Look Up (and Respond) Psalm 95

In Psalm 95 we see a “call to worship”, an instruction on how we should approach God.

It seems we are to approach God with both boldness, joy, and volume (singing, making a joyful noise), as well as with reverence and humility (bowing down and kneeling). The Psalmist seems to point us to the fact that these responses to God do not come from forced emotion or religious duty, but from an understanding of who God really is!

The Psalmist also warns us of the dangers of hardening our hearts and choosing our wanderings (a people whose hearts go astray), and our ignorance (they have not known my ways): ending with a somber warning of the unrest that accompanies both our wandering and our ignorance.

QUESTIONS FOR PSALM 95

As you read through this psalm this week, ask it several questions:

·        How are we to approach Gods presence?

·        What is the motivation for both a loud and joyful response to God, as well as a reverent and humble response to him?

·        Do you lean towards approaching God boldly with joy, or humbly with reverence?

·        Where singing to God is concerned, do you tend to lean towards cynicism and skepticism? What might this say about what you believe to be true about God?

·        How would your life be different today if you were to take this “call to worship” seriously?