Notes of Faith May 7, 2025
Your Exalted King
Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!
Psalm 96:1
Five psalms—from Psalm 96 to Psalm 100—explicitly affirm God’s rule over all the earth. Allen Ross, in his commentary on Psalms, calls Psalm 96: “The Exalted King.” We’re to sing a new song to Him (verse 1) and “declare His glory among the nations” (verse 3). Why? “For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised” (verse 4). He “made the heavens” (verse 5), so we should give Him glory (verse 7), bring Him an offering (verse 8), and worship Him “in the beauty of [His] holiness” (verse 9).
The joy of worshiping Him is not our privilege alone. The heavens, the earth, the seas, fields, and trees rejoice too (verses 11-12). We praise Him for He is coming to judge the world with righteousness and truth (verse 13).
The difficulties and stresses of life can discourage our souls. But God’s Word brings joy to our hearts often through studying the book of Psalms. If you’re discouraged or anxious today, take time to read Psalm 96 and praise God for who He is.
Because the majestic Lord of creation comes to judge and rule the world, all people should worship Him in fear and praise Him in holy array for His great salvation.
Allen Ross
Ps 150
150 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
2 Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
3 Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.
4 Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
5 Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!
Phil 2:5-11
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Rom 14:10-12
For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written,
"AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME,
AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD."
12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
We will all meet the Creator and Giver of life! He will judge us righteously and welcome us to our eternal home or condemn us to eternal suffering away from His presence in torment forever. Seek the Lord while he may be found!
Pastor Dale