Musing – Where, When and How should we Praise God?

Hebraic Musing – Where, When and How should we Praise God?

Psalms 96 and 98 both start with “Sing to the Lord a new song;…”,  but is the message the same?  At first glance, Psalm 98 sounds just like Psalm 96.  Both psalms summon the nations of the world to join together in joyful praise of God and both call for “a new song” to be sung to the Creator.  How are the two psalms different?  What did the psalmist want to add to Psalm 98 that that we should note? 

The setting for Psalm 96 is in the Holy Temple; “Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.  … 8 …bring an offering and come into his courts.”  Verse 8 encourages us to “bring an offering and come into his courts”. We are told to praise God by bringing Him special offerings to the OT Temple. 

On the other hand, Psalm 98 speaks to us wherever we may be, acknowledging us as the Temple!  It is a call to spontaneous praise wherever and whenever …  Psalm 98:1&4-5  “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; … 4 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord …  shout for joy before the Lord, the King.”   Psalm 98 is offered to us as an encouraging message.  You don’t need to be in the Holy Temple, you can offer praise to God and serve Him anywhere, anytime.  You can make music to God with whatever instrument you have in your hands.

Let’s “Sing to the Lord a new song” wherever and whenever.  Here are lyrics to one of my favorite songs:

♫  Sing to the Lord, sing to the Lord a new song…  God made the world in seven days.
Adam sinned and then all men fell away.   Jesus came to redeem my soul.
He died upon the cross, and He made me whole!     Sing to the Lord, sing to the Lord a new song.
♫ God said to Moses, “Go and set My people free.  I will be your guide, just always follow Me.”
Moses led the people through the parted Red Sea,   Then they sang, and they danced,
and they had a jubilee!      Sing to the Lord, sing to the Lord a new song.
♫ Jesus said to Peter, “Come on, I’m calling you.   I know the way is hard, 
But I’ll always see you through.”     Peter said, “My Lord, I’m a sinful man.”
Then he threw down his net,  And to the Lord he ran! Sing to the Lord, sing to the Lord a new song.
♫  Come on, my brother, won’t you turn to Jesus now?  He knows that you’re a sinner,
But He loves you anyhow.   Jesus paid the price for your salvation.  Just call upon His name.
And you’re a new creation!     Sing to the Lord, sing to the Lord a new song. ♫

  Point to ponder

How often is wherever and whenever?

What will people around you think if you’re always “Singing to the Lord”?

♫ Sing to the Lord, sing to the Lord a new song ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                            February 6, 2018

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired and excerpted from Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein’s “Let's Make Music” December 18, 2016

Psalm 96:1-9 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.  Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.  For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.  Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.  Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.  NIV

Psalm 98:1-9   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.   The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.   He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.   Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;   make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,   with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn —  shout for joy before the Lord, the King.    Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.   Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;   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.