READ | SERMON NOTES
SUMMARY l Worship reflects the posture of our hearts which is shaped over time. In worship, we give thanks to God for all that He does. Psalm 95 is a call to worship and obedience. There are three commands in this psalm.
Grateful Rejoicing (vs 1-7)
The word “come” is repeated in these verses. It is a call for God’s people to assemble to worship. We come with a grateful heart for God is our Refuge and Rescuer. Therefore we must rise to the occasion as we enter to worship. We should not drift in casually or be distracted.
The word “for” in vs 3, 7 tells us why we need to worship. He is a great God and it is He who created and sustains us. Vs 4-5 remind us that God is in control of all that He has made. God’s hand highlight His immensity in relation to His creation. We are not only hand-shaped, we are also hand-held by God. Worship does not come naturally to us. We need to prepare our hearts through repentance and confession of our sins. Sundays can be chaotic. Parents rush to prepare their children for church. Some of us may cruise into church on auto-pilot or with our minds full of other thoughts. We need intentional preparation for worship by arriving early and in the quietness of the sanctuary, spend time in reflection on God’s Word.
Greater Reverence (vs 6-7)
Joy is succeeded by awe for we worship a great God. In vs 6-7, the words “worship”, “bow” and “kneel” tell of the need to surrender and submit to God. In a posture of supplication, we humble ourselves before God. Ultimately, worship is not about what we gain, though inspiration and edification are important. Rather, worship is centered on what we give to God. For He is not only our Creator, but also our Redeemer and Saviour. We are His people, the flock of His pasture. As we enter to worship, let us not be distracted by our phones or other matters that shift our focus away from God. Let us be good models of true worshippers for our children. May the scriptural songs lead us to a heart of praise.
Genuine Response (vs 7c-11)
The preceding verses show us the what, why and how of worship. We are to come to God in joy and thanksgiving in worship, for He is our great God, our Creator and Redeemer. We come in humility and surrender. The last part of Psalm 95 moves from worship to warning. Our worship must not become a mindless activity. When we hear God’s Word, we are to obey.
Disobedience hardens our hearts which further prevents us from submitting to God. How do we hear? Whose voices do we listen to? Meribah and Massah are places where two crises were experienced by the Israelites (Exodus 17:1-17). These arose when they disputed with God and doubted Him. In doubting God, the people revealed a lack of trust in God. A delay in obeying God is tantamount to disobeying Him. Similarly, Hebrews 3 and 4 warn of unbelieving hearts which hear but do not obey. In vs.10, we are told that God loathes and grieves over such hardened hearts.
Psalm 95 is about worship and its genuine response in obedience. Worship grows stale when our passion for God grows cold. William Temple describes worship as that which quickens the conscience by the Holiness of God, feeds the mind with His truth, purges the imagination by His beauty, opens our hearts to His love and devotes our will to His purpose. May our worship be indeed so!
(Sermon notes by Angela Goh)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Study Scripture
a. What does Psalm 95 reveal about who God is and how we are to worship Him?
b. How does Psalm 95 balance joyful celebration and reverent submission? - Recall Sermon
a. Which part of the sermon challenged or encouraged you most, and why?
b. How did the sermon broaden or correct your understanding of worship as a disciple of Jesus? - Relate Personally
a. What barriers (distractions, dryness, complacency, busyness, unbelief) hinder you from worshipping deeply and sincerely?
b. In what ways is God inviting you to respond with greater joy, gratitude, humility, or obedience? - Commit to Action
a. What is one concrete step you will take this week to grow as a worshipping disciple? (eg, preparing your heart, arriving earlier, engaging more fully, practising daily worship)?
b. How will you make space in your daily rhythm to hear God’s voice and avoid hardening your heart (Psalm 95:7–8)?
