These two psalms seem to have been associated with the new year festival. The renewal of the covenant was a special feature of this festival, and God was celebrated as Creator, King, and Judge. Ps. 95 summons God’s people to worship Him, a summons enforced by a grave warning against disobedience. Ps. 96 bids the whole creation join in worship of the Lord.
- What is said in these two psalms to show that worship from all creation is the Lord’s due? List the reasons why He ought to be worshipped. How should such worship find expression?
- What special reasons are given in Ps. 95 why ‘we’ should worship God? Who constitute the ‘we’? Of what danger are we warned to beware, and when, and why? Cf. Heb. 3:7-15
- 95: 3; 96:4 (cf. 97:9 ). The monotheism of the Old Testament is on the whole practical (e.g., Ex. 20:3) rather than theoretical. But, 96:5 expresses the logical conclusion of Old Testament as well as New Testament belief-that ‘all the gods of the peoples are (literally) nothings’. Cf. 1 Cor. 8:4-6.
- 95:6. ‘Our Maker’: i.e., the Maker of Israel as a nation-to be His people.
