Psalm 98 is a Messianic psalm that teaches us how to celebrate the coming of our awaited King. It begins by saying "Oh sing..." Song and music are languages of the soul. There are certain things you cannot express very well with a sentence or a phrase. There are certain things that you need to express in a more poetic fashion. The lyrics of a song or poem are charged with emotions and much energy in trying to express the innermost feelings and desires.
But the Psalter is clear that we are to sing to the Lord. Our songs are to be directed to one person alone. Our songs should not have us as the center of the song, or our feelings, or our circumstances. It should have the Lord Almighty and all that he has done for us as the center of what we want to express. After all, that is what worship is all about - singing the praises of God, exalting God for his deeds, admiring God for what he has done, etc. A song of praise should not be evaluated for what it makes us feel, but for what we are saying about God! The culture teaches us to appreciate the beat, the sensuality, the moves, but the lyrics are of outmost importance.
What are we to sing? A new song! This does not mean that I can’t sing the old songs anymore, or that I must compose new ones all the time, or that I must make a new arrangement for it. Or that a song for God is outlived after the first performance - No! It means it must be spontaneous and fresh as we give it. God wants our praise to be the result of an inner impulse - sincere and honest. God does not want our praise to be canned, frozen, or even preserved. He wants it fresh! It speaks more of the attitude with which it is sung than the content of the song itself.
Why are we, his people, to sing to him? "...for he has done marvelous things." We are to sing to our God
for the many things he has done, among which are: The working out of salvation and making it known motivated by his steadfast love and faithfulness to his people. God has done many things in my life, but nothing compares to the work of salvation he has brought to the world through Jesus Christ our Lord. That should be the greatest motivator to sing his praises.
How are we to sing? We are to sing with JOY! The concept of joy in the Scriptures is misunderstood because many believe that the Scriptures are telling us to be happy even if we don't feel like it, to smile even when we are eating sour grapes. Not at all! Joy is to have a sense of happiness because of our faith, hope, and love. We have a reason to celebrate, even in the midst of our darkest hour, because we have a God who loves us and we can trust him, we have promises we know he will fulfill one day, and our future is totally in his sovereign hands. Musical instruments become a channel for the expression of our joy to others.
Notice that the call is not only for God’s people, but for all peoples and all of creation! Even unbelievers are called to praise God because he is the Creator of all things and he deserves to be praised even by those who don’t believe. At the end of times, when our Lord returns and establishes his kingdom upon the earth, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that he is Lord! Everyone is supposed to worship him because he comes to judge the earth.
The first time he came in humility
The second time he will come in glory!
The first time he came to suffer
The second time he comes to celebrate!
The first time he came to die
The second time he comes to judge!
Christmas is God with us!
Christmas is the coming of our King to save us!
Christmas is celebrated with worship!
In light of the personal, physical, and imminent return of Christ - we must celebrate by worshipping our God during the Christmas season and every day of our lives.
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