Would you like to find peace? In Psalm 95, the psalmist invites us to find rest in God.
Overall Structure
Psalm 95 is divided into 2 parts based on who is speaking. The first section, verses 1-7, is spoken by the worship leader, inviting the people to join in worship. The second section, verses 8-11, is spoken by God, warning the people of the danger of ignoring His voice.
The Meaningful Center can be found at the beginning of verse 7.
For he is God,
This phrase is at the very center, with 43 words both before and after in the original Hebrew text. This short phrase reminds the reader that God is at the center of all true worship and the only place we can find rest.
The contrast between the uplifting and joyful first section and the dire warning of the second section is a unique characteristic of this Psalm. The reader is given a stark choice between joyful worship and rest or wrathful judgment.
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 95:1-2
The psalm begins with an invitation to come. God wants us to come to Him. We are invited into His presence.
So, how do we enter His presence properly? Through singing and praise. In these first two verses, we are invited to sing, shout, offer thanksgiving (towdah), and celebrate.
Am I regularly coming into God's presence with singing and praise?
For He Is Great!
Psalm 95:3-5
The first two verses encouraged us to praise God. The next few verses tell us why we should praise God.
He is great! He is King over all other gods. He is so great that He holds everything in His hands - He made it all.
The reference to "gods" in verse 3 is a little unusual. As Christians, we believe there is only one true God. So, who are the "gods" mentioned in verse 3 over whom God is King? There are three likely options:
- The false gods, demons, and idols
- The angelic hosts of heaven
- The human kings of the earth, who were sometimes called gods
God is sovereign over all of these, so it really doesn't matter which of the three the psalmist is talking about. God is greater than any so-called god of another nation and sovereign over even the demons. God is greater than and sovereign over all of the host of heaven. God is greater than and sovereign over all the kings of the earth.
Do I recognize the greatness of God? Does His greatness lead me to worship?
Worship the Lord!
Psalm 95:6-7
At verse 6, the mood changes from celebratory to worshipful. Worship should be both joyous and respectful. In the first two verses, we were called to shout and sing, and now, we are called to bow down (Shachah) and kneel (Barak). In our times of worship, we need to remember to both rejoice in His presence and humbly acknowledge His rule over our lives.
It is here that we find the Meaningful Center: "For he is our God". True worship is all about God: who He is and what He has done. As we shall soon see, this psalm is also about rest. True rest can only be found when we make God the center of our lives.
In verses 3-5, we were reminded that God holds everything in His hands. Now we are specifically reminded that we, His people, are also held safe in His hands. We are His sheep, and we should listen carefully to His voice. Which leads us to the second section of the psalm.
Do Not Harden Your Hearts
Psalm 95:8-9
We now enter the section that is spoken by God. The mood of the psalm continues to shift: first rejoicing, then worship, and now, a warning: Don't be hard-hearted like your ancestors at Meribah and Massah!
Massah means "testing" and Meribah means "quarreling". So, what happened at Meribah and Massah?
Both words are used to name a place in Exodus 17:7. The people were running low on water, they started complaining, and God supplied water from a rock. They "tested" God by doubting He could supply the water they needed, and they "quarreled" with Moses.
We need to trust even when times are tough.
Do I doubt God's goodness in my life?
Or You Will Be Judged
Psalm 95:10-11
This attitude of complaining and doubting God reaches a crisis in Numbers 14, when the people refuse to enter the Promised Land. So God rejects them and does not allow them to enter His rest: the promised land.
In Numbers 20, almost 40 years later, the name Meribah is again applied to a place. As before, the people complain and doubt God because they lack water, and as before, God supplies all they need. We see that the people of Israel never really learned to rest in God's goodness.
The author of Hebrews, in chapters 3 and 4, refers back to this psalm to point out that this "rest" was never entered. Hebrews 3:19 tells us that the reason they were not able to enter God's rest is because of their unbelief.
Am I willing to trust God and His Word and find rest in Him alone?
Application
God calls us to come to Him and rejoice; to enjoy His presence. But He also calls us to recognize His greatness and humbly bow in submissive worship. Does my worship of God have a proper balance of joy and respect?
I find it interesting that this psalm contrasts disobedience and lack of peace (rest) with worship. There is no greater act of disobedience than to refuse to worship God. If I want to find rest in God's presence, the best place to start is with worship and praise. Have I made worship a priority in my life?
This post is part of a series on the Psalms.
by Jerry Wyrick, President of Worship Arts Conservatory