Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

This psalm is multi-directional and is filled with legitimate concerns. He questions: 1. God- “How long, O Lord?” (3) 2. The Wicked- “When will you finally catch on?”(8) 3. Himself- “Who will protect me from the wicked?”(16) 4. Unjust leaders- “Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side–?“(20)

There are many uncertainties when injustice seems to have the upper hand but they are all answered by the assurance of God’s presence: • His help- “Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have died.” (17) • His support- “I cried out, ‘I’m slipping!’ and your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me.” (18) • His comfort- “When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.” (19)

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HE WILL DESTROY THEM - 20-23- The Psalmist Speaks to the Wicked/Just

“Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side–leaders who permit injustice by their laws? They attack the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. “But the Lord is my fortress; my God is a mighty rock where I can hide. God will make the sins of evil people fall back upon them. He will destroy them for their sins. The Lord our God will destroy them.” (20- 23) The Bible is full of accounts of unjust rulers oppressing God’s people such as King Nebuchadnez- zar of Babylon calling for all nations to bow down to his golden idol: “…’People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command! When you hear the sound of the horn, flute….and other instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue.” (Dan. 3:4,5) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to obey the law to bow down to the idol and they were thrown into the fire and were visited by ‘the son of the Gods ’(Dan. 3:25). This appearance of ‘Jesus…the mighty rock’ caused Nebuchadnezzar to honor the God of Israel: “They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.” (Dan. 3:28) He made a decree that the God of the Hebrews was to be honored and respected throughout his kingdom. The eternal laws of heaven rule over all the laws of earthly governments and any decrees that di- rectly violate God’s commands cannot be consciously obeyed. The Lord has promised to be an im- movable fortress to all who trust him in those special times of testing. He is a mighty rock that no ruler or legislation can remove even when it appears that injustice is prevailing. Eventually the enemy who opposes God will either be converted or destroyed by divine judgment as mentioned in the closing verses of this psalm.

1 Keil & Delitzsch 2 Scroggie 3 Boyce 4 Keil & Delitzsch

PSALM 95: COME, LET US SING Daily Entering His Rest

This psalm presents praise and worship as the way to enter the presence of the Lord and to help facilitate the hearing of his voice. Worship is introduced as a means of softening and conditioning the heart to be in position of faith when God speaks. The last section is a direct prophecy from the Lord and carries a solemn warning to obey him that is quoted four different times in the Book of Hebrews. This is one of the most significant psalms in the Bible as almost two chapters of the New Testament are given to its explanation and the 7th verse, “Oh, that you would listen to his voice today” is cited more than any other verse in Psalms. Christ is seen as ‘the rock of our salvation’ (1) and the Shepherd of Israel “we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.”(7)

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