Invitation: A 7 year old boy had been standing in the church vestibule examining an impressively large brass plaque for sometime.  Seeing the boy's interest, the pastor walked up and stood beside him and asked, "So, what do you think of this plaque, young man?"

The little boy said, "What is it?"

The pastor replied, "well, son, these are all the people who have died in the service."

The little boy looked up soberly at the pastor and said, "Which service, sir, morning or evening?" (World's Greatest Collection of Church Jokes).

The word Celebration is defined as, to mark a significant occasion with enjoyable and festive activities; to honor or praise publicly. This is a good definition of what the Psalmist is describing in our passage of Scripture this morning.  Worship is meant to be a celebration that is enjoyable and festive because of who God is, and what He has done for us.  There is no such thing as a lifeless celebration, and there should be no such thing as a lifeless worship of God either.

I. Through Our Praise (vv.1-3).
1. With a song of praise (vv.1-2a).

1 Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2a Sing to the LORD, bless His name. . .

A. For the new mercies we have received (Rev.5:8-10).

1) The book of Revelation speaks of a "new song" being a song of redemption.

- Revelation 5:8-10, "Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: 'You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."

2) Everyone who has ever accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, should have a new song in their heart that they can sing.

- A song of praise to God for the new life that He has given us through Christ.

B. For the new mercies we receive daily (Lam.3:22-23).
1) The Prophet Jeremiah reminds of this truth in Lamentations 3:22-23, "Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness."
2) God's grace and mercy did more than just saving us, it is shed upon us daily in every new blessing that He bestows.

Application: Donald Hustad, in his book "Music, Reverence" makes this observation, "Somehow, about 40% of churchgoers seem to have picked up the idea that "singing in church is for singers."  The truth is that "singing is for believers."  The relevant question is not "Do you have a voice?" but "Do you have a song?" (Quotes & Idea Starters for Preaching & Teaching).

Christians, of all people should be a people who have something to sing about.  Because God has given us a new life in Christ, that comes with a new song of praise of mercy and grace, and of how we were redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

Transition: This brings us to the next point about how we are to praise God. . .

2. With a song of witness (vv.2b-3).

2b . . .Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. 3 Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.

A. Proclaiming his salvation (v.2; Matt.10:32-33; 28:18-20; Rom.1:16; 10:15; Eph.6:13).

1) We worship God every time we share what Christ has done for us.

A) If we really believe it is good news, then we shouldn't have a problem telling others about it.

- Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."

B) The word "proclaim" ("basar'" {baw-sar'}) means to announce, publish, preach, or to show forth.

2) We proclaim the good news not only when we tell others about what Christ has done for them, but also by the way we "show forth" Christ in the way we live day by day.

B. Proclaiming his splendor (v.3; John 3:16; 1Cor.10:31; 2Cor.1:20; 4:6, 15; Col.1:25-27; 3:15, 17; Eph.5:20).

1) We are also support to sing forth our praises to everyone about God's deeds and His glory and His wonders.

2) All people should hear about God's glory and deeds because they will bring blessing to them (SL).

Transition: We celebrate worship also. . .

II. Through Our Acknowledgment Of God (vv.4-13).
1. As our Creator (vv.4-6).

A. For the wonder of His uniqueness (vv.4-5a; 86:8-10; Ex.8:10; 1Sam.2:2; 2Sam.7:22; 1Cor.8:4-6; 10:19-20; 2Cor.6:16-18).

4 For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. 5a  For all the gods of the peoples are idols. . .

1) The reason everyone should praise the Lord is He is infinitely superior to all of the manmade gods of this world.

2) The gods of this world are little "g" gods, for they are puny and nothing compared to the true and living God of heaven.

A) The manmade gods of this world, are incapable of saving you!

B) The manmade gods of their world need you works added to them for a salvation that will still leave you a billion miles short of heaven.

B. For the wonder of His creation (vv.5b-6; 19:1; 33:6-9; 104:19-21; 135:6-7; Job 9:5-10; 38:31-33; 1Chr.29:11-12; Isa.40:12, 22, 26, 28; 42:5; 45:18; 48:12-13; Jer.31:35-36; Col.1:16; Rev.4:11).

5b . . .But the LORD made the heavens. 6 Honor and majesty are before Him; Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

1) The manmade gods of this world believe that all of creation came about by random chance, but the God of the Bible only had to speak to bring all of His complex creation into existence.

- All we have to do is look at the heavens for the proof.

2) The Psalmist declares, since God is the creator of all things, He is strong and glorious.

Transition: Another way in which we acknowledge God in our worship is when we recognize Him. . .

2. As our Sovereign (vv.7-9).

A. Through our service (v.7; 100:2; Deut.10:12; Rom.7:6; Gal.5:13; Col.3:24; Heb.9:14; 1Pet.2:5).

7 Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Give to the LORD glory and strength.

1) In Deuteronomy 10:12 we are told that God expected His people, the Israelites to not be obedient to Him and love Him, but also to ". . .to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul."

2) In the New Testament, believers are compared to the Old Testament priests in the Temple of God, where the Apostle Peter says this about us in 1 Peter 2:5, ". . .a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

Transition: Another way in which we acknowledge God in our worship is. . .
 

B. Through our giving (v.8; Num.18:29; 2Cor.8:7; 9:5-8).

8 Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts.

1) In Numbers 18:29, Moses gives this instruction about bringing Him an offering, "You must present as the LORD's portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you."

A) Throughout the Old Testament, God sets the pattern of just giving any old offering to Him, but it is always to be a choice or our best offering.

B) God only accepts the best, this is why Cain's offering was rejected by God in Genesis 4.

(1) We are told Cain brought "an offering" (v.3), but Able brought the "fat" or the "choice" offerings -- the best of what he had (v.4).

(2) God rejected Cain's worship offering because it failed to recognize the worthiness of the King of kings, and Lord of lords -- it wasn't a worthy offering to God.

2) We are told in 2 Corinthians 9:7 that "God loves a cheerful giver" because giving is a matter of the heart.
- A heart that truly worships God, is a heart that cheerfully gives God the best that we have in recognition of what God has given us.

Are your offerings without "spot or  blemish"?  Or are you giving God an offering that is deficient.  Are you giving God the "fat" or the "choicest" offerings, or are you giving Him the reheated leftovers of what you have? If Christ is truly your Lord of lords, and King of kings, is what you are giving Him worthy of who we say that He is?

This is also why it is wrong for a Christian to withhold their offering because they don't like the preacher, or some ministry of the church, because in doing so they have withheld their offering from the Lord -- they have ceased to worship the God.

Transition: We also acknowledge who God is. . .

C. Through our worship (v.9; 46:6; 2Chr.20:6; Prov.9:10; Isa.6:3; 2Cor.7:1; Heb.12:28; 1Pet.3:15a).

9 Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth.

1) The word "holiness" ("qodesh" {ko'-desh}) carries the idea of "apartness" or "sacredness."

A) The Psalmist tells us when we come before God in worship, there is a uniqueness to God that is unlike anything or anyone else.

(1) God isn't like us, He alone is "holy, holy, holy" (Isa.6:3).

(2) His presence exudes holiness.

B) There is that tension of Him being a loving Father, but yet there is an apartness or sacredness that we can never cross, nor ever dare to try to abuse our relationship with Him.

2) When we come before the presence of a holy God, we cannot help but to "tremble."

- The word "tremble" ("chuwl" {khool}) to tremble in fear.

She managed to pay for her cone, then left the shop, heart pounding.  When she gained her composure, she realized she didn't have her ice-cream cone.  She started back into the store to get it and met Newman at the door.

"Are you looking for your ice cream?"  he asked.  She nodded, unable to speak.  "You put in your purse with your change."

When was the last time the presence of God quickened our pulse and made us speechless? (Humor for Preaching and Teaching).

Transition: Lastly, we celebrate the worship of God by acknowledging Him. . .

3. As our Deliverer (vv.10-13).

A. By recognizing the Righteous King who will rule forever (v.10; 1Tim.6:14-15; Phil.2:10).

10 Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns; The world also is firmly established, It shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously."

1) This is the recognition that someday our Lord will return to rule and reign over His creation forever and ever.

2) He alone will rule in righteousness.

- Unlike, mankind who has failed to rule in total righteousness.

B. By responding to the coming of the King of glory (vv.11-13; 50:6; 97:2; 98:9; Rom.8:20-22; Rev.19-20).

11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; 12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the LORD. 13 For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.

1) Not only will we be celebrating God as our deliverer, but so will all of creation.

- Romans 8:20-22, "For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;  because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now."

2) If all of creation can respond to God in worship and praise, how then should a Christian respond when we come to worship God?

Invitation:
1. When we come to church to worship God, it should be a time of celebration of God.

A. There should be a since of awe, wonder, and joy as we come into the presence of God.

B. There should be a desire to serve and offer up our best offerings to the Lord, in gratitude for all that He done for us.

C. There should be a song in our hearts filled with witness and praise for God's salvation.

D. It should be a time when we seek to honor God.

A. A little "g" god, isn't much to worship or praise.

B. A little "g" god, will leave you lost and dead in your sins – because there is only one God who can, and will save you -- that is Jesus Christ.

-  Romans 10:9-10, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."