Scripture: Psalm
95:1-9
Psalm 95 forms the basis of the liturgical song the Venite.
It is easy to see why such a psalm would be used in corporate worship with its
multiple calls to join together in acts of worship to the Lord. It is, however,
the content of v. 8 and 9 that bring it to us this Lenten season as it uses the
events of Exodus 17 as the example of how not to behave with God. The psalm
works in four movements: first it calls us to worship, second it describes God
and why we should worship him, third it renews the call to worship, and fourth
it warns against hardening our hearts to God. The psalm places us in the
fellowship of believers who are called on to worship God and warned to not put
him to the test.
Teaching
Why should we worship the Lord? The psalmist begins his
reasons with God’s salvation. Our key relationship with God is that he has
saved us, and, for that, we certainly owe him thanks and praise. However, the
psalmist does not stop at salvation, but reminds us that God made us and all
things. This revelation makes God’s salvation all the more poignant. It reminds
us that God made us and that we rebelled against our maker, and, because of his
love for us, our Maker saved us.
We are warned, however, to not put God to the test. We are
his people, the flock that he shepherds, but we are not free to grumble against
him or to doubt that he will provide for us. In verses 10-11, God says this is
a matter of the heart; that the heart is prone to go astray from him. It is all
the more important that we hear God’s Word regularly so that we will know his
ways and learn to trust him in all circumstances of our lives.
Life
How is your heart? Is if full of grumbling? Is it hardened
to God’s love and blessings? There is a call within this psalm for us to
consider our attitude toward God. Do we expect him to provide us with what we
want when we want it, or do we trust him to use our lives according to his
will, doing that which is best for us in our lives to shape us as his people?
Do not overlook the first call of the psalm, “Oh come, let
us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!”
God has saved you in Christ. That is worth singing and making a joyful noise!
Pause and consider all the reasons you have to sing praise to God starting with
the fact that he has saved you from sin and death.
Prayer
Instruction,
Thanksgiving, Confession, Petition
Use Psalm 95:1-9 to guide you prayer today. Pray that the
Holy Spirit would help you sing and praise God for his salvation, creation,
protection, and provision. Pray that your heart would never be hard, and
confess if it is hard asking for a new heart. If you know it, you might
consider singing the Venite, or prayerfully listening to it here.
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