For as long as I can remember, Psalm 96 has been one of the most foundational Scripture passages for me when it comes to explaining worship. It’s like going back to the basic building blocks of who our God is and why He is worthy of our worship.

One of the themes that jumps out in this passage, and is a consistent theme throughout all of Scripture, is the desire to declare God’s glory among the nations. The call to worship here is not just to praise God for the benefit of those assembled for worship, though that is, of course, part of the goal. But these worshippers at the time the Psalm was written, who were constantly competing with neighboring nations and foreign gods, recognized the need for the might and glory of the Lord to be declared all over the world, that all might know the Lord reigns supreme.

As we spend the next two Sundays considering the theme of Global Missions, may we worship with this consideration that like the ancient worshipers of Yahweh, we too live in a world where many people worship other gods. This could be in the form of formalized religion or an anti-faith worldview. It could be in a country across the globe or right in our neighborhood. The need to declare the glory and kingdom of God is tremendous.

The song, “Let The Nations Be Glad”, challenges us to celebrate the good news of the gospel being proclaimed throughout the earth. The one true God and the gospel His Son offers is too great a message to keep inside the church walls. We look forward to a time when the whole earth will be filled with praises of the Lord – it will definitely be a time of gladness!

Looking for some music to enrich your personal worship throughout the week? Check our Calvary Worship Favorites playlist on Spotify. It’s an assortment of songs that we sing on the regular during our Sunday worship services.

If you want to get a taste of what we’ll be singing on any upcoming Sunday, check out our This Sunday At Calvary playlist. This list is updated weekly with the songs we’re planning to lead at the upcoming Sunday service.

Let The Nations Be Glad

Let the glory of the Lord forever be our joy

May redemption be the theme of our song

For by grace we have been saved

And by grace we shall proclaim

To the corners of the earth that Christ is come

Let the nations be glad

Let the people rejoice

For salvation belongs to our God

Let the whole earth be filled

With the praises of the Lord

For salvation belongs to our God

Let the nations be glad

Through the ages gone before

Through the trial and the sword

Many saints and martyrs conquered

Though they died

Still we, holding out the cross

Crossing oceans suffering loss

Shall endure all things to win the crown of life

As Your holy church goes forth

In the Holy Spirit’s power

With the glories of the gospel to exclaim

Now we pray Your Kingdom come

And we pray Your will be done

For the honor and glory of Your name

CCLI Song # 5760316
Aaron Boswell | Matt Boswell | Matt Papa
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Psalm 96 (NIV)

Sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering and come into his courts.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness;
    tremble before him, all the earth.
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
    The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
    he will judge the peoples with equity.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
    let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
    he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
    and the peoples in his faithfulness.