< Psalms 95 >

This Psalm exhorts us to sing praises to the LORD, for he is “the rock of our salvation”, v.1Psalms 95:1XWaiting for response the creator and sustainer of all things,vs.4-5Psalms 95:4-5XWaiting for response and entitled to our praise and thanksgiving. v.6Psalms 95:6XWaiting for response He is a great God,v.3Psalms 95:3XWaiting for response and the scriptures teach us about him so that we may exclaim with the Psalmist: “He is our God”.v.7Psalms 95:7XWaiting for response

A common figure of speech in the Bible likens the people of God to sheep of which he is the shepherd. We are not naturally his sheep. In fact, many people in the earth are likened in the Bible to wild beasts, and others Jesus says are like goats which he will separate his sheep when he comes to give eternal life. The scriptures tell us how we can become his sheep, and of the invitation to enter his fold - and now is our day of opportunity: “Today if ye will hear his voice”. The apostle quotes these words in his letter to the Hebrews Hebrews 3:7Hebrews 3:7XWaiting for response to show that the opportunity of salvation still remained - it was still “Today”. It still remains now, and will do so until the Lord Jesus returns when he will lift up his hand “and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven... and the earth... that there should be time no longer”. Revelation 10:6-7Revelation 10:6-7XWaiting for response

The Psalmist cites the faithless example of the generation of Israel that was delivered from Egypt, who saw the mighty works of God in the wilderness but refused to enter the promised land when they had the opportunity.vs.8-11Psalms 95:8-11XWaiting for response The LORD therefore sware they would not enter into his rest.v.11Psalms 95:11XWaiting for response However, in the purpose of God, there still is a rest to come: “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God”. Hebrews 4:9Hebrews 4:9XWaiting for response Joshua led the next generation of Israel into the promised land but the apostle shows that this was not the final rest promised by God. It was, however, typical of the future rest into which Jesus will lead the people of God into the same promised land. So the apostle exhorts the disciples: “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest”. Hebrews 4:11Hebrews 4:11XWaiting for response