Splendor & Amazing Deeds (part 2 of 2)

We see this all-nations emphasis in the first verse, which exclaims to “Sing to the Lord, all the earth!” (96:1b).  Why was all the earth to sing?  Why should the earth, the nations, do so?   This was to occur because Israel would tell of what their God had done for them, in demonstration of His strength, His power, His grace, and His worthiness to receive praise.  As the covenant people of the covenant God, their charge was to “Announce every day how He delivers! (96:2b) 

“Deliverance” is always a key word, and should be specially recognized whenever it is seen.  Any talk of deliverance must, of necessity, be connected to exile, subjection, imprisonment, and enslavement, in a reflection on the Egyptian experience that was such a formative part of Israel’s experience.  The language of deliverance is exodus language.  It is almost a shorthand way of recalling their exodus (and all that goes along with it).  Thus, through telling their story of their deliverance from Egypt, their God would be glorified. 

Quite understandably then, this was to be a major component of their praises.  For Israel, what could be more splendid and amazing than what their God had performed for them in fulfilling His ancient promise to rescue His people from Egypt?  Naturally, because of the annual celebration of Passover as the quintessential defining moment of this people of the Creator God, the exodus story would always be fresh in their memories and ready to be told.

We can then go on to see what the Creator God intended for the whole of the world (all its peoples) when we read, “Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the nations, ascribe to the Lord splendor and strength!  Ascribe to the Lord the splendor He deserves!” (96:7-8a).  This could only take place if that God’s people are telling “the nations about His splendor,” and informing “all the nations about His amazing deeds” (96:3).  Clearly, there is an application here for believers; and of course, the “splendor” and the “amazing deeds” are undoubtedly summed upon the Gospel’s declaration (Jesus is Lord).  Unfortunately, like Israel, who, by and large (as the Scriptures indicated) turned inward upon themselves and were more concerned about their place and their land and their blessings, the covenant God’s people still turn inward, becoming focused on themselves, and with making personal, individualistic spiritual experiences the end of the Gospel. 

When the message becomes what believers need to do or be or avoid (or what they are against) in order to be good and holy people, then it also becomes nearly impossible to tell about the splendor and the amazing deeds of the God of deliverance.  If such things are not happening, then the people of the world that are eagerly groaning in anticipation of hearing the Gospel (and seeing it performed), will likely never come to the point at which they are able to do anything that remotely resembles the ascribing glory to the Lord, as the evidence that they too have become people of His covenant, sharing in eternal life (the life of the age to come, the working of the Spirit), as they “bring an offering and enter His courts!” (96:8b) 

In the telling of His splendor and deeds, all the earth would “Tremble before Him” (96:9b).  It is only as it is proclaimed that “The Lord reigns!” (96:10b), which is the Gospel, will it in fact be confessed that “The Lord reigns!”  The question presents itself at all times: are believers announcing their God, and telling about Him, and therefore doing that which generates and brings Him praise and allegiance?  Or do believers primarily go on speaking of themselves?