Sing a New Song
Sing a New Song — The King Reigns
Psalms 96:1-13
[1] Sing a new song to the lord!
Let the whole earth sing to the lord!
[2] Sing to the lord; praise his name.
Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
[3] Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.
Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.
[4] Great is the lord! He is most worthy of praise!
He is to be feared above all gods.
[5] The gods of other nations are mere idols,
but the lord made the heavens!
[6] Honor and majesty surround him;
strength and beauty fill his sanctuary.
[7] O nations of the world, recognize the lord;
recognize that the lord is glorious and strong.
[8] Give to the lord the glory he deserves!
Bring your offering and come into his courts.
[9] Worship the lord in all his holy splendor.
Let all the earth tremble before him.
[10] Tell all the nations, “The lord reigns!”
The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.
He will judge all peoples fairly.
[11] Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice!
Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
[12] Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!
Let the trees of the forest sing for joy
[13] before the lord, for he is coming!
He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice,
and the nations with his truth.
Mark 3:20-30
[20] One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat.
[21] When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said.
[22] But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, “He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That’s where he gets the power to cast out demons.”
[23] Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. “How can Satan cast out Satan?” he asked.
[24] “A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse.
[25] Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart.
[26] And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive.
[27] Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.
[28] “I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven,
[29] but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences.”
[30] He told them this because they were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.”
Sing a New Song - The King Reigns
Psalm 96 is a triumphant anthem, calling all creation to sing a new song to the Lord because He reigns. It proclaims that the Lord is great, worthy of praise, and that splendor and majesty fill His sanctuary. He is not a local deity or a distant power—He is the Creator who “made the heavens” and is to be feared above all gods. This psalm invites an outward, joyful declaration of God’s salvation, to be proclaimed “day after day” to all nations.
Yet when we turn to Mark 3:20–30, we see how that same reigning King was received when He came in the flesh. Jesus is surrounded by crowds, misunderstood by His own family, and slandered by religious leaders who claim His power comes from Satan. The contrast is striking:
Psalm 96 declares God enthroned.
Mark 3 shows a world—even a religious world—resisting that throne.
Jesus confronts this opposition with a powerful truth: “A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.” He explains that He is not working by Satan’s power, but is the One stronger than the “strong man,” invading Satan’s house to plunder it and free captives. In other words, Jesus is actively dismantling the kingdom of darkness and reclaiming lives for God’s glory.
The scribes’ accusation was especially dangerous. By calling the work of the Holy Spirit demonic, they deliberately refused to recognize God’s saving power. They saw liberation and called it evil. In doing so, they closed their hearts to the very grace that could have saved them.
Together, these two passages reveal a profound truth:
Psalm 96 proclaims God’s absolute authority.
Mark 3 shows that authority in action, confronting darkness, division, and disbelief.
How do we live this today?
Sing a New Song in a Dark World
Like Psalm 96 urges, we are called to proclaim God’s salvation day after day. Even when our faith is misunderstood or criticized—as Jesus’ was—our joy is grounded in the unshakable truth that the King reigns.
Recognize the King’s Power
Jesus is the “Stronger One” who binds the strong man and liberates those held captive by sin, fear, and spiritual heaviness. Our victory is not achieved by our own strength, but by relying on the Holy Spirit at work within us.
Worship in Splendor and Truth
As we worship in “the splendor of holiness,” we must guard our hearts against stubbornness or spiritual blindness. Like the scribes, we can sometimes resist God’s work when it disrupts our comfort or expectations. Let us remain open to the living, active power of God.
Examine Your Perception
Are there areas in your life where you may have mislabeled God’s work? Ask the Lord to reveal where He is moving, even if it feels uncomfortable.
Sing the New Song
Find one marvelous deed God has done for you today and share it with someone else.
Trust the Stronger Man
If life’s trials or spiritual heaviness have left you feeling plundered, remember: Jesus has already bound the strong man. You belong to the King who reigns in righteousness.
Lord God, Sovereign King over all the earth, we praise You for Your power and majesty. Thank You for sending Jesus to bind the strong man and set us free. Forgive us for the times we have doubted Your work or been distracted by the chaos around us. Open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, that we might not be among those who call good evil, but among those who sing Your praises and proclaim Your salvation to all nations. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
BELIEVE
OBEY
BE BLESSED
AMEN
BOBBA
May the Lord bless you and keep you!
Love, Penny

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