August 13, 2025 - Wednesday

Purpose in Life #

Psalm 96

Introduction

Many people go through life, living for what they can get out of life. The problem comes, when you have acquired all you can get out of life, and are still left unfulfilled! When you have accumulated wealth, and you realize that doesn’t bring joy. When you finally have gotten that relationship you have sought after, and realize it isn’t fulfilling. When you get that popularity, but still have the empty feeling inside. When you have risen to the top of your company, or what ever it is you are trying to gain power in, and realize once you have arrived, it is not as satisfying as you thought it would be.

Sadly the lie of the devils convinces many christians to set aside their christianity, and pursue other things in life. Once they are derailed from the christian life, and that is no longer their pursuit, they many times become consumed with the things of this life.

There is a greater purpose to life. We find it clearly spelled out for us here in this 96th Psalm. This Psalm closely mirrors the passage written by David in 1 Chronicles 16:7 when the Ark of the Covenant was finally brought in the city of David! It was a joyous occasion for king David and all of Israel!

I. Vocally Glorifying (1-5) #

Sing unto the LORD, sing unto the LORD, sing unto the LORD (1-2)

A. Who should I sing to? To the LORD! #

1. Our singing should be done to the LORD! #

Sometimes people sing special music in church, and that is greatly appreciated.
We are to sing unto the LORD!

B. What to sing? #

1. New song! – there is nothing wrong with new music as long as it fit’s God’s standard! #

We sing songs that were written in the 1800’s… but in the 1800’s they were new!
- Nothing wrong with the good ole songs either!
I’m not opposed to new songs… the Bible says when we get to heaven there will be a new song!

Revelation 5:9 “9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”

How should the new song be written?

2. Contents of the song: #

Vs 2 “bless his name” – it should lift up the name of Jesus!
Vs 2 “shew forth his salvation”
Vs 3 “declare his glory…his wonder”

C. Why to sing? (4-5) – each phrase of 4-5 is a point! #

II. Voluntary Giving (6-9) #

A. House of God (6) “sanctuary” #

Sanctuary – a sacred place, a house consecrated to the worship of God

1. Giving of your time and energy to come to the house of God! #

2. God has expected man to set aside time to worship Him! #

B. Honour God (7-8) #

1. “to the LORD” (7) #

2. “Glory and strength” – effort, labor, work (7) #

3. Offerings (8) #

Proverbs 3:9 “9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:”

C. Holiness (9) “beauty of holiness” #

1. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder #

1 Peter 1:13–16

2. Clean living glorifies God #

III. Verdict from God (10-13) #

Judge the people righteously (10), cometh to judge, judge the world with righteousness (13)

A. Glorious appearing (10-13a) #

Titus 2:11-14

Titus 2:13 “13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

1. We are looking for his glorious appearing! #

2. Joy, in his coming! #

B. Great judgement (13) #

1. Righteous judgement #

2. Judged by the Book “with his truth” #

Revelation 20:12 “12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”