Psalm 95 is yet another anonymous Psalm.
Though the writer is not known, it was possibly written by David as a song to
be sung during the Feast of the Booth or Tabernacle. This was a feast designed
to commemorate God’s supernatural provision for His people during their journey
through the wilderness. During the feast, the people would erect tents or
booths and live in them for the duration of the feast.
Verses 1-7 constitute a call where
the people collectively offer praise, worship and prayer to the Lord. Verse 1
opens with the invitation for all to come into the presence of God to worship
Him. Worshippers are to come in an attitude and posture of humility. While the
postures of physical bowing and kneeling are important, what’s more important
are the attitude and posture of our hearts. Are we bowing and kneeling before
Him there? Are we submitting our inner attitude and heart to Him? It is more
important to demonstrate an inner spirit of reverence in our hearts to Him. We
must also come before Him with thanksgiving, with joyful, jubilant and
celebrative hearts with songs, and positively proclaim His goodness.
There are three reasons why we
should come to God to praise, worship and pray. Firstly, it’s because He deserves it. He is
the Rock of our salvation, our foundation, security, refuge and protection in
life. And He is our enthroned King who is higher and more glorious than all “so
called” gods. He is also the Creator God and the One who sustains us, His
creation. Secondly it’s because we are His people. Notice we are referred to as
the sheep of His pasture. He provides for all our growth. Thirdly it’s because
if we don’t, we may drift away in disobedience and be destroyed.
Verses 7b-11 contain the segment
where the priest or the leader leading the worship would issue the warning to
the people against hardening their hearts in unbelief. Using the experience of
the wilful disobedience of the people of Israel in their wilderness journey
into the Promised Land, the warning is given to all not to emulate their
stubborn behavior. We, today’s believers, must not emulate the posture they
adopted, and the pattern of behavior they cultivated. This is to avoid the penalty
they received. This warning implies that
though we may be redeemed, we still do have the tendency to harden our heart in
unbelief. Take this as a call not to disregard God’s Word but to instead yield
obediently to Him every time He guides and directs us through it. Remember to
respond positively to God. We must also remember not to procrastinate in our
response but to show willingness by responding immediately. Know for sure that
today God is still speaking to us through every circumstance in every moment of
life. Be attentive and listen well!
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