A Challenge & a Model for Worship from Psalm 95

Psalm 95

 1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;
       let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
       and extol him with music and song.

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

 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth,
       and the mountain peaks belong to him.

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

 6 Come, let us bow down in worship,
       let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

 7 for he is our God
       and we are the people of his pasture,
       the flock under his care.

As you look over these words you may find yourself humming or singing these words to a few familiar songs. But more importantly, I challenge you during your public and private times of worship to consider what is really taking place and what God desires from all of us in worship. As you read verse 1, you realize that you are being invited to worship Him. In verse 2 you are being called to truly engage in worship. In verses 3-5 we realize that we are to sing out to the Lord with power and to give meaningful expression to the words that come from our lips. In verse 6 we in adoration acknowledge two sides of God’s character, His majestic greatness & His closeness to us. In verse 7 we find the quietest and most personal part of His worship, the intimacy that he desires from you.

As we sing, pray, study and listen together each Lord’s Day I challenge you to acknowledge all that takes place in our worship services. Worship Him in Spirit and Truth!!

(additional thoughts see “The New Worship” by Barry Liesch)