missions, through our church, and through you.
GOD THE KING (VV. 7-10)
10Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.”
Picture it: Even now, God is on this throne. One day, all will bend the knee to King Jesus and offer tribute. He will judge the world and put an end to all rebellion.
Adoration: God is worthy of all glory and every offering we could bring.
Confession: How have you rebelled against him? How have you sought your own kingdom rather than his?
Thanksgiving: Thank God that he will judge with equity and put an end to sin. Thank him that Christ suffered the wrath we deserve for our rebellion.
Supplication: Pray that God’s people would make it known by word and deed that God is king over all.
GOD THE REDEEMER (VV. 11-13)
11Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13before the Lord, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
Picture it: God will make all things new. All of creation—heaven and earth, seas and trees—will be free to sing his praises. Everything will be made right. We’ll be home at last.
Adoration: God is powerful and good. This glorious future is certain because his purposes cannot fail.
Confession: How have you put your hope in something else to make things “right”? How have you grown comfortable in this fallen world instead of hoping for redemption?
Thanksgiving: Thank God that we will experience his renewed creation for eternity because of Christ.
Supplication: Pray that our Redeemer would return quickly. Come Lord Jesus!
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