Bible Studies

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The Songs
Psalm 96 - Singing a New Song
Key Verses: (NKJV)

• 1-3: “Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. 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." - We are to have an active response to God's love: Sing, sing, sing, bless, proclaim, and declare.
  
  8: "Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts." - We are to recognize what God has done, give Him the credit, and dedicate our lives to His purpose.
  
  9-10: "Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth. ¹⁰Say among the nations, 'The LORD reigns; The world also is firmly established, It shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously'" - The kingdom of the Lord is now. We are to bow down and relinquish our lives into His loving hands.
  
  11-12: "Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; ¹²Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the LORD." - Let all creation rejoice.13: "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." - He is not a harsh judge with brutal and cold jurisprudence. Instead, His process of judging aligns us to His will, sanctifies us by His grace, and immerses us in His love. Salvation for all.
  

Points to Contemplate:

• Are you singing a new song? Or, has your relationship with God resulted in nothing new? Once He entered your heart and revealed His love for you, were you changed? As you dedicate your life to proclaiming the good news of His salvation, are you moving into new directions? Are you allowing His love to transform you into the image of Christ? If you are singing the same old songs in life, if nothing has changed as a result of your relationship with Christ, what should you do? Will singing a new song of praise help open your heart to His transforming love? If you "declare His glory among the nations" will you experience new life?
  
  
• Do you tremble before God? As the wonder of His glory is revealed, do you become weak in the knees and feint in spirit? Are you in awe of God and amazed by the "beauty of (His) holiness?" Do you bring offerings of worship to God? Or, do you hold back and keep your reactions to His love in check? Do you strive to control your feelings and keep your emotions steady? By limiting your reactions to God's holiness are you, in some way, limiting the extent of His influence on your life? Is it possible that the more you allow yourself to tremble the more you will experience the kingdom of heaven?
  
  
• Are you ready for His judgment? Have you prepared your heart and mind for His arrival? Have you set out your best china and washed your best linens? Have you cleaned the cobwebs from the nooks and crannies of your life? Have you polished the silver and mopped the floors? Have you done everything you can to prepare a way for Him into your life? Do you see that now is the time for the Lord? That He has come and He is knocking at the door of your heart? Are you ready to let Him in? Will you allow Him to reveal His righteousness and carry you along the pathway to His truth?
  

Promise of the Gospel:

Sing praises to God. Tremble before Him in wonder and awe. Declare to the world that His salvation is here and that His unbelievable love is available to all who call out His name. Worship Him with trembling arms raised high in adoration. Rejoice and be glad in the beauty of His holiness. Bring offerings of worship. Dedicate your lives to His glory. The kingdom of heaven is here. God has revealed His love to the world. The pathway to His righteousness is readily available and His truth lies before us. This is very good news - it is news that changes lives. We can sing a new song because the old ways are gone and the glory of heaven is upon us. The King of Glory reigns forever. Amen.

FUMC Devotionals

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