COME LET US WORSHIP!

COME LET US WORSHIP!

Ps 95:1-7

95:1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.

5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.

6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

The principal Old Testament word for worship is shachah, "depress," "bow down," "prostrate" while the principal New Testament word (used 59 times) is proskuneo, "kiss (the hand or the ground) toward," hence, often in the oriental fashion bowing prostrate upon the ground. (from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia,)

With Sunday beginning another round of what is commonly called “worship wars” and what I call “methodological madness” it seems to me that we need to gain the Bible’s perspective. Psalm 95 begins by suggesting that we sing and make a joyful noise and then it recommends thanksgiving coupled again with joyful noise and psalms.  

This psalm is written by David whose pastime in the sheep field was singing and perhaps a bit of star gazing. David’s younger life was occupied by worshipping and watching. In this way he drew close to God and God kept company with him. Oh, how can we worship without singing? And, if you say you can’t sing then there is a place for you in making joyful noise.

Thanksgiving is next encouraged and it comes to life quite easily as we refocus our thinking away from ourselves and toward God and His attributes. The psalm suggests two very broad categories for our consideration.

1. He is the greatest Being.

(1)     Great in Himself (ver. 3).

(2)     Great in His possessions (ver. 4).

2. He is the kindest Being.

(1)     He made us. Possessing reason, imagination, conscience, freedom, etc.

(2)     He supports us -- provides for our necessities, watches over us, guides us through intricacies, and guards us from perils.

(3)     He delivers us. "The rock of our salvation." The strong ground of our confidence, the foundation on which our safety rests.

Dear Lord, it is another Sunday. Let me not become engaged in the arguments for worship but rather to worship without argument. You alone are God. There are no words sufficient to describe you. Today I offer to you the sacrifice of singing, thanksgiving and joyful noise. AMEN