LISTEN-Psalm 95

Video (9/15/24): To WORSHIP You Must LISTEN (Psalm 95).

Shout Out, Bow Down, Listen Up! (Psalm 95): “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.” “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice…” (Ps 95:1, 6-7).

The Way to Worship (95:1-11), for God is worthy of our worship.

1. Shout (Ps 95:1-5). Rejoice. Sing. Adoration. Rise up.
2. Bow (Ps 95:6-7). Revere. Kneel. Confession. Kneel down.
3. Listen (Ps 95:8-11). Respond. Hear. Attention. Listen well.

²⁰ My son, pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.
²¹ Do not let them out of your sight,
    keep them within your heart;
²² for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body. (Prov 4:20-22)

“My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.” (NLT)

¹⁷ Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; [Listen]
    apply your heart to what I teach, [Study]
¹⁸ for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart [Remember]
    and have all of them ready on your lips. [Quote] (Prov 22:17-18) Listen. Study/Apply. Remember. Quote.

Verses:

How is your worship?

Shout (Ps 95:1): How passionate are you when you sing?

Bow (Ps 95:6): How reverent are you at church? At home?

Listen (Ps 95:7-8): Why should you listen to God?

What happens when you do not listen to God?

Do you hear God? Listen to Him? How?

1. Quiet your heart (Mark 1:35).
2. Seek, knock, ask (Matthew 7:7; James 1:5).
3. Have a “key” verse that you always remember.
4. Seek a mentor, a mature Christian, a small group.
5. Listen to OTHERS (James 1:19).
6. Learn to wait seemingly forever (Isaiah 40:31).

Come [Venite]. From at least as early as the 4th century A.D. Psalm 95 has been sung in many churches at the beginning of public worship. In Anglican churches every Sun morning service began with the Venite, the traditional title for Psalm 95. Venite is Latin for the opening bidding “Come.”

7 exhortations one after another: (Ps 95:1, 2, 6): Come, let us shout…, let us shout aloud…, let us come… (Ps 95:1-2), Come, let us bow…, let us kneel… (Ps 95:6).

The depths, the peaks, and the sea: “For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land” (Ps 95:3-5).

• Secret sins: “the depths of the earth” (Ps 95:4). Molech was the god of the “depths,” of things done in darkness or in hiding. [The god of a secret life hidden from others (Eph 5:8-12).]
• Pleasurable sins: “the mountain peaks” (Ps 95:4). Baal was the god of the “moutain tops,” the god to guarantee fertility, security, prosperity and pleasure. [Economy, market forces, sex exalted out of proportion, materialism / consumerism reigning supreme, trusting our bank balances for security.]
• The sin of success and power: “the sea” (Ps 95:5). Tiamat was the god of success by power, the god of the bully. [Solve problems by militarism / domination. Ruthless pursuit of the “rat race,” the business empire which tramples on competitors.]

How does Psalm 95 point to Christ?

• “They shall never enter my rest” (Ps 95:11).

1. Jesus is our true rest. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give…” (Mt 11:29-31).

• “…we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care” (Ps 95:7).

2. Jesus is our shepherd. “good shepherd” (Jn 10:11); “great Shepherd” (Heb 13:20); “Chief Shepherd” (1 Pet 5:4); “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ (Rev 7:17).

• “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord…” (Ps 95:1).

3. Jesus, though a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering, is a happy man.

“I have food to eat that you know nothing about” (Jn 4:32).

“At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do” (Lk 10:21).

• “…let us bow down… let us kneel…hear his voice” (Ps 95:6-7).

4. Jesus bowed all the down and heard God’s voice unto death.

“The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him” (Jn 8:29).

• “…let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation” (1).

5. Jesus is the Rock of God’s salvation. “…they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ” (1 Cor 10:4).

6. Jesus the Rock had to be struck so that sinners can be healed.

“…one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out” (Jn 19:34).

“But He was wounded[k] for our transgressions, He was [l]bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes[m] we are healed” (Isa 53:5).

• k-pierced through.
• l-crushed.
• m-blows that cut in.