Hastening the Day

2 Peter 3:10-13

Today we are going to look at verses ten through thirteen of 2 Peter 3, but to get started, we need to look back at the ending of verse 9, where it says:

2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning [His] promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

We must never forget the incredible patience with which God deals with humankind. He gave His only begotten Son so that we can be with Him forever. He is not willing that any should perish and calls us all to repentance. 

The sticking point is our need for repentance. Turning around and going the opposite direction from what we naturally do (repentance) does not appeal to us. We are born spiritually dead (separated from God) and by nature live according to the desires of our flesh. To have a relationship with God, we must acknowledge our desires as sinful and ask God to save us. We must repent, which means turn around. The majority of humanity is not willing to do this. Jesus said:

Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJV) ¹³“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide [is] the gate and broad [is] the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴“Because narrow [is] the gate and difficult [is] the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

God waits to judge the world so that people can repent and be saved. However, the awful truth remains that there is a “Day of the Lord” coming! He will not wait forever.

2 Peter 3:10 says:

2 Peter 3:10 (NKJV) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

Peter’s description of the “Day of the Lord” is terrifying. In the “Day of the Lord,” the heavens will be destroyed. We can assume that the stars, planets, and galaxies are included in this destruction. In addition, the heaven Satan fell from will be renewed. A “great noise” will accompany this destruction, adding to the terror of that day.

The elements also will melt. The Greek word used in this context is “λύω” (luō). Luō is a term whose primary meaning is to “loose” something or someone from bonds or prison. In this sense, it also means to dissolve. The literal reading of the phrase used in Peter is “the elements will be loosed.” The Bible says God holds all things together, so He can make it all come apart or dissolve.

After describing the “Day of the Lord,” Peter tells us how we should live in light of this truth. 2 Peter 3:11-12 says:

2 Peter 3:11-12 (NKJV) ¹¹Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, ¹²looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

Since this world and all that is in it will dissolve, doesn’t it make sense to store our treasures in heaven where moths and rust do not destroy? Peter asks the question, “What manner of person ought you to be?” The term “manner” has two meanings. The primary meaning is “of what country or people.” The secondary meaning is “of what sort or quality.” We need to consider both meanings in our conduct because, as citizens of heaven living on the earth, we represent the King, and our home is not here. We are foreigners and sojourners on earth. Why would we invest our lives in things that will dissolve while we watch?

 Peter says that the “manner of people” we are to be is “holy and godly.”

To be holy is to be set apart. Holy conduct then is to live life for God instead of for oneself. Jesus defined a life set apart for God as taking up one’s cross daily and following Him. In addition to being holy (set apart), Peter tells us to be godly. Godliness is a result of holiness. If we are set apart for God, we will seek to please Him. Godly conduct is pleasing God. We should observe the ten commandments and practice them, but God’s standard goes beyond the ten commandments. The Bible says that all God’s law is summed up in two commandments: 1) love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength, and 2) love your neighbor as yourself.

Holiness defines our position, or condition, as children of God. (We are all made holy by the blood of Jesus, God’s Son.) Godliness defines our conduct as children of God. In Ephesians 4:1-3, the Bible says:

Ephesians 4:1-3 (NKJV) ¹I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, ²with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, ³endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

If heaven is our eternal home, shouldn’t we live with heavenly values? Such values are reflected in holiness and godliness, but Peter does not stop there. He goes on to say, “…looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God.”

According to this, just as we are to live “holy and godly” lives, we are to look for and hasten the day of God.

Many places in the Bible tell us to live godly lives. Jesus said if we love Him, we will keep His commands, and we just looked at Ephesians 4, where we are instructed to walk worthy of our calling. But what about looking for the day of God?

The Bible tells us to store up our treasures in heaven and commit our way to the Lord. We are instructed to acknowledge Him in all that we do and do all things as to the Lord since we live for Him. These instructions reflect the attitude of one who is “looking for” the day of God. Looking for the day of God will make us live holy and godly lives, just like we have been talking about.

But, how are we supposed to “hasten” the day of God?

What possible influence can we have on the timing of the end of the world?

Our influence is greater than we think. 

When Jesus ascended to heaven, He left a job for us to do. All four gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) repeat His command. My favorite version of this command is from Matthew, and it says:

Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV) ¹⁹“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰“teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age.” Amen. {Compare Luke 24:46-49, Mark 16:15, John 20:21-23}

Preaching the gospel and making disciples are what Jesus commanded us to do until He comes, and this is one way we “hasten” the day of God. 

In Matthew 24:14, Jesus says:

Matthew 24:14 (NKJV) And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

The word “nations” in this verse translates the Greek word “ethnos.” The meaning of this word is critical to our understanding of what Jesus is saying. The dictionary entry is as follows.

Outline of Biblical Usage:

1. a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together 

• a company, troop, swarm 

2. a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus 

• the human family 

3. a tribe, nation, people group

 

Mark 16:15 quotes Jesus, saying, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” The significance of this is also seen in Revelation 7:9.

Revelation 7:9 (NKJV) After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

John saw people from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue (language) in heaven. Our job is to get the gospel message to people so they can be part of the great multitude in heaven. God is waiting for this to happen.

Another aspect of the reason God is waiting is His relationship with Israel. Romans 11 says:

Romans 11:25-27 (NKJV) ²⁵For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. ²⁶And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; ²⁷For this [is] My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”

God is waiting for the “fullness of the Gentiles” to come in. We do not know the number He has set, but we do know that His number includes some from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue. So, as long as we are doing the job Jesus left us with, we will be “hastening” that day.

There is one more thing that we can be doing. It is obvious once you think of it. We can pray, and we are commanded to pray. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says in plain language, “Pray without ceasing!” We are to give thanks in all circumstances and take all our concerns to the Lord according to Philippians 4:6.

Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

 

These prayers will affect us reaching all people. One prayer we are instructed to keep before the Father will undoubtedly have a significant effect.

Matthew 9:37-38 (NKJV) ³⁷Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly [is] plentiful, but the laborers [are] few. ³⁸“Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

We are to pray for workers to preach the gospel. Along with workers, we can pray for provision, protection, and productivity (a great harvest) for those workers.

While prayer may affect the day of God, why should we pray for it? What is the advantage?

The advantage is great in every way. Because for believers in Jesus Christ, we will live forever in a new heaven and a new earth. Peter points this out in 2 Peter 3:13.

2 Peter 3:13 (NKJV) Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

It is because of this new heaven and earth that the Bible ends with:

Revelation 22:20 (NKJV) He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Promised Coming

2 Peter 3:1-9

As chapter 3 of 2 Peter begins, Peter gives his motivation for writing both of his letters. He says:

2 Peter 3:1-2 (NKJV) ¹Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), ²that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,

His concern is seen in the warnings he gives as he speaks of false teachers and the challenges we face as followers of Jesus. He also expresses his affection in his form of address, and he calls us “beloved.” 

Jesus commanded us to love each other. Peter shows his love by reminding us of the truth. We also recognize that false teachers fake love and concern when we say this. However, the content of Peter’s message reflects his affection. He is concerned that we are “mindful of the words which were spoken” by the prophets and Apostles. He does not direct us to himself; he leads us to the words of others that have proven faithful. He is not seeking his own benefit but ours.

The words of the prophets and Apostles form the foundation of our faith; in other words, the Old Testament and the New Testament are our source. The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, always direct us to base our lives on the written word of God. For example, the prophet Isaiah says:

Isaiah 8:20 (NKJV) To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Later in chapter three, Second Peter says that false teachers distort the writings of Paul as they do the rest of the Scriptures (2 Peter 3:16). If Second Peter teaches us anything, it teaches us to base our lives and faith on the written word of God. 

Anything I say and any teaching you hear must align with Scripture, or it is wrong. This is true of anything we read or that claims to teach the truth, and Scripture is how the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth. In Acts, the Bible recognizes the Bereans as noble-minded for checking what the Apostles were teaching against the Old Testament Scriptures.

Acts 17:11 (ESV) Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

The Bereans were “more noble” because they examined the Scriptures to see if the things taught were consistent with Scripture. They did not blindly accept everything they were told.

Let’s look at 1 Peter 3:1-2 again.

2 Peter 3:1-2 (NKJV) ¹Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), ²that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,

In verse one, we see that he stirs up our “pure minds.” Having a “pure” (sincere or unmixed) mind is essential. Jesus said:

Matthew 5:8 (NKJV) Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

Titus 1:15 helps us understand why a pure heart is so important.

Titus 1:15 (NKJV) To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

The defiled mind and conscience lead to being what 2 Peter 3:3 calls “scoffers.”

2 Peter 3:3-4 (NKJV) ³knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, ⁴and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

By saying “knowing this first,” Peter emphasizes the essential nature of the promise of His coming. Not everyone who asks, “Where is the promise of His coming,” is a mocker. The mocker asks the question with a defiled heart and conscience. Peter says the scoffer (mocker) walks according to their own lusts (evil desires). 

People suppress the truth if the truth does not serve their lusts. An impure (lustful) heart will hide from, twist, or otherwise, pervert the truth. In verse five of second Peter, Peter says people deliberately hide (from themselves) certain truths.

There is nothing wrong with the question, “Where is the promise of His coming.” However, the scoffer asks the question to mock the promise and follows it with the statement, “For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of creation.” They believe that everything has continued without change since the beginning. Verse five through seven of second Peter chapter three expose the error in the belief system of people who scoff at what the Bible says about the return of Christ.

2 Peter 3:5-7 says:

2 Peter 3:5-7 (NKJV) ⁵For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, ⁶by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. ⁷But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Two errors in thinking or belief of scoffers are shown in these verses. The first error is that they do not believe or acknowledge the biblical account of creation. And the second error is that they do not consider the story of Noah and the Ark to be true. According to 2 Peter 3:7, people purposely (deliberately) hide or ignore facts. He is saying humanity knowingly covers (hides) the knowledge of creation and the flood. 2 Peter, like the rest of Scripture, is inspired by God. So it is God who is saying that creation and the flood provide enough evidence to answer the mockers. Romans 1:18 says essentially the same thing.

Romans 1:18 (NKJV) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

Most people I know are not mockers. However, most people are deceived. The deceiver knows the truth and deliberately says something different. The devil is the great deceiver and the father of lies. And, as Ephesians 2 teaches us, the world is under the power of the evil one. Because of this, most of the world is deceived concerning the obvious truths of creation and the flood. However, while God excuses their ignorance, He does not excuse their unwillingness to acknowledge the truth when they are confronted with it.

Acts 17:30-31 speaks of God’s willingness to overlook ignorance and harsh judgment of willful hiding from the truth.

Acts 17:30-31 (NKJV) ³⁰“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, ³¹“because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him [Jesus] from the dead.”

God sustains all creation, and in Him, all things exist and have their being. The power of God holds everything together. And, according to Romans 1:18, humanity has no excuse for not acknowledging these facts. However, even though humanity deliberately forgets God, God continues to sustain and provide for humanity. But, 2 Peter 3:4 contains a strong warning for the world; judgment is coming. God destroyed this world once by flooding it. God will destroy this world again, but everything will be destroyed by fire the next time. God destroyed the world by the flood because the inclinations of mens’ hearts were only evil continually. God is just, and God will see that justice is done. The coming judgment will be final, when this world is destroyed by fire.

If God is preserving this world for judgment, where is Jesus? Why has He not kept His promise to come back?

First, let’s consider where Jesus is. The Bible teaches that Jesus is at the right hand of God making intercession for us. Many verses say that Jesus is at God’s right hand interceding for us, and one such verse is Romans 8:34.

Romans 8:34 (NKJV) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be with His followers while He is at the Father’s right hand. The Holy Spirit teaches and keeps us. Through the Holy Spirit, God makes us alive spiritually (this is called “rebirth”). Jesus also gives gifts by the Holy Spirit so that His followers function together as a body. His body, known as the Church, remains in the world to tell others about Jesus and plead with each person to be reconciled to God. When Jesus comes back, this will end.

When He ascended to heaven, Jesus said that no one will know the day or the hour of His return. He did tell us to be aware of the signs of the times. While we do not know the time of His return, we know for sure that it is two thousand years closer than when He left. 2 Peter 3:8-9 encourages us with the following words.

2 Peter 3:8-9 (NKJV) ⁸But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Focus on the words “the Lord is not slack concerning His promise.” In this case, the term “slack” means “slow.” However, He is waiting. Here is the answer to why Jesus has not come back yet. God “is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

God will not mess with your free will. If you choose to ignore Him and hide from the truth, He will not force you to turn. He is “longsuffering” (patience that only God can show) toward us. However, this will not go on forever. Do not try to figure out when the day of Jesus’ return will be, but know that it will be soon.

2 Peter 3:8 tells us, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” This is not meant to be interpreted as one thousand years equals one day, because the Scriptures are making the point that time is irrelevant to God. We are tied to time and think in terms of time. It seems like “forever” since Jesus left. We must not forget that time means nothing to God. He controls time and has set a time when Jesus will return, but time is not the measure for His work. When His will is accomplished, when everyone He wants to be saved is saved, He will return. We count “slackness” as time and impose that thinking on God. 

“Boy, He sure is slow!”

No! He is not slow. He is perfect; all His works are always complete, and when, and only when, He is ready, Jesus will return.

Are we ready?

Let me end with 1 John 3:3.

1 John 3:3 (NKJV) And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Great Love

 Great Love

Ephesians 2:3-7

Ephesians 2:1-3 (NKJV) 1 And you [He made alive,] who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

We were dead in our trespasses and sins, walked according to the course of this world, and were under the power of the evil one. On top of all this, we conducted ourselves in keeping with our sinful desires.

I came to know Jesus Christ at an early age. But, even at an early age, my heart was sinful, and I knew it. I have since found that I must take up my cross daily and follow Jesus, which means dying to my evil desires and walking by the Spirit. 

Before we came to know Jesus, we were children of wrath; in other words, the wrath of God was directed toward us. Even in this state, God loved us. It seems like a contradiction to say the wrath of God was directed toward us at the same time He loved us, but as children of wrath and under the control of the evil one, the inclinations of our hearts were only evil continually.

This is where God’s love comes in. Ephesians 2:4-5 says:

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NKJV) ⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Here we see that God loved us with a great love, which is why He made us alive together with Christ. God is described as “rich in mercy.” Mercy means not to treat someone as they deserve. We were children of wrath deserving of death, but God did not treat us as we deserve. Instead, He poured out His kindness on us through Christ Jesus.

We were dead in our trespasses, meaning we had no connection or inclination toward God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. We did not have the Holy Spirit, and we were blind. 2 Corinthians 4 speaks of the blindness of the unbeliever. 

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (ESV) ³And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Once again, we face the fact that the person without Christ is under the power of the evil one. He is the father of lies and blinds people from the truth by filling their minds with lies. We can be deceived as well. Satan roams about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. He is relentless, attacking from our earliest days until we go to the grave. If we did not have the Holy Spirit from God, we would not stand a chance.

Praise God, Ephesians 2:6 tells us that not only did God make us alive together with Christ, but He seated us in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus.

Satan would not have us live with this reality. He throws all of his attractions, distractions, and tricks at us to keep our minds off the truth. 

Jesus talked about the sower sowing seeds. He spoke of seed that fell on the path. The seed is the word of God, and the path is a hardened heart where it is easy for the devil to “snatch away” any seeds that are sown. The second type of soil is rocky soil. This person eagerly and joyfully accepts the word of God, but they are shallow. Jesus said they have no root in themselves. They are like those “tossed about by every wind of doctrine.” (Ephesians 4:14 (NKJV) that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.)The devil has his agents teaching in pulpits, writing books about faith, and drawing people away from the truth. If we are to be good soil, we must submit to the Holy Spirit and receive the word implanted. 

By seating us in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, God gives us a position and a place where we are safe from the attacks of the evil one. Colossians 3:1 says:

Colossians 3:1-3 (NKJV) ¹If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ²Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

We are to set our minds on things above. But notice here that it says, “You died.” We were dead in our trespasses and sins, so how did we die if we were made alive?

We died to the flesh and to sin. However, we can still live under the control of the flesh. We can do things to help us stay free of the flesh. We might have to cut off things like television, fleshly music, or anything that pulls our hearts and minds away from Jesus and our place in the heavenlies. 

God has given us everything we need for life and godliness, but it is up to us to walk in those things. Ephesians 2:7 tells us that God does this to show the exceeding riches of His grace and kindness toward us.

The grace and kindness that God has poured out on us in Christ Jesus are immeasurable. If while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, is there anything God will withhold from us? Our position and place in Christ Jesus are privileged beyond what we can comprehend.

Proclaim and Declare

Psalm 96

Almost everybody has heard the story of David and Goliath. David fought Goliath when he was still a youth. Around that same time, Samuel anointed David as king. David was 15 years old when he was anointed, and he began to rule as king when he was 30 years old. 

For hundreds of years before David was born and up to the time he began his reign, the Tabernacle of God, which Moses had built, was in Gibeon. However, The Ark of the Covenant (the box that was covered in gold and contained some preserved manna, the stone tablets on which the law was written, and Aaron’s rod) was not in the tabernacle. The ark was to be kept in the inner sanctum of the tabernacle called the Holiest of Holies. It was only to be moved when the tabernacle was moved (the tabernacle was an ornate tent used in place of a temple while the Israelites traveled in the wilderness). At the end of the days of the judges, while Samuel (the one who wrote First and Second Samuel) was still young, the Israelites foolishly took the ark out of the Holiest of Holies and carried it into battle against the Philistines. They hoped that this special object would give them victory.

God disapproves of the veneration of objects or people, so God gave the Philistines the victory that day, and the Ark of the Covenant was taken captive by the Philistines. The Philistines had taken the Ark captive quite a few years before David became king. But, the Philistines could not keep the Ark because God struck them with diseases wherever the Ark went. As a result, the Philistines sent the Ark back to Israel. The Ark stayed in Kiriath-jearim for over 20 years, where it was when David came to power.

David sought the Lord with all his heart, and when he became king, he wanted to make sure the worship of God remained the center of the nation. As he consolidated his power, he established a new capital city by capturing the Jebusite city of Jerusalem. Then, once Jerusalem was established as the nation's capital, David tried to bring the Ark of God to Jerusalem, but Israel did not follow the procedures that God had specified for moving the ark. The result was the death of a man named Uzziah, who reached out and touched the ark (touching the ark was strictly forbidden in the Law of Moses).

When Uzziah was struck dead, the movement of the Ark stopped, and for many years it stayed in that place in the house of a man named Obededom the Gittite. While the Ark was kept safe in that place, David took time to make a new tabernacle in Jerusalem and study in the law of Moses the proper way to move the ark.

When the preparations were completed and the day to move the Ark finally came, the whole nation of Israel celebrated. 2 Samuel 6 tells us:

2 Samuel 6:14-15 (NKJV) ¹⁴Then David danced before the LORD with all [his] might, and David [was] wearing a linen ephod. ¹⁵So David and all the house of Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

David was a poet and a musician, and many of the Psalms were written by him. As part of his preparations for bringing the Ark into Jerusalem, David wrote a song. Perhaps it was that song that he danced to. We do not know because the Scriptures do not tell us. However, the Scriptures do tell us the words of the song; the song is Psalm 96.

At the time, it was a new song, so it starts with the words, “Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!” 

New also means “fresh.” We must remember to always keep our praise of God “fresh” and new. I love singing the doxology, but sometimes when we sing something over and over, we stop thinking about the words we are singing. People will never stop writing new songs, and we shouldn’t. When our hearts are moved by the Spirit to worship, we must respond and those with poetic and musical gifts should exercise those gifts to the glory of God. Inventive, new, and fresh worship is a gift from God.

However, we should not throw out the old. Most of the Psalms are over 3,000 years old and they are just as good today as the day they were written. The Psalmist calls on us to “bless” the Lord (bless means praise) and we do this by using our mouths to make known His faithfulness.

God chose Israel and set it apart from other nations to be His special people for the purpose of making His name known among the nations. When God set them apart, they were no different from other peoples. But, God’s law and presence with them made them unique, so the whole world could see that there was no God like the God of Israel.

Psalm 96 came out of Israel’s unique relationship to God. As the Ark of the Covenant entered Jerusalem and David danced before the Lord, this song was sung to declare the glory of God. David declares several truths about God.

First, He declares that there is no God like God. Psalm 96:4 says:

Psalms 96:4-5 (NKJV) ⁴For the LORD [is] great and greatly to be praised; He [is] to be feared above all gods. ⁵For all the gods of the peoples are idols…

Idols are empty and meaningless, but the spiritual bondage that accompanies idols is real. We tend to think that idols are no longer an issue in our modern world, but this is not true.

Japan is one of the most modern, technologically, and scientifically advanced countries in the world. And, it is a country filled with idols of all kinds; wood, stone, and ceramic gods are everywhere. Even the emperor is worshipped as a god. Stones and objects become gods by ceremonies where spirits are prayed into them. The emperor becomes a god by an extra special ceremony. That ceremony remains secret from the public. 

Japan is one of hundreds of nations where idols are worshipped.

When the psalmist says that the gods of the nations are idols, he points out that it is foolish to bow before objects. But that is not all. The Israelites and you and I know that the spirits behind the “idols” are evil, fallen angels who seek to deceive and destroy men and women.

To strengthen the point that God is to be feared above all gods, the psalmist says:

Psalms 96:5 (NKJV) For all the gods of the peoples [are] idols, But the LORD made the heavens. 

Only one God created all things. God’s glory and greatness are seen in the things He has made. Psalm 19 says:

Psalms 19:1 (NKJV) To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.

This is the second truth the psalmist declares. God is the creator of all things. From the vastness of space to the tiniest atom, all creation shows how incomprehensibly great God is. The psalmist calls upon us to join all creation in singing, proclaiming, and declaring the greatness of God. His strength and power are beyond our ability to understand. Psalm 96:10 says:

Psalms 96:10 (NKJV) Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns; The world also is firmly established, It shall not be moved…”

The world is firmly established because the Lord reigns. No other explanation for our existence is satisfactory. All such explanations fall short of the facts seen in the data available to us.

The third truth the psalmist singles out is that God is our Savior. 

In the second verse of the psalm, the psalmist says:

Psalms 96:2 (NKJV) Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.

Salvation is good news. “His salvation” lets us know that salvation is from the Lord, and salvation cannot be obtained anywhere else.

Psalm 96:10 says, “He shall judge the peoples righteously.” And then, verse 13 says:

Psalms 96:13 (NKJV) For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.

Alongside and undergirding all the psalmists’ praise of the Lord is the truth of salvation. We can praise Him because He saves us. 1 John 4:19 says:

1John 4:19 (NKJV) We love Him because He first loved us.

The great rejoicing of this song comes out of this love. If God did not provide salvation, the fact that “He shall judge the world with righteousness” would be terrible. For those who do not accept the salvation that God offers, His judgment will be terrible. As Psalm 96:4 says:

Psalms 96:4 (NKJV) …He [is] to be feared above all gods.

The Bible tells us our God is a consuming fire. No injustice or unrighteousness will survive in His presence. The prophet Jeremiah says:

Jeremiah 10:7 (NKJV) Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is Your rightful due. For among all the wise [men] of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, [There is] none like You.

The psalmist praises God because He is the only God, the creator, and Savior. He calls for us to respond with singing, and with proclamation and declaration. Throughout the psalm, there is a call to tell the nations, the peoples of the earth, about God. Let’s look at verses 2 and 3.

Psalms 96:2-3 (NKJV) ²Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. ³Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.

These two verses call on us to proclaim the good news and declare His glory. These two words call for two different types of communication. The word rendered “proclaim” means to preach. 

We do not all preach, but we are all involved in preaching the gospel. Our tithes and offerings, and prayers support the proclamation of the gospel. If we do not give, people will not hear the good news. Romans 10 asks:

Romans 10:14 (NKJV) How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

We all have a part in this preaching because we are all members of the Body of Christ. The body working together accomplishes the proclamation of the good news.

The second word Psalm 96 uses to call us to action is “declare.” This is a different word and a different activity than proclamation. Another translation of the word is “tell.” We are to “tell” of His glory. The idea communicated here is telling others what God has done for us.

This is something that every individual can do. One does not need to stand on a street corner and shout, although there is a time and place for that. However, we can all tell a friend, neighbor, or family member what God has done for us.

The psalm ends with an incentive for all of us. 

Psalms 96:13 (NKJV) For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.

Three thousand years ago, David knew that God was coming. He did not understand all the details, but He knew God was coming. God came to the world He created as a baby when Jesus was born. At that time, He purchased our salvation. He will come again, and this time He will judge the world with righteousness as David says. 

In 1 John 3:3, the Bible tells us:

1John 3:3 (NKJV) And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

The way we live, one would think we do not believe He is coming. The time for us to proclaim and declare is coming to an end. He is coming soon, and those who do not believe in Jesus Christ will face judgment. 

With all the good things God has done for us, surely we can declare His glory! We have good news to share. The angels called it “good news of great joy!” Psalm 96 overflows with praise because God is worthy of our praise, and he has done great things for us.