What kind of worship does God want? He wants worship that flows from the heart. In fact, God rebukes superficial worship, outward rituals without inward devotion, in Amos 5:21-24. This truth is echoed by Jesus in Mark 7:6-8 when He warns against honoring God with our lips while our hearts are far from Him. True worship is more than mere rituals. It is a life devoted to loving and obeying God. It is our response to who He is, what He has done, and what He will do. So how do we live a life of worship? Psalm 96 teaches us four truths about worship.

Worship is Singing

Psalm 96:1-2 begins by calling us to sing a new song to the Lord not merely out of habit, but out of fresh encounters and experiences with God. Delight in God is demonstrated by singing! When we count our blessings and stay filled with the Spirit, even in difficult times, we find endless reasons to praise the Lord (Ephesians 5:18-20).

Worship is Proclaiming

To worship means to proclaim God’s salvation daily (Psalm 96:2-3). Moreover, worship includes declaring His greatness– His power, beauty, and faithfulness (Psalm 96:4-5). Much like Horatio Spafford, who wrote the song It Is Well With My Soul amid deep pain and loss, we can proclaim and boast of God’s love and faithfulness even in trials.

Worship is Giving

Worship also means giving God what He’s due (Psalm 96:7-9). Deuteronomy 16:16-17 shows us that worship includes bringing an offering. We bring the offering not out of compulsion, but in recognition that all we have belongs to God. The New Testament teaches us to give proportionately, according to our ability (1 Corinthians 16:1-2), and the importance of the state of our heart when we give (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Jesus honored a poor widow who gave out of her lack in Luke 21:1-4. Giving may not always be worship, but true worship always gives.

Psalm 96 also calls us to “worship the Lord in holy attire”, which means to adorn our lives with holiness. Romans 12:1 likewise urges us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. Worship isn’t just what we do in church; it’s how we live every day.

Worship is Anticipating

True worship looks forward with hope. Psalm 96:10-13 declares Christ’s return. Worship isn’t just about the past or present, it’s about anticipating the future promises of God. When we live in expectation of Christ’s return, it changes how we worship. Instead of seeking revenge, we leave it to God (Romans 12:19) because we trust in God’s justice (Malachi 3:17-18). Anticipation also builds endurance in us, because hope sustains worship in suffering. Christ’s return will bring both judgment and joy (Revelation 6:16-17) and promises a breathtaking picture of what is ahead for believers: no more death, sorrow, crying or pain (Revelation 21:3-4). As we wait, we keep serving faithfully (1 Corinthians 15:58), longing for the day we’ll see Him face to face (2 Timothy 4:8).