1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.
5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.
10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:
11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.
Psalm 95 is a call to worship and a warning against unbelief. It is a psalm that encourages us to praise and worship God for His greatness and warns us of the dangers of hardening our hearts toward Him. The psalm can be broken into two distinct sections; the first section (verses 1-7) focuses on the call to worship and the second section (verses 8-11) delivers a stern warning against unbelief.
The psalm begins with a joyful exhortation to sing and make a joyful noise unto the Lord. The psalmist invites all the earth to come and worship God, to kneel before Him, for He is our God, and we are His people. It is a call to collectively and individually acknowledge the sovereignty of God, to recognize His majesty and power, and to respond in worship and adoration.
The call to worship is a prominent theme in Psalm 95. In the opening verses, the psalmist issues an open invitation to all people to join in praising and worshipping God. He encourages joyful singing and loud expressions of praise, as a fitting response to God's greatness. The psalmist also emphasizes the importance of acknowledging God as our Creator, the one who holds the depths of the earth and the heights of the mountains in His hands.
In verse 6, the psalmist invites everyone to kneel before God our Maker. This is a physical expression of submission, reverence, and humility before God. It is a recognition of our dependence on Him and our acknowledgement that He is in control of all things. This call to worship is not just about outward expressions of praise, but also about an inward attitude of reverence and awe for God.
In the second part of Psalm 95, the tone shifts from a call to worship to a warning against unbelief. The psalmist warns the Israelites not to harden their hearts as they did at Meribah and Massah in the wilderness. These places were where the Israelites tested and tried God, doubting His presence and provision, even after witnessing His miraculous works.
The psalmist reminds the readers of the consequences of unbelief and rebellion against God. The Israelites’ lack of faith resulted in God's anger and judgment, causing them to wander in the wilderness for forty years and preventing them from entering into His rest. The psalmist uses this historical event as a warning to future generations not to repeat the same mistakes.
This warning against unbelief is not just a historical reminder for the Israelites, but also a timeless message for all believers. It reminds us of the importance of faith and obedience in our relationship with God. It warns us of the dangers of doubting God's presence and provision in our lives, and the consequences of hardening our hearts toward Him.
Psalm 95 is a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and our responsibility to worship Him and obey His commands. It teaches us that worship is not just about singing songs and making joyful noises, but also about acknowledging God as our Creator and submitting to His rule and reign in our lives.
The psalm also reminds us of the dangers of unbelief and disobedience. It warns us not to harden our hearts as the Israelites did, but to trust in God's presence and provision. It reminds us that God is not just a God of love and mercy, but also a God of justice and judgment. He rewards faith and obedience, but also punishes unbelief and rebellion.
In conclusion, Psalm 95 is a call to worship and a warning against unbelief. It reminds us of the importance of praising and worshipping God, acknowledging His sovereignty, and trusting in His provision. It also warns us of the dangers and consequences of hardening our hearts and doubting God's presence and provision. It is a timeless message that applies to all believers, regardless of their circumstances or challenges.
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