PSALM XCV _An invitation to praise God_, 1, 2. _The reason on which this is founded, the majesty and dominion_ _of God_, 3-5. _An invitation to pray to God_, 6. _And the reasons on which that is founded_, 7. _Exhortation not to act as their fathers had done, who rebelled_ _against God, and we... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 95:2. _LET US COME BEFORE HIS PRESENCE_] פניו _panaiv_, his faces, with thanksgiving, בתודה _bethodah_, with _confession_, or _with the confession-offering_. _Praise_ him for what he has already done, and confess your unworthiness of any of his blessings. The _confession-offering_, the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 95:3. _FOR THE LORD_ IS _A GREAT GOD_] Or, "A great God is Jehovah, and a great King above all gods;" or, "God is a great King over all." The Supreme Being has _three_ names here: אל EL, יהוה JEHOVAH, אלהים ELOHIM, and we should apply none of them to _false gods_. The _first_ implies hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 95:4. _IN HIS HAND_ ARE _THE DEEP PLACES OF THE EARTH_] The greatest deeps are _fathomed by him_. _THE STRENGTH OF THE HILLS_ IS _HIS ALSO._] And to him the _greatest_ _heights_ are _accessible_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 95:5. _THE SEA_ IS _HIS_] The sea and the dry land are equally his, for he has formed them both, and they are his property. He governs and disposes of them as he sees good. He is the absolute Master of universal nature. Therefore there is no other object of worship nor of confidence.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 95:6. _O COME, LET US WORSHIP_] _Three_ distinct words are used here to express _three different acts of adoration_: 1. _Let us_ _worship_, נשתחוה nishtachaveh, let us _prostrate_ ourselves; the highest act of adoration by which the _supremacy_ of God is acknowledged. 2. _Let us bow d... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 95:7. _FOR HE_ IS _OUR GOD_] Here is the reason for this service. He has condescended to enter into a _covenant_ with us, and he has taken us for his own; therefore - _WE_ ARE _THE PEOPLE OF HIS PASTURE_] Or, rather, as the _Chaldee,_ _Syriac, Vulgate_, and _AEthiopic_ read, "We are hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 95:9. _WHEN YOUR FATHERS TEMPTED ME_] _Tried_ me, by their insolence, unbelief, and blasphemy. They _proved_ me - they had full proof of my power to save and to destroy. There _they saw my_ _works _- they saw that nothing was too hard for God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 95:10. _FORTY YEARS LONG_] They did nothing but murmur, disbelieve, and rebel, from the time they began their journey at the _Red Sea_ till they passed over Jordan, a period of _forty_ years. During all this time God was _grieved_ by _that generation_; yet he seldom showed forth that _j... [ Continue Reading ]