As we watch events unfold in the world around us, we have great confidence that God is in control. He rules all the nations and through the host of the Elohim is bringing the entire creation into position for the appearance of Christ and the establishment of the millennial age.
Our great desire is to be a part of that day, to be made immortal and to join with the saints of all ages in singing a new song, saying, “Thou art worthy…for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood…and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:9,10).
What a wonderful time that will be, for we will have the glorious opportunity to implement the rule of justice, peace and mercy in all the earth. How different the system is going to be among the mortal population of the earth once the kingdom is fully established. Then “every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth” will join their voices to proclaim the praises of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 5:13).
Psalm 96 is Messianic
Psalm 96 looks forward to this time. It is obvious from the sweeping language of the opening verses: “sing unto the LORD, all the earth…Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people” (vs. 1,3).
This worldwide perspective continues throughout the Psalm. “All the gods of the nations” are alluded to in verses 4 and 5 and all the people of the world in verses 7 and 9. The closing verses are most direct in speaking about the kingdom when God’s holy one will judge the whole world in righteousness (vs. 10-13).
In fact, as we read verse 13, we recognize that Paul was quoting from this verse when he spoke to the Athenians on Mars’ hill. He argued for repentance now because God “hath appointed a day, in the which he shall judge the world in righteousness.” The apostle adds to the quotation the identification of the one through whom this rule will be exercised when he declares, “by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:31).
An exhortation to preach now
We can look at verse 2 of Psalm 96 and rejoice at the prospect of showing forth the salvation of God from day to day in the kingdom. But what about doing that now? Events in the world give us an excellent opening to talk about Bible prophecy and the coming kingdom. Let us seize that opportunity at work, at school, at home and in our ecclesial witness.
In the kingdom, one of our foremost activities will be to proclaim the truth about God. If we are to be interested in that activity in the kingdom, we will be interested in it now. Are we?
As we are often reminded, the moral attributes that we will have in the kingdom are those which are being formed now. If we are too embarrassed of the Truth to talk about it now, do we think that at the judgment seat we will be injected with an enthusiasm that we have never before evidenced? That will not be done for the Master warns us, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mk. 8:38). It will be easier to proclaim the word of God in the kingdom, but we should be doing it now when we have the opportunity?
Paul did! He was alone in Athens but he saw the opportunity in the open discussion that was a feature of the city. So Paul showed “forth his salvation from day to day. [He] declared his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people” (Psa. 96:2-3).
Psa. 96 and Paul’s message
There is a very interesting parallel between the topics covered in Psalm 96 and those Paul included in his message to the Athenians. Verses 4 through 6 of the Psalm contrast the true God with idols; they declare that “the LORD made the heavens” and discuss His dwelling place. These are exactly the points Paul covered as he opened his message on Mars’ hill (Acts 17:22-24).
He then decried worshiping God by giving him gifts made by man. What does God want then? Psa. 96:7-9 elaborates the answer: “give unto the LORD glory and strength…worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness…” God wants our praise, our thanks, our faith, our fear and holiness.
He is not just king over Israel: “say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth” (Psa. 96:10). An act of His worldwide domain is that He “hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their [the nations] habitation” (Acts 17:26). Therefore, His appeal is to “all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30; cp. Psa. 96:11-12).
Knowing the Bible
If we know our Bibles well enough, we can preach like this too. We can go to a section in Romans 4 and follow through an argument on the promises to Abraham. Or we can go to John 5 and follow through 30 verses explaining the Truth about the relationship of the Father and the Son. We can go to Zechariah 14 and explain much about the kingdom of God by expounding this one chapter of Scripture.
The beauty of holiness
This phrase does not refer to a way of dress or of meeting in a great cathedral. It refers to an attitude of mind that finds expression in a life of holy conduct and holy conversation. At any time, in any place we can be praising God and worshiping in His presence in the beauty of holiness.
“Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness” (Psa. 110:3). That is surely true. In the day to come, we will be willing to serve with our Lord Jesus to bring justice and peace to all the world. But let us be willing now to offer the beauty of holiness in our lives, and let us declare his glory among the peoples. If we do that now, then in the day of the appearing of our Lord, we will lift up our voices in a new song and praise him as he comes to judge the world in righteousness.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One