“O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms” (Ps. 95:1-2).
This psalm is both a song of adoration and admonition. The end of verse seven through the end of the psalm is quoted in Hebrews 3:7-11 to warn about the first generation of Israelites that did not remain faithful to God in the wilderness. Therefore, they did not enter into the promised land because of unbelief (cf. Heb. 3:19). Worship should greatly affect the way one lives and visa versa. Consider three things addressed in the beginning of Psalm 95 that makes worship and one’s walk of life a pleasure.
- The Great Sovereign. The Holy Spirit declared, “For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods” (Ps. 95:3). All that may be called gods does not compare to the Lord. Isaiah stated of the Lord’s declaration to an unfaithful people, “I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King” (Isa. 43:15). While men sat on thrones within the nation and without, there is truly only one King, the Lord. When one looks at the church today, it can truly be said that Christ is our King (cf. 1 Tim. 1:17; Rev. 19:16). Ultimately, he will deliver up the kingdom to the Father (cf. 1 Cor. 15:24) and He will be “all in all” (1 Cor. 15:28). When one is singing unto the Lord, there is none greater to pay homage. One may sing for the entertainment of the President of the United States or even a great head of State from a foreign country. No one compares to singing unto the Lord.
- The Great Source. The psalm continues to declare, “In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker” (Ps. 95:4-6). These words paint the picture of God being the source of all creation as well as the majestic size of God in comparison to the creation. The concept of God being the Creator or Maker is explicitly repeated from Genesis (cf. Gen. 1) to Revelation (cf. Rev. 4:11). Matter is not eternal (fact from the laws of thermodynamics); therefore, the Supernatural brought about the natural (cf. Gen. 1:1). Besides the creation of all things, God is still in control of all things. His hands are so large that the deep places of the earth are said to be within one hand. The largest bodies of things like the deep, the sea, the hills and the dry land are all within his possession and care. How much more then are the people who dwell therein? The Father seeks that His creation worship Him (cf. John 4:23). All owe their existence and subsistence to Him.
- The Great Shepherd. It is written, “For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand” (Ps. 95:7a). Sheep are highly dependent upon the shepherd. How true is that of frail human beings to the infinite God! The early part of Psalm 23 would show how tender and kind is the Lord as a shepherd. Sheep are led, calmed and protected by their shepherd. Seeing that every good thing that has ever come to man has come through the Lord (cf. James 1:17), how should the worshipers sing unto Him? How should such appreciation affect the walk of every day living? David knew where his strength lay (cf. Ps. 18:1-2). The triumphant Lord is truly the song of the redeemed (cf. Ex. 15:2).
Jimmy Clark