Worthy of Song

Meaning in Psalm 96

by Alfred D. Byrd

ANSWER the call to sing about God!
The One Who made both heavens and earth
Is worthy of song from all who live.
Our God is the God unique and whole;
All others that take the name of gods
Are empty — figures of stone or wood.
The world, its peoples — they all are one
Because the God Who made them is One.
The Name of God is the One Who saves
With works that dazzle and awe our minds.
A temple in heaven shelters glory—
Splendor and might, the King on the Throne—
Too bright for eyes of flesh to observe.
Call out to all who wander the earth,
"Fulfill your life in singing of God!"

Let all who live come out to worship
Holiness seated upon the Throne.
We ought to fear the might in that place;
We ought to praise the love of our God.
What glory — what strength — confronts our eyes!
What words can express how great God is?
To find those words and set them in song
Is a work beyond our hearts or mind,
But a work that shows our love for God.
Let's give our lives to praising the One
Who gave us our breath for use in song!

Let's tell the earth, "Our God is your King"!
Both heavens and earth are scenes of praise
When we see our God arrive in strength.
The world will tremble; the world will stand,
Upheld by the hand of God, its King.
No eye can face our God in glory.
Humans and angels will bow and say,
"Our God is ruler of all that is.
The word of our God is set in stone.
Our God will judge all peoples with truth."

If this poem spoke to you, you may enjoy my Biblical epic poems

A Song of the One, the age-old account of Creatlon, Fall, Redemption, and Glory retold in verse for a new millennium, and

The Stars Bow Down: An Epic of Joseph, the timeless tale of a favorite son whose brothers sold him into slavery, but whom God raised from a prison to save the known world from famine.