Psalms 95:1-5 NLT
[1] Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. [2] Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. [3] For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. [4] He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. [5] The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too.
This Psalm is a beautiful call to praise God. It starts by inviting us to join in a collective worship, just as we have calls to worship in our churches today. The Psalmist urges us to come, sing, and shout joyfully to the “Rock of our salvation.” For those who know the Bible well, we understand that Jesus is that Rock, our Savior, and this is the one we are being invited to praise. The Psalm doesn’t stop at just calling us to worship but goes on to describe who this Rock, who our salvation is. It tells us that God holds everything in His hands—the depths of the earth, the mighty mountains, the sea, and even the dry land, all belong to Him because He created it.
Take a moment to reflect on these words. If God, who holds the entire earth and all the mountains in His hands, still chooses to dwell inside of us, that’s a powerful reminder that we are made in His image. The scripture affirms that God owns everything because He created it. When we face challenges, we must remember that if God owns everything, there’s nothing in this world that can overpower His children. If we let our problems consume us, it’s a lie from the enemy. God, who controls everything, will not let His children be overwhelmed. He is in control.
Psalms 95:6-11 NLT
[6] Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, [7] for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today! [8] The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah, as they did at Massah in the wilderness. [9] For there your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw everything I did. [10] For forty years I was angry with them, and I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’ [11] So in my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’”
The second half of this Psalm is a call to worship and a reminder of who God is. He is our maker, our God, and He watches over us like a shepherd watching his flock. The Psalmist warns us not to harden our hearts, as the Israelites did in the wilderness at Meribah and Massah (Exodus 17), where they grumbled and tested God's patience despite witnessing His miraculous deeds. Their disobedience led to God’s anger, and because of their hardened hearts, they were denied entry into the promised land.
The lesson is clear: we should never take God’s mercy, provision, or love for granted. He is not only a consuming fire, but also a purifier. As believers, we should desire His refining fire to make us more like Him, rather than face His wrath due to disobedience.
Psalms 96
Psalms 96:1-6 NLT
[1] Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! [2] Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. [3] Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. [4] Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods. [5] The gods of other nations are mere idols, but the Lord made the heavens! [6] Honor and majesty surround him; strength and beauty fill his sanctuary.
This Psalm calls us to sing a new song to the Lord, to proclaim daily the good news of His salvation. Each day we live is another testament to His power and a promise that He isn’t done with us. We’re encouraged to tell others about the incredible things God has done. The Psalmist reminds us that while other nations may worship idols, our God made the heavens, and His sanctuary is filled with beauty and strength. There is no god greater than our God—He is the supreme and only true God. This passage encourages us to acknowledge and celebrate His greatness, especially His sacrifice of redemption and salvation.
Psalms 96:7-13 NLT
[7] O nations of the world, recognize the Lord; recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong. [8] Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his courts. [9] Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before him. [10] Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!” The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. He will judge all peoples fairly. [11] Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! [12] Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy! Let the trees of the forest sing for joy [13] before the Lord, for he is coming! He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with his truth.
The closing verses of this chapter urge all nations to recognize the Lord and give Him the glory He deserves. We are called to worship Him in His splendor and proclaim His reign over all creation. The Psalmist paints a picture of the whole earth rejoicing, from the seas to the fields, all giving praise to God. The last verse reminds us that God is coming to judge the earth with justice and truth.
It’s a sobering reminder that our time on earth is temporary, and eternity is what truly matters. Jesus is coming back—not as the baby in the manger, but as the Judge of the entire world. Are you ready for His return? Will I be ready? The world is busy with so many distractions, but as believers, we must never lose sight of the truth: Jesus is coming soon, and we must be prepared.
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