Today and next Sunday we will be studying Psalm 95 in church. This song is the introduction to a series of songs, Psalms 95-100, that center on the worship of God. Listen to the way each begins:
Psalm 95: Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Psalm 96: Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Psalm 97: The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.
Psalm 98: Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things.
Psalm 99: The LORD reigns, let the nations tremble.
Psalm 100: Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Sensing a theme here? Maybe we can sum it up in one sentence. Worship is centered on the Great LORD (YHWH) who reigns, not on man. This is central to our health as Christians and to our worship of God.
The church too often specializes in what God can do for us, rather than dwelling on our duty to God. When we think God has not responded to our needs the way we think He should, we become frustrated. Sometimes we get angry and simply walk away. Or we stay, but our worship is affected by our viewpoint of how we relate to Him.
This is how we relate to our Great God: He reigns. He is the Creator and the Center of all things. He is the LORD, YHWH, the Rock of our salvation. We serve Him. He doesn’t serve us. Everything we receive from His hand is given by His grace. To that, we must always bow our knee in worship and thanksgiving.
