Steven A. Bush - March 15, 2015
Bow, Kneel, and Make a Joyful Noise
Psalm 95 is our Divine invitation to worship. And to Whom do we direct our songs of Praise? To God Almighty-Maker of heaven and earth. These lyrics describe Him directly or implicitly as our Rock, our King, our Maker, our Shepherd, and our Judge. Pretty good descriptors for just eleven verses. While the invitation calls us to bow, kneel, and make a joyful noise, it gives us good reason to do so. It focuses our attention on our Lord's Creation juxtaposed with His loving care for us. From there the song gives warning: Do not harden your hearts to the voice of God. He speaks to us through His Word as well as through all that He has made. Stop, look, and listen is the proper exhortation. We see God's handiwork and glory through our naked eyes, not to mention while peering through telescopes and microscopes, through ultrasounds and hikes through the woods, and it utterly astounds us. But even more astoundingly, we see His love and mercy and truth and glory most vividly declared and displayed through His beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. So let us bow, kneel, and make a joyful noise together.