- 95^th Psalm asserts that Jehovah’s Godhead and power over all nature and compels men to serve Him.

- 96^th Psalm the subject is compelling all the nations of earth to join His service because the Messiah comes to judge both the Jew and Gentile.

A. The reason for our praise and testimony (v4-6)

This Psalm seems to be a parallel of 1 Chronicles 16:23-33. This account follows David’s bringing the Ark to Jerusalem. The Tabernacle was at Gideon, but David took the Ark from the Tabernacle and brought it to Jerusalem and placed it in a special tent he had made for it.

1. In Psalm 95, it simply states Israel was to sing unto the Lord. The emphasis is on Israel being thankful to Jehovah God for their deliverance out of Egypt.

Note, however, in Psalm 96:1 the people were to sing a "new" song unto the Lord. Israel is called to remember, not Moses and the old conditional promises given to the people through him. The theme of this Psalm is not directed toward Israel but to Israel’s declaring God’s glory among the heathen. They are called to be the witness to the world that God intended them to be. He made them a special nation, a special people to reveal Himself to the world.

The Psalm contrasts the false idols of the heathen nations, and reminds them that He is the Creator.

This new song first magnifies God, who is Jesus Christ. He is the One who offers salvation in the Tribulation, who returns at the end, who purges the earth from sinners and will reign in the Kingdom . The Model Prayer of Matthew 6:9, Jesus tells us we should begin our prayers with praise of God. True worship recognizes and wholly accepts the greatness of Almighty God.

The natural response to seeing the Lord for who understand and accept who He is brings praise from the lips of those to whom He has given His grace and mercy. In other words, they are grateful and overjoyed to be a part of His plan.

2. Although the Psalm revealed Israel’s present call to worship in David’s time, the focus is on our present time and also on the coming Tribulation period of seven years with God’s offering salvation to all the nations. Verse 3 says His glory and wonders are to be declared to all people.

In Matthew 24, Jesus said.

"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Matthew 24:14)

The context of Matthew 24 is the Tribulation and the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. Some uninformed preachers and churches use the verse as applicable today. Yes, we are to preach the Gospel to all nations as Jesus instructed Acts 1:8 . But there are many nations today where the Gospel is not being preached because their government prohibits it and makes being a Christian illegal. Even though in most nations the Gospel is preached to some degree, but the scope of Jesus’ statement is world wide and covers all nations. The gospel is not being preached today in all nations.

In the coming seven year Tribulation, the 144,000 Jews will be preaching the Gospel all over the earth. They will not be limited in where they can go, because God protects them.

3. The witness of God’s people is to be from day to day. That simply means every day. It would include in the way we live our daily lives and also importantly in our verbal testimony for Christ. We are not to be ashamed of the name of Jesus Christ.

4. The commission given here recognizes that Satan is at work and has established false gods and religions. (v4-5)

Compare any god or idol of man with God and it is easy to see there is no comparison. All the gods of man are the inventions of man and man like man or the things of the earth.

Paul explains "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things." (Romans 1:21-23)

Elijah on Mt. Carmel as record in 1 Kings 18 mocked the foolishness of worshiping an idol. "And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked." (1 Kings 18:27)

God declared the foolishness of making and worshiping a god that is the invent of man. See Isaiah 44:6-17 and 45.

B. In our witness give Him His due tell of the great of God and proclaim that He is our Creator.. (v5-8)

When Paul climbed Mars Hill is observed a idol dedicated to the "unknown god." "Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." (Acts 17:22-23)

1. Jehovah our God and Creator make all the universe and all that is in it. Compare that to the power of many man made god.

A good example if the god of the Mormons who they proudly claim is a god of flesh and bone. They believe their god is a physical man who has been exalted to godhood. He lives in heaven with his wives. A man must have wives right? If he has wives they produce children for him. However, it is interesting that their physical god produces "spirit" children. This god they say was born out in the universe on some planet and was faith to the god of that world so when he died and was resurrected they made him a god because he earned it by being worthy.

The question I ask them is this ...They claim to worship the God of the Bible, but the God of the Bible created the whole universe and only made man on the sixth day of creation. That presents a problem because you have god being born a man into a universe which already existed out in the Universe, and then he becomes a god. How then could he be born into a world that already existed and be the God of the Bible who created man on the six day of Creation?

It is easy to see the man always makes his god’s like himself and the false gods of man are laughable to say the least.

2. All the gods of men are vengeful and selfish creatures in which man has to pacify. They have to work to please their god and they never know if they have done enough. That have no assurance of heaven. Only Almighty God our Creator has power and strength....and His ways are beautiful. Think about the beauty of salvation. A lost hell bound sinner is forgiven his sins by the grace of God and made an adopted son, a joint heir with Jesus Christ and made a part of the bride of Christ.

Think about the beauty of the new life a believer has. Yes, the Lord is beautiful in all His ways.

3. In the Millennial Kingdom all the world will see the beauty of the Earth restored to a Garden of Eden state. Deserts will bloom, the earth will be green and lush. There will be no danger from animals as there will be on carnivorous or poisonous snakes or plants. Allergies will be gone...and it goes on and on in the wonder of the Millennium that God has promised.

4. The Psalmist declares we are to give the Lord His due. (V7-8) Again note the scope of the declaration is "all ye kindreds of people." The Millennium will be made up of all peoples on earth.

C. Our testimony is worshiping the Lord. It should be done in: (v8-10)

1. Our worship offers praise that He is due. It is hard for a prideful man to praise anyone. He is selfish and resents others who do things well or accomplish good things. Yet, the true child of God has overcome that sin and humbles himself before the Lord. He longs to honor the Lord and he loves to come to church and meet with other believers in a place dedicated only to the worship of God.

2. We are to bring an offering. Never in the Old Testament where God teaches us to worship does anyone come before Him empty handed. Worship involves giving and sacrifice into the Lord. Sacrifice means giving something that cost us.

3. Our worship should not be causual or without truly worshiping in the fear of God. Note what the Bible says about fear. Clearly, the emerging church people no nothing of the fear of God as they perform their shows, patterned after rock concerts.

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 7:1)

"Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." (Ephesians 5:21)

Godly fear means to respect, but it means much much more....it means to recognize who God is, His power and sovereignty and to understand He is to be feared. He is just.

The writer of Hebrews says, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:31) Friends we can anger God by our sinful conduct.

4. It should declare the Lord reigns (v10) God has made us wonderful promises. Those promises involve our current lives and our future. He presently reigns in our hearts leads and guides us if we will let Him. (Eph. 5:18) He promises also that we will reign with Him.

5. That He will return. The reality of the Rapture and Second Coming are sure and are only a matter of time.

6. That He will judge all people. God is just and each man will account for his actions. There is two sides to this truth. One if we live for the Lord we will reap the reward of faithfulness. The other side if that if we are unfaithful we will be judged according and it will bring rebuke dishonor and lost of reward.

A. The Millennium will be a time of joy and gladness. (V11-12) Read Isaiah 11:1-11

1. 273 times in the Old Testament God refers to His covenant with Israel. God will not forget His promises to God’s people.

2. Psalm 72 expresses the peace and joy that will come with Christ’s reign.

B. The coming of the Kingdom comes with a warning of judgement. (v13)

1. God told Israel of their responsibility to the lost, and referred to them as a watchmen.

"So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." (Ezekiel 33:7-9)

2. Note the Proverb, "An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity." (Proverbs 19:28)

3. "Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment." (Ecclesiastes 8:5)

4. "But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness." (Isaiah 5:16)

5. ‘And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him." (Isaiah 30:18)

6. "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." (Matthew 12:36)

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