Psa 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

Psalm 95 is about worship. The psalm can be divided into two sections. The first section (vs 1-7a) is an invitation to worship the LORD, who is a great God, King, and Creator. The second section (vs 7b-11), is a warning to hear God’s voice and not harden our hearts. 

The psalmist declares his love for worship: “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms” (vs 1-2). 

Can you picture the joyous face of the psalmist as he sang his songs of praises to God? Does that describe your heart as you gather with the saints on the Lord’s Day? True believers love to worship God and enjoy every moment of it. 

This psalm tells us a lot of things about worship.

1. Who do we worship?

We worship the Great LORD [Hebrew Yahweh] who is God [Hebrew El] and great King above all gods (vs 3). He is the Almighty One who created the heaven and the earth (vs 4-5). He is our Shepherd, the one who protects and takes care of our daily needs (vs 7a). 

2. Why should we worship God?

(i) The simple reason He is God: “For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand” (vs 7).

(ii) Because of Temptations: “Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness” (vs 8).

(iii) Because of the Consequence if we fail to worship Him: “Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest” (vs 11)                                                               

3. How should we worship God?

(i) With Joy: “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation” (vs 1).

(ii) With Thanksgiving: “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving” (vs 2a).

(iii) In Faith: “For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods” (vs 3).

(iv) With Reverence: “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker” (vs 6). 

4. What is the consequence if we fail to worship God?

Eternal Damnation: “Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest” (vs 11). 

Brethren, how do you worship God? Is it with gladness, thanksgiving, and sincerity of heart? What is your attitude when in worship? Do you sing? Do you pray? Do you listen? Or is your mind somewhere else? 

What God hates is insincerity. It does not matter how imperfect the praise may be; it just need to be sincere. You may think I nag too much every time I come to the topic of worship but this is because I care about those souls who fail to worship God with a right attitude. They have fallen into temptation, allowing unbelief to enter their hearts, and as a result, bring damnation to their souls (vs 7b-11). They need to return to God and worship Him in spirit (John 4:24).                                            

We can either worship God with great joy (vs 1-7a) or harden our hearts and perish (vs 7b-11). The choice is ours. God desires sincere worshippers (John 4:24). Are you a true worshipper?

Jimmy Lau