If you have your Bibles, turn
back to what the brothers just read, Psalm 96. Psalm 96. Now I thank God for the privilege
of being here tonight. You know, one thing that I am
guilty of, I don't praise Him enough. You know, each and every
day of our lives, He blesses us so many times. And as I look
at my life, down through my life, I've always been His sheep. He's
always took care of me. Even whenever I didn't know Him,
didn't want nothing to do with Him, because the Bible says that
back before the foundation of the world, that He placed people
in His Son. And I thank Him for that. I thank
Him for His love. I thank Him for His mercy. He
shows me each and every day of His life. There are so many blessings
that He gives me that I don't even think about. And there are
so many times that I don't thank Him the way that I should. And
I don't worship Him the way that I should. For He is so great. He is such a wonderful, wonderful
God. You know, in this Psalm 96, it's
a psalm of praise. He says, let us sing unto the
Lord. We can never sing unto the Lord
the way that he deserves to be sung to, but one day we will
be able to. And I look forward to that day.
You know, the Pharisees and the Jewish leaders, they firmly held
to the belief that God's grace, his everlasting covenant, should
relate only to the descendants of Abraham after the flesh. And
they wanted to mix work with grace. But if blindness had not
occurred, Israel would have seen that God always had had plans
of election for us Gentiles as well as the Jews. The Holy Spirit's
design in Psalm 96 was to give the Gentiles a song to celebrate
the conversion of the nations of Jehovah, our Lord, in gospel
times. We come together to worship our
God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and all glory goes to our Lord. Man
deserves no glory at all. It's our Lord's work, and praise
alone. And this first verse right here
of this psalm, it says, O sing unto the Lord a new song. If you will, turn your Bibles
over to Revelation chapter 5. Let's see what that new song
is. Revelation chapter 5. Look at verse 9. It says, And they sung a new
song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, to open the
seals thereof, and thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to
God by thou blood out of every kindred and time and people and
nation, and hast made us unto our God, kings and priests, and
we shall reign on the earth. How does it make the Lord sheep
feel whenever they hear or read about the glory of our God? You
know, in this world, it's full of heartache and trouble. It
brings us peace. And it's his peace that he gives
us to his children. You know, there is no peace in
this world. I've been around long enough to know that you
get through one problem, and then another one pops up. But
the peace that God gives us is not of this world. Our Lord says
in John, peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. Talking
about Christ Jesus, our Lord. My peace I give unto you. I mean,
he tells us, let not your heart be troubled, and neither let
it be afraid. You know, whenever I read God's
Word, where it says that Christ Jesus come in this world to save
sinners, and I know I'm the chief of sinners, it makes me feel
good, because I know He's coming in this world to save me. But
whenever He says, peace I give unto you, sometimes I have a
harder time thinking about that, and I get my eyes off of Christ,
and get my eyes on my problems and things. He's giving me problems. But He will truly give us peace
if we'll keep looking to Him. and putting him first in our
lives. He says, oh, sing unto the Lord
a new song. Sing unto the Lord all the earth.
You know, as a child, it would do me good to think of Christ
daily and many times during the day. You know, I'm not a singer,
but that doesn't mean that I can't meditate upon His Word. There
are so many promises in His Word that are so wonderful for His
children. you know, and on his love. You know, he is truly my refuge,
and he's my hiding place from storms of life, and that's something
that we all experience. And what's so good about that,
you know, his spirit of Jesus, he lives within our hearts. I
love what Joshua said. He says, don't let your heart
be, don't worry about things. He's with you. He's close to
you wherever you're at. He lives within our heart. He's
never far away. He's always there. And we believe
that because his word tells us that. You know, he says that
he will never leave us nor forsake us. And whenever we sing, I need
to sing to the Lord. When I sing to the Lord, I need
to know that I'm singing to the Lord. I'm not singing to the
congregation. I'm not singing to be heard.
But I'm singing to my God. You know, in the songbook that
we've got, are they not so many beautiful songs in there that
gives praise to our God? And that's wonderful. But let
us sing from the heart to the Lord, because it's from the heart
that the Lord hears. And it says, all the earth sings
unto the Lord. Psalm 150, verse 6 says, that
everything that hath breath praise the Lord, praise ye the Lord. And then in verse 2 here, he
says, sing unto the Lord, bless his name, and show forth his
salvation from day to day. Bless his name. You know, he
has many, many names in the Bible, but one verse of scripture that
comes to my mind that blesses me so much, and I know it blesses
all of us, is Isaiah 9, 6. It says, for unto us a child
is born, and to us a son is given. The government shall be upon
his shoulders. and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor. I've heard people say that ought
to be one word right there. He's a wonderful counselor. There's
not a problem that we face in this life, but this book right
here don't have an answer for it. And even he says that his
name shall be called Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince
of Peace. The Bible says that in him dwell
all the fullness of the Godhead body and that we are complete
in him. He is our righteousness. The Bible says that in him is
the fullness of the Godhead body, and his name is to be blessed.
His frame, his character, his revealed word, and his will are
to be delighted in and remembered with thanksgiving and with much
reverence. In verse 2 of our text here,
it says, show forth His salvation from day to day. You know, there's
nothing in this world that declares the glory like His salvation. You know, He says, I will have
mercy on whom I will have mercy. You know, His salvation outshines
His glory, His creation, and providence. To save a lost sinner. Look what it took. It took the
blood and the life of his only begotten son, Jesus Christ. Whenever he created this world,
all he had to do was just to speak it into existence. But
to save a lost sinner, his son had to come to this earth, born
of the seed of a woman, and live. And he died on the cross and
shed his blood so that a sinner may be saved. And he came and
he fulfilled the law. He was obedient to his father.
And he fulfilled the law perfectly. And he died for our sins. And
the Bible says in Romans, speaking of God's elect, being justified
freely by the grace through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus. Martin Luther once said that
Christ is now as fresh to me as if he had shed his blood just
an hour ago. If it be the Lord's will, may
we grow closer to our Lord each and every day of our lives and
realize how precious he is. Because in each and every day
of our lives, we're getting closer and closer to meeting him. I
can't wait for that day to come. When we proclaim him by his word,
We do it by deed, we do it by song, and it's to be from the
heart and not just head knowledge. We do it by hearing wonderful
sermons, by a scarce baptism, by the Lord's Supper, and then
by coming and worshiping him on Sunday and weekday services.
Everything should bring us to a deeper experience of our saving
God. If you will, turn over to Colossians
chapter 3. Hold your place here. Colossians
chapter 3. We don't know how blessed, or
I don't know how blessed I am, but I have this. This is the
most precious thing I have in my possession right here. That
is the Word of God. But in Colossians chapter 3.
You know, there's so many pieces of scripture that is in past
tense. It's already happened in the
eyes of God. It's already happened, you know.
But it says, look here in chapter 3 of verse 1. If ye then be risen
with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ
saith on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things
above and not on things of the earth. Listen to this. For you
are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. And then when Christ, who is
our life, shall appear, what does it say? Then shall ye also
appear with him in glory. Then look at 1 Peter 2. Verses 9 and 10. 1 Peter 2, verses 9 and 10. He's talking to his elect here,
his chosen people, whom he placed in Christ before the foundation
of the world. He says, but you are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people,
that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called
you out of darkness into his marvelous light, which in time
past were not of people, but are now the people of God, which
have not obtained mercy, but now have attained mercy. And if we go back to our text,
Psalm 96, it says here in verse three, Declare his glory among
the heathen, his wonders among all people. You know, all too
often in this world that we live in today, Jesus has been dishonored
in this world. A writer wrote this one time
right here, and I don't really know who wrote it. But it says,
his glory shines from every ray of light that reaches us from
1,000 stars. That's because he made the 1,000
stars. It sparkles from the mountaintops
that reflect the earliest and retain the last ray of the rising
and setting sun. His glory spreads over the expanse
of the sea. It circles the earth with a zone
of light and flings beauty over it. Everything in this earth
shows his glory. The amylas, the falling of the
water, the singing and the flight of the birds. Revolutions of
the planet, its height, its depth, its wonders, and its mysteries.
You know, Christ Jesus, our Lord, he wears the crown. He sways
the scepter, and he receives from all a tribute to his sovereignty
over all. And we have so much to rejoice
in that and to meditate upon that. You know, if you will,
look at Galatians 1. Verse 12. Giving thanks unto the Father,
which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance
of the saints in light. You see, this is past tense also.
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated
us into the kingdom of his dear Son. in whom we have redemption
through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins, who is the image of
the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. Then the Bible
says, for by him were all things created that are in heaven and
that are in earth, visible and invisible, wherever they be thrones
or dominions or principalities or powers, All things were created
by him, and they were created for him. Listen to this. And he is before all things.
And it is by him that all things consist. And I love this part
right here. He is ahead of the body, the
church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.
But in all things, he might have the preemptance. For it placed
the Father in him. where all fullness dwell, and
have He made peace through the blood of His cross by Him to
reconcile all things unto Himself. By Him, I say, whether they be
things in earth or things in heaven. You know, in the person
of His Son, the Lord has displayed wonders of love, wisdom, grace,
and all glory. to be to his precious name. You
know, the gospel is a story of redeeming grace and dying love. In Ephesians, it says, but God,
who is rich in mercy for his great love, wherewith he loved
us, even when we were dead in sins, He hath quickened us together
with Christ, by grace are you saved, and raised us up together,
and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that
in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of
His grace in His kindness toward who? Toward us, through Christ
Jesus. Nothing is so glorifying to God
as the salvation of a lost sinner by the precious blood of His
dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. How do we see Christ? We see
Him in His Word. We see His goodness there, and
we see His many, many blessings there. If you will, turn back
to your text. Verses 4 and 5. It says in verse 5, For all the
gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before him. Strength and beauty are
in his sanctuary. You know, the world as a whole
has many idols. And there's a lot of people that
worship these idols as their God. But what does God's word
say? It says over in Corinthians,
unto us, speaking of his elect, he says, but to us there is but
one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him,
and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by
him. And we know that the Bible says
in 1 John, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God. Then in the 14th verse, it says,
and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld
His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and full of truth. And as He's elect, we can never
praise Him too much. That's something that I need
to realize. We can never praise Him too much.
We can never praise Him too often. For the Lord is great, and he
is greatly to be praised. And Jeremiah says, Thus saith
the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither
let the mighty man glory in his might. Let not the rich man glory
in his riches. But listen to this. But let him
that glory glory in this, that he understand and know of me,
that I am the Lord. And what does he do? He exercises
loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For
in these things, he says, I delight, at best is my heart, saith the
Lord. Went back in our text in Psalm
96 and verse 4. It says here, for the Lord is great
and greatly to be praised. He is to be feared above all
gods. He is to be loved, he is to be
respected, he is to be honored, and he is to be worshipped. He
is to be reverenced. David said it well in Psalms
23, when he said, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He made for me to lie down in
green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restores
my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness for His name's sake. Although I walk through
this valley, shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Why? For
Thine own that Thou art with me. Then he says, I'll prepare
a table before me in the presence of my enemies, and I'll draw
my head before them. Then he says, my cup shall run
up over. Then he says, surely, goodness
and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I shall
dwell in the house of the Lord forever. That's our future, brothers
and sisters. And it's something that we've
got to look forward to. You know, the Bible says in many
places, that, as I said, that there is one God. In Isaiah,
it says, before me there was no God formed, neither shall
there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and beside
me there is no Savior. In verse 5, God's word says that
all the gods of the nations are idols. And as we read earlier
in Galatians 1.16, all things are created by Him and for Him.
And in verse 6 here of our text, it says, honoring majesty are
before him. Strength and beauty are in his
sanctuary. You know, his throne is a throne
of honor and righteousness. Glory and strength are found
nowhere except with the Lord. What's so great is his people.
We're through the blood of Jesus Christ. we are able to go to
his throne at any time through our great high priest. You know,
the love of God for his people are in Christ. First Corinthians
says, but of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God has made unto
us wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption.
The Bible says in Hebrews 13, 15, This is something I wish I could
do daily, would do daily. That is, it says, by him, therefore,
let us offer up the sacrifice of praise to God continually,
that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks unto his name.
In verse 7 here, it says, given to the Lord, O ye kindred of
the people, given to the Lord, glory and strength. We do that
by offering up prayer and thanksgiving, by worship and praise, and by
doing it from the heart, and by giving God glory for all things. You know, He is absolute sovereign
in all things, whether it be creation, salvation, in all things,
providence. With full sincerity of heart
when it comes to worship, prayer, and praise, love, and faith,
and repentance, then we need to realize that God looks at
the heart. You know, in verse 8 here, it says that, given to
the Lord, the glory due His name, bring an offering and come into
His courts. We can do this only in Christ,
Christ alone. There is no love of God outside
of Christ. But we can bring an offering
and come to His courts. When His people bring an offering,
it's an offering of thanksgiving. Why? Because the Lord Jesus Christ
has already shed His blood for our sins. It's already been given. Verse 9 here, he says, I worship
the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Fear Him in all the earth. You know, as
I said, we must be reverent, sincere, earnest, and pure in
our heart and our prayers and our praise, realizing His holiness. That's a lot of times I don't
do that, realizing His holiness, and His righteousness, and His
goodness, and His power, and His glory is forever and forever. What's good about that? Not only
do we belong to Him, He belongs to us, as if it's like people.
And then in verse 10 here, it says, say among the heathen that
the Lord reigneth. That right there blesses my heart.
You know, the world also shall be established that it shall
not be moved. He shall judge the people righteously.
You know, the Lord reigneth, and this is the greatest news
that can be told. The Lord Jehovah, in the person
of our Lord Jesus Christ, He has assumed the throne. You know,
the Lord Jesus is full of untold blessings. Matthew 11, 30, He
says, My yoke is easy, my burden is light. You know, all believers
will declare that God rules over all the affairs of man. And in
spite of this world, the way that we see it, the chaotic experience,
To the contrary, in spite of the turmoil and the threats that
we see in this world, there's one thing that we must realize
in the developments that are taking place. Kings and presidents
and all that thing get to run in the world, but God is in absolute
control of everything. And everything in this world
that's going on right now is going along exactly the way that
our Lord wants it to go. And Daniel, he said, all the
inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing. And I do
according to my will among the inhabitants of heaven, and the
army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and
none can stay in my hand, or say, What doest thou? And then
our Lord said in Matthew, all power is given unto me in heaven
and in earth. And then in our text, 96, verses
11, 12, and 13, it says, let the heavens rejoice, and let
the earth be glad. Let the sea roar, and the fullness
thereof. Let the field be joyful, and
all that is therein. and shall all the creeds of the
wood rejoice before the Lord. Listen to this, for he cometh,
for he cometh to judge the earth, he shall judge the world, and
with righteousness, and the people with truth. Verse 13 says that
he cometh to judge the world in righteousness, and the people
with truth. I like what God's word says in
Titus. And this is something that we have something to look
forward to. It says in Titus chapter 2, it says, looking for
that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and
our Savior, Jesus Christ, who redeemed us from all iniquity.
Thank him for that. And purified unto himself a peculiar
people, zealous of good works. As God's elect, we have so much
to be thankful for every day. And we have so many promises. And what is so good is that God
is absolute sovereign. And all of his promises will
come to maturity. They will happen. A lot of his
promises has already happened, as we read in the Old Testament
and in the New Testament. But every promise that he has
ever made to his people, he will fulfill those promises. And I
thank Him for that. Let's just pray that we can be
closer to Him each and every day. You know, in this world
that we live in, in this world that we live in, It's changing. I mean, you know, I'm getting
up in years, and from when I was a kid to now, you wouldn't believe
how much it's changed. And it changes more each and
every day. But it's changing exactly the way that the Lord
wants it to. And we are in His hands. His arms is wrapped around
us. We are the sheep of His pasture.
And He is our Good Shepherd. And the good thing about that
is, he always will be. He always has been, and he always
will be. And there's not nothing that
can change that. Thank you.