Prayer, praise and promises 8/26

Prayer, praise and promises
Author: Warren Wiersbe
Devotion: Psalms
Scripture References: Psalm 98:1-9


Title: A Singing Faith

Read Psalm 98:1-9

One of my seminary professors was a missionary in Africa for many years.
When he first arrived on the field by riverboat, from the banks of the
river he could hear screaming and wailing and the beating of drums. But 25
years later, when he went down to the river to leave the field, people
lined the banks and were singing, "All hail the power of Jesus' name, let
angels prostrate fall." What a difference!

The Christian faith is a singing faith. Christians ought to be singing
people. We are admonished in the Word of God to sing to the Lord. "Oh,
sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right
hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory" (v. 1).

Sing about God's victories. If you think you have no victory in your life,
start singing about the victory of the Lord, and you'll be surprised what
He'll do for you.

Sing about His salvation. "The Lord has made known His salvation; His
righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations" (v. 2). We
should proclaim the message of salvation to people today.

Sing about His mercy and faithfulness. "He has remembered His mercy and
his faithfulness" (v. 3). The Lord has been merciful to us, and His
faithfulness endures to all generations.

Sing about His coming. Verse 9 tells us that the hills are rejoicing
before the Lord, "for He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness
He shall judge the world, and the peoples with equity." Sing about His
coming, for Jesus may come back today!

* * *

Are you singing the praises of God in your life? If you've lost your song,
it may mean that you've lost something else--your vision of God, faith in
His Word--or perhaps sin has come into your life. Follow the instructions
of this psalm and "sing to the Lord a new song."
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Psalm 98:1-9 (New International Version)

1 Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.

2 The LORD has made his salvation known
and revealed his righteousness to the nations.

3 He has remembered his love
and his faithfulness to the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.

4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;

5 make music to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,

6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn—
shout for joy before the LORD, the King.

7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.

8 Let the rivers clap their hands,
Let the mountains sing together for joy; 9 let them sing before the LORD,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.