I. Read Psalm 98.
1 Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made his salvation known
and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
3 He has remembered his love
and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
4 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing together for joy;
9 let them sing before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity. (ESV)
Introduction – Many people are familiar with the first answer of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, which states, “Man’s chief end [main purpose] is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” We can glorify God in many ways. We can do so by obeying Him and by performing good deeds. One very important way we can glorify Him is through our worship. Psalm 98 speaks of putting our whole being into our worship of God. We are to use all means of expression. We are to sing. We are to play music. We are to shout. The shouts are to be filled with joy and the songs are to be jubilant. We are to be energetic and enthusiastic in worshiping Him because He has done marvelous things. The word ‘enthusiastic’ comes from the Greek word “enthous” which means to be possessed by a god. He is worthy of our worship and when we worship Him we are fulfilling that for which He created us. God is not only calling us to worship Him, but for all nations to do so. His revelation of Himself in Christ is to the nations, to the very ends of the earth. He will judge the whole world and bring justice or equity to the nations. Therefore, all the world is called to praise and worship our God.
Answer the questions in your own words:
- What are the characteristics of the worship we are to offer God?
- What are the foundational truths upon which our worship is based?
- What can you do to bring your personal and corporate worship up to a higher level?
II. Pray Psalm 98. Write out a short prayer of praise and worship to Him.
III. Sing Psalm 98.
- Sing Psalm 98 with parts!
- Sing this Jazzy Version of Psalm 98 (Strawbridge).
- Sing this metrical version of Psalm 98 to the tune of “All Hail the Power.”
1 O sing a new song to the Lord,
for wonders he hath done:
His right hand and his holy arm
him victory hath won.
2 The Lord God his salvation
hath caused to be known;
His justice in the heathen's sight
he openly hath shown.
3 He mindful of his grace and truth
to Isr'el's house hath been;
And the salvation of our God
all ends of th' earth have seen.
4 Let all the earth unto the Lord
send forth a joyful noise;
Lift up your voice aloud to him,
sing praises, and rejoice.
5 With harp, with harp, and voice of psalms,
unto Jehovah sing:
6 With trumpets, cornets, gladly sound
before the Lord the King.
7 Let seas and all their fullness roar;
the world, and dwellers there;
8 Let floods clap hands, and let the hills
together joy declare
9 Before the Lord; because he comes,
to judge the earth comes he:
He'll judge the world with righteousness,
his folk with equity.
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31 Days with God 