NEW SONG UNITES HEAVEN & EARTH. In Psalm 96, an unknown psalmist exhorts all those on earth, “Sing to the Lord a new song” (verse 1).
As they sing, he calls the nations to lift up their eyes, where “the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and beauty are in His sanctuary” (verses 5-6).
On earth, God designed His sanctuary, His temple, “as a house of prayer for all nations” (Mk. 11:17). The sanctuary served as “a copy and shadow of what is in heaven” (Heb. 8:5). He wants us to pray for His kingdom to come “on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:10).
In Psalm 96, we see heaven breaking into the temple worship as the nations sing this new song, ascribing glory to the Lord. Whenever we worship in spirit and in truth, we can expect heaven to come to earth.
The earth will join with heaven and with us in worship. “Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice” (verse 11).
You too can join in this ever-new song.
Psalm 96
1 Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations,
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 the splendor of his holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
12 let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
13 they will sing before the Lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his truth.
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