Psalm 96: A Theology of Praise

Book excerpt: This work is a simple theological look at the praise the church offers to God. God requires that his people have a theology of praise. Psalm 96 delivers to them the directives they need in order to praise God rightly. It is, in and of itself, a condensed theology of praise for the Church of Jesus Christ. God has called his people to praise him. Psalm 96 shows the church what should fill their theology of praise so that they praise God in holiness and truth. This is only possible through Jesus Christ and his work on the cross for them, as the one and only Messiah; the Messiah David was looking forward to and the Messiah the church looks back to who has already come. This Psalm is a call to all people to praise God correctly, and then demonstrates God’s government and judgment over the whole earth in response to those who praise him rightly, and those who do not. God, as the glorious Savior of his covenant people, has redeemed a people of praise; those whose theology of praise extends from the word of God into their mind, then to their regenerated heart, to their mouth and finally seen in their actions. Such a people will be a community of those who offer testimony and witness to the great acts and wonders of God’s being and grace to a fallen world; from being a witness to their children, to their next door neighbor, their cities and country, to all those across the world. While such work is going on, this covenant community will also be watchful as a community of believers knowing that Christ may choose to return and judge the world in righteousness at any time, where Christ will finally usher them into an eternity of praise; a place where creation and the church will praise Christ forever, the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world.