SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
6/17/2012 8:32:35 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Psalm
96 PT-1
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm
96:1-3
Message
of the verses: We will begin to look
at the 96th Psalm in today’s Spiritual Diary by looking at several
introductions to the psalm by different Bible commentators in order to better
understand what the psalmist is writing about.
“This psalm is part of that which
was delivered into the hand of Asaph and his brethren (#1Ch 16:7), by which it
appears both that David was the penman of it and that it has reference to the
bringing up of the ark to the city of David; whether that long psalm was made
first, and this afterwards taken out of it, or this made first and afterwards
borrowed to make up that, is not certain. But this is certain, that, though it
was sung at the translation of the ark, it looks further, to the kingdom of
Christ, and is designed to celebrate the glories of that kingdom, especially
the accession of the Gentiles to it.”
(Matthew Henry)
“SUBJECT. — This Psalm is evidently
taken from that sacred song which was composed by David at the time when
"the ark of God was set in the midst of the tent which David had prepared
for it, and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God."
See the sixteenth chapter of the first book of the Chronicles. The former part
of that sacred song was probably omitted in this place because it referred to
Israel, and the design of the Holy Ghost in this psalm was to give forth a song
for the Gentiles, a triumphant hymn wherewith to celebrate the conversion of
the nations to Jehovah in gospel times. It follows fitly upon the last Psalm,
which describes the obstinacy of Israel, and the consequent taking of the
gospel from them that it might be preached among the nations who would receive
it, and in due time be fully won to Christ by its power. It thus makes a pair
with the Ninety-fifth Psalm. It is a grand MISSIONARY HYMN, and it is a wonder
that Jeers can read it and yet remain exclusive. If blindness in part had not
happened unto Israel, they might have seen long ago, and would now see, that
their God always had designs of love for all the families of men, and never
intended that his grace and his covenant should relate only to the seed of
Abraham after the flesh. We do not wonder that the large hearted David rejoiced
and danced before the ark, while he saw in vision all the earth turning from
idols to the one living and true God. Had Michal, Saul’s daughter, only been
able to enter into his delight, she would not have reproached him, and if the
Jews at this day could only be enlarged in heart to feel sympathy with all
mankind, they also would sing for joy at the great prophecy that all the earth
shall be fitted with the glory of the Lord.”
(Charles H. Spurgeon)
“The substance of this psalm, and
portions of Pss. 97-98, and 100 are found in 1Ch. 16, which was used by David’s
direction in the dedication of the tabernacle on Mt. Zion. The psalm has importance beyond that
historical occasion, however, because it anticipates kingdom praise for the
Lord from all the nations of the world (vv. 3, 4, 9-13; cf. Is. 2:2-4; Zec
14:16-19), and even from nature itself.
It also expresses the intense joy that well saturate the earth when the
Messiah is ruling from Jerusalem (cf. Is. 25:9, 40:9, 10).” (John MacArthur Study Bible)
“This psalm is found in another
version in 1Chronicles 16:23-33. The
psalm in Chronicles is a combination of questions from 96, 105 (1-15 &
16:8-22), and 106 (1, 47-48 & 16:35-36).
The Jewish worship leaders, led by God’s Spirit, felt free to excerpt
and combine portions of existing psalms to construct songs for special
occasions. Some students believe Psalm
96 was used in the dedication of the second temple when the Jews returned to Judah
from their exile in Babylon. As you read
the psalm, you can see how it would apply to the weak Jewish remnant surrounded
by strong Gentile nations. The psalm
also looks ahead to the kingdom age when Messiah shall reign and the Gentile
nations will worship the God of Israel. The psalmist gives four commands
to God’s people and backs up each command with a reason for their obedience.” (Warren Wiersbe)
Sing!
The News Is Good! (vv. 1-3): “1 Sing
to the LORD a new song; Sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD,
bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. 3 Tell
of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.”
“Sing to the Lord” is seen three
times in these three verses and we are to sing a new song to the Lord, we are
to sing to the Lord, all the earth will sing this new song someday, and we are
to sing to the Lord by blessing His name.
A new song could be sung when a
person becomes a believer in Jesus Christ, for he will indeed have a new song
of salvation to sing to the Lord. “I
waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He
brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set
my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. 3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.” (Psalm
40:1-3a) In this quotation from Psalm 40
we see that David is singing a new song to the Lord. I suppose that there are many times in a
believer’s life that he can sing a new song to the Lord, for there are times of
troubles that come upon all believers and when the Lord sees us through these
troubled times we will want to shout for joy to the Lord and sing a new
song.
The proclamation of praise to the
Lord is extended to all of the nations as seen in verse three. One of the troubles that the nation of Israel
experienced was that they thought that all of Abraham’s children in the flesh
were God’s chosen people to be saved from their sins, and therefore did not
like the Gentile nations at all. The
truth is that it is the spiritual seed of Abraham who will be saved, and Paul
goes into this in the book of Romans. This
verse also speaks of the coming Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ which will
last for 1000 years on this earth. At
that time all the nations will come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Lord’s rule,
so it is not just for the nation of Israel, although they will have prominence
at that time.
Dr. Wiersbe points out that the
words “show forth” from the KJV is translated “Proclaim” in the NASB “is the
word used in the New Testament for ‘preaching the good news’ and gives us the
English word ‘evangelize.’ The good news
of the victory of Jesus Christ gives us something to sing about, for He is the
only Savior and will save all who trust Him.
(John 14:6; John 4:22; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:1-5.)”
Spiritual
meaning for my life today: This
section reminds me to praise the Lord for the great salvation that He has
provided for me through His Son, Jesus Christ, and I am to praise Him for that
great salvation.
My Steps of Faith for Today:
Continue to abide “remain” in the vine in order to do the works that the
Lord has called me to do.
Memory verses for the week:
2Peter 1:1-2
1.
Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of
Jesus Christ,
To those who have received a
faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior,
Jesus Christ. 2. Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the
knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
6/17/2012
9:33:01 AM
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