By Douglas K. Wilson, Ph.D.
Dean, School of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
THE CREATOR
Psalm 95:1–11
Our psalm this week is our first this quarter from Book Four (Psalms 90–106), most of which were considered to be anonymous, based on their lack of superscriptions. The only exceptions are Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, and Davidic psalms 101 and 103. The author of Hebrews also attributes this psalm to David (Heb. 4:7).
What (1–2)
These verses are a call to worship our great God. Here we are not referring to a choir’s introductory song in a worship service or “a quick prayer and then we’ll get started.” Rather David is calling believers to sing, make noise and consciously enter in to the presence of the covenant God of Israel. Here we see David’s use of the cohortative verbal form, by which he calls for the congregation to join with him in exuberant praise to God who had redeemed them: “Let us shout joyfully, let us enter His presence, let us shout triumphantly.”
Who (3–5)
Yahweh is a great God. Yahweh is the great King above all other gods. David was not advocating henotheism here, believing there was a pantheon of deities over whom Yahweh reigned. Instead he was addressing the reality that the Israelites did not live in a theological vacuum. They surrounded themselves with peoples who worshipped false deities, fertility gods, hand-made idols and products of God’s creation. David was exalting the one true God.
God’s greatness extends beyond the highest mountains. His compassion is deeper than the great caverns and mighty oceans. The seas and the dry land are the work of His hands. The Creator is worthy of praise from all His creation.
We live in a pluralistic country with people of all types of worldviews. Christians, we need to know Who we believe, what we believe and why we believe. Most of our neighbors hold some type of supernatural belief system, whether monotheistic, polytheistic or pantheistic. A growing number are anti-theistic, hating the idea that they are accountable to the Sovereign King and Creator of the universe.
How (6–7a)
As David continues his invitation to join him, he calls believers to worship, bow down and kneel before the Lord. He reminds worshippers that words are insufficient by themselves. We must humble ourselves with a posture and attitude of submission.
Yahweh is our God. He is our Good Shepherd, our Great Shepherd and our Chief Shepherd. We are His sheep, vulnerable and helpless without His hand to guide us.
When (7b–11)
“Now.” This is the key word in our closing passage. The author of Hebrews repeats this key word several times. Our readers would do well to memorize this line: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Ps. 95:7–8). Our worship toward God includes active obedience to Him.
David then reminds us that an entire generation died in the wilderness wanderings because they rejected God’s way. Numbers 14 provides the narrative in which a failure to obey immediately led to 40 years of pain, misery and death for a generation. Ten spies give a bad report. The people side with the majority report and doubt God. The 10 spies die in God’s judgment. Now the people want to obey God, even after God says He will not go with them. The next generation listens to Moses and enters the Promised Land.
The prophets echo David’s call to immediate obedience. “Seek the Lord while He may be found” (Isa. 55:6). “Even now … turn to Me with all your heart” (Joel 2:12). Now is the time to obey God.
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