Surrey Chapel Fellowship Groups 10th/11th June 2015
JOY IN GOD’S GREATNESS
Psalm 96

This Psalm is also in 1 Chronicles 16v23-33. The ark was on its triumphal entry to Jerusalem – so the writer takes most of this Psalm plus parts of 105 and 106. Notice in this Psalm the 3 fold call ‘sing, sing, sing’ v1 and also in v7 the call ‘give, give, give’ (ascribe). There is also a triple call in vvs11 and 12 (‘let the’)– from heaven, land and sea. Explore Notes gives a title –‘How to sing well’. This is a well written Psalm. Try to concentrate on the words rather than perhaps a tune you know of it.

A SONG FOR TODAY      v 1 – 3
Why do you think the Psalmist calls us to ‘sing a new song’? (v1)
Who are we singing to first and foremost? (v1 &  2A)
Praise like this leads to evangelism (outreach) – you could say –‘genuine praise and worship involves advertising’.
V2 & 3 –what are we to ‘proclaim and declare’ - -and how may we do this?
See also – Matthew 5v13-16 and 1 Peter 3v15 and see the call in Matthew 28v18-20
So we are to sing a new song because God is the living God. He is not just God of history but the One Who is to be known, loved and rejoiced in – now and each day.

A SONG FOR IDOLATORS   v 4 – 9
This section gives us the reason for singing.
What do these verses tell us about who God is? (v4-6)
The living God is real - -all other substitutes (gods - idols) that the world runs after are false. God is the creator (v5) – therefore to ascribe glory, strength and honour to anyone else is stupid - -and also it is insulting and very dangerous. What challenge does this bring to us?
v7-9	Our response. Notice the 3fold ‘ascribe’. Similar to Psalm 29 opening words – but now instead of calling on the angelic host –it here calls on all of us.
How is this living God to be approached? (v8-9)
v8	‘bring an offering’  - - not talking about the collection. See Romans 12v1
The Israelites came to the temple and brought a sacrifice to offer, for forgiveness and acceptance before God. We too come with an offering –as we look to the, once for all and one for all, offering of our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ. 

A SONG OF JUDGEMENT   v 10 – 13
See also - Psalm 93v1 the LORD reigns –message to the Israelites –now extended to all people (‘the nations’).
Note v10 ‘our God reigns’ and link that with v13 ‘he shall judge the world’. How will God judge the world? See also Psalm 67v4 and Acts 17v31
v11-12	How will creation respond?
Here we may have a big surprise. What are we rejoicing about? (v13A)
We sing now because we know Who God is and what the future actually holds. We will spend eternity praising God; and now we anticipate that time whenever we sing His praise.
If we are shocked to think that the universe rejoices over judgement – then we are wrong. Perhaps we don’t understand the real horror of sin or the outrage of idolatry or how much this world has fallen. Read |Romans 8v18-25

In conclusion – Re-read v4 –Back to our heading ‘Joy in God’s greatness’
See the reaction by all the people in 1 Chronicles 16v36b to the Psalm.
												DJ.
PRAYER POINTS – Praise the Lord –that He reigns and is coming again.
Momentum: Eaton Park 2pm on Saturday 13th June