Rev. Don Campbell
Psalms 95, 97-99
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, May 22, 2019
“NOISY WORSHIPPERS”
We will look at Psalms 97-99 first. Psalm 97 begins with “The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice” (v.1). Psalm 99 says, “The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble” (v.1). Rejoicing and trembling are not incompatible. “God will judge the world with righteousness, and the people with equity” (Psalm 98:9). But there is more than justice and equity. The latter part of Psalm 95 (vv.7b-11) is quoted in Hebrews 3:7-4:13, but with an additional application: “For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his” (Hebrews 4:8-10).
The Sabbath rest is a picture of our rest in Christ through salvation. Jesus said, Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28) The writer of Hebrews says, “For we who have believed enter that rest (Hebrews 4:3). However, there remains a Sabbath rest for believers—a rest like that of God when he rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:1-3). This rest is spoken of in Revelation 14:13: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow after them.” When we come to Christ we can rest from the impossible task of saving ourselves by our own merit, but our labor in the Lord will continue: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
With these truths in mind, we look at the verses 1-7a of Psalm 95:
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
Those of old could come into God’s presence only symbolically and only through the priests. Through Christ, we are encouraged to come boldly into God’s presence (Hebrews 10:19-23). How much more do we have reason to be noisy worshippers, making a joyful noise to the Lord in songs of praise, offering thanks? “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:16-17).
CONNECTIONS
1. How does our work of faith, labor of love, and hope in Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3) different from the yoke of salvation by merit?
2. Since every believer is encouraged to come boldly into God’s presence, in contrast to only the high priest entering his presence once a year, the distinction between laity and priest has been abolished. What does Peter say we are—laity or priest? (1 Peter 2:9)
