A New Song Every Day

Psalm 96:1-13

“O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.  Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; show forth his salvation from day to day.” (Psalm 96:1-2)

Humans have become so used to the things that God does that we no longer think about them.    We don’t even realize how vitally our daily lives depend on him.   Colossians 1:16-17 says, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”   He not only created the universe and everything in it but it is by his power they exist day by day.

God didn’t just start the world running and walk away as some teach, nor does he periodically reach in and make adjustments as many seem to believe.  It is his power that holds the electrons, neutrons and protons together.  A nuclear bomb just releases a tiny portion of his power.  To keep an atomic generator from exploding requires constant monitoring and adjustments, yet the sun, which is almost infinitely larger has run without problems for centuries.  Without his control, it would have exploded and gone out thousands of years ago. 

The same God controls the weather so that one area has proper rainfall and abundant crops whie other areas experience drought or floods that wipe out their crops, allowing hundreds or thousands of animals and people to starve.    Every day, we can see different things he has done on our behalf, saving us from starvation, accidental death, diseases, military attacks or who knows what else.  Other times he gives us something we have longed for or reveals some beautiful view that leaves us in awe.  Literally a song describing what he has done today will be outdated tomorrow. 

“Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.  For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.  For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.  Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. “ (Psalm 96:3-6)

When we begin to understand his role in our lives, we will want other people to understand as well.  We won’t want them to waste their time on all the other gods they have invented, which have no power or impact other than in people’s imaginations.    Our God is the creator and he deserves all the thanks and respect. 

Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.  O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.  Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.” (Psalm 96:7-10)

God didn’t just create on or two races, but all of humanity.  Acts 17:26-29 tells us, “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.  Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.”

As people understand who God is they will begin to give him the respect and honor he deserves, bringing him tokens of their thanks and worshipping him instead of their idols.  We need to tell them who he is and warn them of his coming judgment, so that they can understand.

“Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.  Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.” (Psalm 96:11-13)

All of creation is affected by God’s actions and benefit when he blesses the people.  They will be especially blessed when he comes and sets up his eternal kingdom and judges the earth, punishing the wicked and rewarding those who obey him.  Romans 8:21-22 explains, “Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”  Sin has resulted in all the suffering in the universe, including the earthquakes, extreme storms, global warming, disease epidemics, wildfires and so forth, so that everything on earth is looking forward to God putting things back the way he intended them, eliminating the stresses they experience today.