Psalm
95 reminds me of my dad. I really did not know him well. He was
around while I was young, but he was very distant. Although he had
seven children, I think he preferred to be on his own. I think many
people wrestle with their personal understanding of God because they
correlate our Heavenly Father with their own earthly father. I
believe this psalm presents a choice. It repeatedly offers an
invitation to come and join in and be welcome. The psalm begins,
“Come,
let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the
Rock
of our salvation“.
Perhaps you think that invitation is only directed toward others?
He does not give up. “Let
us
come
before Him with thanksgiving…
with
music and song. For the
Lord
is the great God“.
The song just gets more enticing. What do you enjoy? “The
depths
of the earth… the mountain peaks… The sea is His… He made it
his hands… He formed the dry land… Come, let us
bow
down in worship“.
With warmth and compassion, he extends his hand, “let
us kneel before the Lord
our
Maker; for He is our God… we are… the flock under His care“.
This is the point when people raise their objections. The
disappointments and doubts of the past come to mind and we hesitate.
The writer says firmly, “Today,
if you hear His voice,
do
not harden your hearts“.
Jesus told His followers, “I
have come that they may have life… more abundantly”
(John 10:10). Don’t let earthy imperfection prevent you from
accepting the life-changing invitation.
The
psalm next pinpoints the problem. Too many are focused on the desert
times of life. He notes that “Your
fathers tested… Me, though they had seen what I did“.
The Israelite generation that experienced the exodus from Egypt and
saw God’s provision, wandered in the desert for 40 years, because
they
did not trust God.
They would not enter into the Promised Land. “They
are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my
ways“.
Stubbornly hiding behind a hard heart will prevent you from God’s
peace. They died in the desert, “They
shall never enter My rest“.
My dad died alone. We each have a choice to join in, or harden our
heart. The invitation is extended to you today. Don’t blame your
dad for your choices.
Psalm
96 describes the better option, “Sing
to the Lord a new song… praise His name;
proclaim
His salvation day after day“.
Music has the ability to break through the moment. We need
reminders of the source of our joy. “Declare
His glory… His marvelous deeds… For great is the Lord and most
worthy of praise… the Lord made the heavens… strength and glory
are in His sanctuary“.
Are you living in the muck of your own complaints? He says, change
the channel. “Ascribe
to the Lord the glory due His name“.
A simple ‘Thank You’ can change your entire attitude. The
writer continues, “Bring
an offering and come into His courts“.
Far too many people think they need to bribe God to gain access.
The writer describes a different kind of offering, “Worship
the Lord in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him“.
It is when we come before God with thanks that every part of our
life is renewed. As our life begins to align with His will, we can
sing, “The
Lord reigns… The world is firmly established“.
Are you tired of fighting against God? The psalm ends with a
sobering truth, “He
will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His truth“.
Here is the good news, “We
have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have
gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we
rejoice in the hope of the glory of God“.
Jesus said, “Come
to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”
(Matthew 11:28). Will you join in?