Psalms 95:3-11

3 For the Lord is a mighty God, a mighty king over all the gods.

4 He rules over the whole earth, from the deepest caves to the highest hills.

5 He rules over the sea, which he made; the land also, which he himself formed.

6 Come, let us bow down and worship him; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

7 He is our God; ¹ we are the people he cares for, the flock for which he provides. Listen today to what he says:

8 "Don't be stubborn, as your ancestors were at Meribah, ² as they were that day in the desert at Massah.

9 There they put me to the test and tried me, although they had seen what I did for them.

10 For forty years I was disgusted with those people. I said, "How disloyal they are! They refuse to obey my commands.'

11 I was angry and made a solemn promise: ³ "You will never enter the land where I would have given you rest.' "

Psalms 95:3-11 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.

Cross References

• 1. 95.7-11Hebrews 3.7-11.+O+N95.7, 8Hebrews 3.15; 4.7.
• 2. 95.8, 9Exodus 17.1-7;Numbers 20.2-13.
• 3. 95.11 aNumbers 14.20-23;Deuteronomy 1.34-36;Hebrews 4.3, 5; bDeuteronomy 12.9, 10.