Jesus teaches us to pray, “Hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9). He teaches us to pray that Father’s name be hallowed, or held holy, or glorified by all for what he does for each. Psalm 96 provides us with an example of how to do that.
We may rightly hallow or praise God’s name by singing new songs about him (vs. 1-2). New lyrics and melodies allow us to celebrate what God is doing in our midst today with appropriate intellectual content and emotional depth.
Songs which hallow God’s name praise him (v. 2). We rightly do so because he is great (v. 4) and characterized by splendor, majesty, strength, and beauty (v. 6). He is to be revered above all gods (v. 4) because he alone created the heavens (v. 5) and judges the earth in righteousness and faithfulness (v. 13). He alone saves us (v. 2) from all powers of evil and penalties of sin.
One important way in which we express our love for God, and so fulfill the first and greatest commandment, is by sharing songs celebrating new words and signs of his presence with people of all nations (v. 3). Even the heavens, the earth with its trees and fields, as well as the sea and everything in it, will join us.
