I once heard or read that Praise is universal. In a real sense, it is true. In Psalm 96 we see that nations and nature praise His majesty . . . It has been said that Psalm 96 is the Missionary Psalm. We had the wonderful opportunity in God's will and plan to spend time as missionaries to Zimbabwe from 1984 thru 1990. I had the opportunity of worshipping with Africans in and from six different African countries. I can still see and hear those wonderful congregations in whole hearted praise; every person participating in praise to the Lord. I conducted a Seminary Choir that sang in six different languages, plus English. What a preview of the music of heaven.
Philippians 2: 9-11 is a wonderful counterpart to Psalm 96. The Apostle Paul tells us of a day when Christ will be exalted and every creature from every nation on earth will acknowledge Him. On that great day, the curse on nature will be lifted, and God will pour out His blessing. Harmony and balance will be restored, the heavens and earth will be glad and all of creation will shake with joy, music, and praise. We are told in Scripture that even inanimate objects will be moved to praise. How much more our tongues will be loosed as we join the great universal choir singing love in any and every language - Spanish, English, Shona, Ndebele, Russian, Chinese, Swahili . . .
When the Lord made it clear I was to return to America, I had to say good-by to some of the dearest students and friends of my life, those whom I had joined in praise in some six different languages. I told several of them that if I never got to see them again on this side, that some day I would see them, and join back together in His presence and we would use every language to exalt the name of Jesus to the glory of God the Father! May we do everything we can to increase the number of those who will join us at the throne by praying, going, giving - being His heart, His hands, His voice.
