Writing about the author of Psalm 96, “All of his vocabulary seems stunted and insufficient for the wonder he feels, so he yearns for a new way to declare the glory of God. He wants much more than new words, a fresh melody, or a different set of musical instruments; the poet wants a newness within his own person. You’ve known the frustration, I’m sure, in the experiences of human friendship and love, of saying to someone, “I just wish I could find the words to tell you what you mean to me” or “what our friendship means to me.” So it is that the psalmist wants “a new song.” And his exuberance is such that he calls on everyone else to join his choir”
Prayer prompt: Let’s join the psalmist’s choir today by praying Psalm 96. “1 O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! 4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols; but the Lord made the heavens. 6 Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! 8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! 9 Worship the Lord in holy array tremble before him, all the earth! 10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns! Yea, the world is established, it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.” 11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12 let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy 13 before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.”