Oh Sing! Oh Sing!

Oh Sing! Oh Sing!

Read together: Psalm 96; Psalm 98:4–9; Psalm 48:1; Revelation 15:3–4

Some songs are meant to be thought about. This one is meant to be sung—loudly, joyfully, with hearts and hands raised. It is a call to worship, almost entirely built from the language of the Psalms.

Read Psalm 96. "Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth… Declare His glory among the nations… For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised… Bring an offering and come into His courts… Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; let the sea roar… Let the fields exult… Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord, for He is coming." Read that, and then read the song's lyrics. They are echoing each other. Oh sing to the Lord a new song… Declare His glory… The Lord—greatly to be praised… Bring to the Lord your offering… Trees and woods… He is coming!

That matters because it shows us what kind of worship this is. It is not self-focused. It is God-focused. We sing because of who He is.

The song gives several reasons to sing. He is the Creator of all. He is holy and our King. He is our steadfast pillar, our Rock, the gentle Shepherd of His flock. And then comes one of the most comforting lines: Creator of all—yet He answers when we call! The God who made the universe bends down to listen to us. That alone is worth singing about.

The song also gives a personal reason. Freed from all sin and shame… Forgiven—He's broken all my chains!… Bless the Lord with me for His shed blood and victory. Psalm 96 calls all nations to sing because the Lord reigns. Christians sing with even more reason, because we know how He has saved us—through the blood of Jesus.

The third verse lifts the whole creation into the song. Land and sea, be glad and sing! Mountains howl and seas roar. Read Psalm 98:4–9. "Let the sea resound… let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth." Creation itself is waiting for its King. Worship is joining a song that is already being sung.

And the song ends with the same expectation the Psalms carry: He is coming! Our risen King!… Our righteous Judge, Savior, and King. The coming of the Lord is good news for those who belong to Him. He will set everything right. Read Revelation 15:3–4, where the redeemed sing, "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, King of the nations… All nations will come and worship before You."

Perhaps you don't feel like singing today. Psalm 96 still calls you to sing—not because your feelings demand it, but because God deserves it. Sometimes we sing our way into joy rather than waiting for joy to make us sing. And if you have never known the God who answers when we call, you can call on Him today through Jesus.

A moment to respond: Read Psalm 96 aloud—or better yet, sing a hymn or worship song based on it. Then write your own "new song" to the Lord: just a few lines thanking Him for who He is and what He has done for you. Share it with someone, or simply offer it to Him.

Let's pray: Lord, You are great and greatly to be praised. You are Creator of all, yet You answer when we call. Thank You for the shed blood of Jesus and His victory over sin and death. Let all the earth rejoice before You. Teach our hearts to sing a new song. Come, Lord Jesus, our risen King. Amen.

Our desire at UnrelentingJesus is that you would join the song all creation is singing—and lift your voice to the Lord who is greatly to be praised.