Your picture of God is everything to your life! The Psalmist in Psalm 95 offers us a great picture of God that we would do well to study and ensure his words help formulate our picture of God, too!
The following are the names used of God in Psalm 95 with a single phrase to help our understanding:
LORD – (Eternal) – This is the proper name of God – Jehovah. He is the I AM. The God who desires a relationship with people.
Rock – (Author) – The One who has shaped or fashioned our salvation.
Great God (All-power) – His power is clearly on display in creation.
Great King (All-authority) – His is a monarchy, you and I do not have a vote.
Maker (Giver of life) – It is God who said that He would make man in His image – and did!
The Psalmist would make it clear that once we have a proper view of God, we will have a proper response to Him. We will have no choice but to fall before Him in worship. Notice the words – “Let us” in Psalm 95:1,2,6. If our picture of God is right, we will have no other option in life than to sing, shout joyfully, and humbly worship Him.
When our picture of God is correct, and we understand who He is in comparison to who we are – daily obedience to His will is a proper and natural response (Psalm 95:7-11). For example, when I understand that He is the Great King with all authority – denominationalism dies. When I understand that God is the Maker – the sanctity of life is seen and horrific practices like abortion go away. The inspired Psalmist would go on to use the Israelites as an example of disobedience stemming from a heart issue when the picture of God is not right. While God had taken care of their needs since delivering them from Egyptian captivity, they still questioned if God was really among them or not when water became scarce in Rephidim (Exodus 17:1-7). It was shortly following this, that God would say that generation would not enter into the Promised Land (His rest).
The lesson for you and I today is quite clear. We must have a proper picture of God in our minds which will lead to proper worship and proper daily living.
This is too big for us not to get right. Personal opinion has no place against doing God’s will which is found in His word. In the end, those with a proper understanding of God and of Jesus Christ His Son, will be those who are allowed to enter into His rest (Hebrews 4:1-13).
-Adam Orr
0 Comments