Walk Of Life – Day 27, November 2022 – Thoughts From The Book Of Psalms

Psalm 95 – Come, let us worship the Lord!

Here the psalmist invites the whole congregation to gather and worship the God who has brought them out of the land of slavery to become a free nation. When they were full and settled in their own land, they allowed themselves to be influenced by neighbouring countries wavering from following God’s statues. Psalmist warms them not to harden their hearts like their ancestors who did not trust and tested God at the waters of Meribah even though they had seen all his wonderous work. Their disbelief that God could not settle them in the promised land of Canaan was the reason of his grief and anger resulting in the death of all the unbelieving generation in the wilderness.

Unlike the predecessors whose heart always went astray, the psalmist composed this song to renew the strength and inspire the present generation to break silence and praise God for –

He is the Rock of our Salvation

• Salvation in Old Testament was about liberation within the physical realm. For David, it was protection from King Saul who was after his life when he was a fugitive (Psalm 63:2). For Hannah, it was deliverance from her barrenness (1 Samuel 2:1,2).
• The God who had delivered His people throughout history gradually provided more vivid glimpses, through His prophets, of just how far His salvation would reach. Isaiah’s prophecies in 28:16, “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic” clearly points to the hope of a greater salvation through the Messiah.

It was no more about physical deliverance but spiritual salvation to the dying and sinful soul of men.

He is the Great God  

• God saw man’s wretched condition because of his sin. “Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness—only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with olive oil. Isaiah 1:6”
• In his greatness, God prepared a body which would become a pleasing sacrifice to him and would free his children from the bondage of sin.

He is Our Maker

• He who created heavenly realms and everything on earth to it perfection did not give up on his children who had become imperfect due to sin and gone astray. So, He sent his son Lord Jesus, so that whoever would believe in him will not perish. John3:16 

Salvation was not anymore just for the Israelites alone but for all those who look upon the lamb who was sent to take away the sins of the world.

 He is Good Shepherd

• Like a shepherd who goes after the lost sheep, God sent his son to the remnant of Israel to become their eternal salvation.
• Like a good shepherd who would risk his life to protect the sheep who goes astray, Lord Jesus laid down his life willingly so that his precious blood would cleanse all from their sins.
• The shepherd makes sure that the sheep is safe in its sheep pen and watch over them. Same way, Lord Jesus sanctifies and watches over his sheep till they reach their true home – heaven.

So, let us remember God for what He is to us and worship our Maker with joyful songs.