Read Psalm 96:1-9. 1Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! 2Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 3Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! 4For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 5For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 6Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! 8Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! 9Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
Sing. Sing. Sing. Tell. Declare. Ascribe. Ascribe. Ascribe. Worship. Tremble.
These are the responses befitting our God-King. Why? Because he is the great creator, full of splendor and majesty, strength and beauty, the beauty of holiness. No lifeless or listless worship in his presence allowed. No apathetic hearts or distracted minds are present. This is uncontainable praise at the prospect of being in the presence of God together.
When we think about how far short we fall of the vigorous worship of this psalm, we must be forever grateful that Jesus our Savior fulfilled it for us. His whole life was one of singing, telling, declaring, ascribing, worshiping, and even trembling before God the Father. As God, he was obviously the most God focused man who ever lived. He alone fully knew and fully appreciated the holiness, strength, and beauty of the Trinity. He alone gave to God the glory due his name in the sacrifice of his perfect life on the cross. Jesus alone has brought into the courts of God the required offering for all mankind.
And now, in Christ, we recognize Jesus not only as the fulfiller of the psalm but as the object of the psalm as well. Jesus has become the glorious Christ, robed in splendor and majesty, seated over all the earth, worthy of all worship, power, beauty, and honor.
To live is Christ is to ascribe it all to Jesus, the great worshiper and the one worthy of all worship. May all the glory he deserves be his today. May our lives be a living sacrifice of praise to him. Not only for what he has done for us, but for what he is – holy, strong, and beautiful.
You: What does your “praise life” look like? How often do you praise God?
You in Christ: How does union with Christ allow us to give all glory to God, without hoarding glory for ourselves?
Christ in you: How can you ascribe glory to God today?
Pray: Jesus, may I ascribe it all to you. Give me a glimpse of who you are today as I contemplate your strength and your beauty, both made evident in the cross. Amen.
To Live is Christ 