Bible Commentaries
Psalms 95

Verses 1-11

Psalms 95

Call to Public Worship and Praise

Scripture v. 1-11:

Verse 1 calls "O (do) come, let us sing unto the Lord, let us make a joyful noise to the Rode (Messiah) of our salvation," our unchargeable and sure foundation and fortress against every foe, Psalms 18:2; Psalms 94:22; as also expressed Psalms 81:1; Isaiah 30:29; Psalms 9; Psalms 11; Deuteronomy 32:4.

Verse 2 continues "let us come before (to stand before) his presence with thanksgiving (gratitude and praise), and make a joyful (joy-filled) noise unto him with psalms," 1 Chronicles 16:8; Psalms 21:3; Psalms 79; Psalms 8; Psalms 88:13.

Verse 3 reasons that the Lord is a great (mighty) God and a great or mighty King, above all gods or earthly rulers, as repeatedly expressed Deuteronomy 3:24; Psalms 104:1; Exodus 15:18; Daniel 2:47; Psalms 96:4-5; Psalms 115:4-9.

Verses 4, 5 relate that in his hand or control are the deep places of the earth, both hills and valleys. Even the strength of the hills, the heights are also in his hands, before His eye, Job 38:16; Jeremiah 31:37; Psalms 135:6.
Verse 5 adds that both the sea and the dry land are objects of the creation and formation of His own hands, are His properties, with all their contents and occupants, Exodus 19:5; Genesis 1:1; Psalms 102:25: Deuteronomy 26:10; Psalms 96:9.

Verse 6 appeals "O come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our maker," in submissive humility, oh. 4:24; Psalms 122:1; Hebrews 10:24-25. See also Deuteronomy 26:10; 1 Chronicles 16:11; 1 Kings 8:54; Isaiah 45:23.

Verses 7, 8 explains that He is (exists as) our God; and "We are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand;" Both we, the sheep, and the pasture belong to Him. The appeal is then sounded "Today if ye will hear (heed) his voice, harden not your heart," as Israel did to provoke Him, in the temptation in the wilderness, where he chastened His own for forty years, feeding and teaching them to obey the shepherd’s voice, Exodus 17:7. See too Psalms 23:3-4.

Verses 9, 10 relate that when their fathers tempted (tested) Him, proved Him, and saw His work, it was a time of chastening for their hardened, unfaithful hearts after they had entered into covenant with Him, Exodus 19:5-8, after deliverance from Egypt; It is added v. 10 that "For forty years long He was grieved with this generation," of Israel and declared that they were a people that did err in their hearts, not knowing or recognizing His ways, to obey Him, Deuteronomy 29:3-4; Hebrews 3:10. See also Numbers 15:30; Acts 7:36; Hebrews 3:17; Exodus 16:35; Ezekiel 29:11; Judges 2:12.

Verse 11 concludes that God sware in His wrath, because of their unbelief, rebellion, enmity, and anarchy against Him, that they of Israel, led out of Egypt, should not enter into his rest, the inheritance in Canaan, Numbers 14:23; Deuteronomy 1:35; Deuteronomy 12:9; Hebrews 4:3. This especially applied to those twenty years of age and upward, of the men who listened to, joined the rebellion of the unfaithful spies, as related Numbers 14:23; Numbers 14:28-35.