Psalms 95:4-11

4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth, and the mountain peaks are his.

5 The sea is his. He made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

6 Come, let's worship and bow down. Let's kneel in front of the LORD, our maker,

7 because he is our God and we are the people in his care, the flock that he leads. If only you would listen to him today!

8 "Do not be stubborn like [my people were] at Meribah, like the time at Massah in the desert.

9 Your ancestors challenged me and tested me there, although they had seen what I had done.

10 For 40 years I was disgusted with those people. So I said, 'They are a people whose hearts continue to stray. They have not learned my ways.'

11 That is why I angrily took this solemn oath: 'They will never enter my place of rest!'"

Psalms 95:4-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 95

This psalm, though without a title, was written by David, as appears from Heb 4:7, and to him the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions ascribe it. It belongs to the times of the Messiah, as Kimchi observes; the apostle applies it to the Jews of his time, and bespeaks them in the language of it, Heb 3:7-11, and in which time Israelites, believers in Christ, are called upon to serve and worship him, in consideration of his greatness in himself, and his goodness to them. Theodoret thinks that David spoke prophetically of King Josiah and his times; and wrote it in the person of him, and the priests of God.