Psalm 95 – The Venite, as traditionally know in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. Sung with cheer and animation. We again recommend the purchase and use of the Psalter-set from St. Paul's Cathedral, London, UK. Pricey, but profitable for the Psalms at Morning Prayer.
In the midst of a national, family or personal crisis, this Psalm assures people that God is the King over all and the Good Shepherd of His people. The Psalm refers to Temple practices such as procession and bowing. Format: Vss.1-5: call to exultant worship because, despite everything good and bad, God still reigns; vss. 6-11 is a stern warning not to rebel against the LORD as the Israelites did.
95.1-7. “O come, let us sing unto the LORD.”
95.1. “to the Rock of our salvation.”
95.3. “come into His presence.” “Presence from the Hebrew, panim. “To be in front of or presence of someone/something.” To “enter God’s presence” typically refers to visiting the Temple or tabernacle for worship. See courts of the LORD. An advancing warrior “faced” his enemies, so the LORD’s presence or “face” is fearsome to His enemies. See “be with us,” the language of the covenants; we "come into His presence" in prayer, where two or three are gathered together in His name, and in our local congregations of faithful men, women, children and infants. With respect to the church, we cite Article XIX of the XXXIX Articles.
Article XIX. Of the Church.
THE visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men, in the which the pure word of God is preached and the sacraments be duly ministered according to Christ's ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same. As the Church of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch have erred: so also the Church of Rome hath erred, not only in their living and manner of ceremonies, but also in matters of faith.
We come into His presence in private living, friendships with fellow Christians, but, notably, in the gathering or congregation of the faithful. The Psalm says “O come, let us sing unto the LORD.” It is together that we say Our Father, who art in heaven.... We note the plural pronouns for the singing and prayers.
Courts of the LORD. The various courtyards that surrounded the tabernacle and temple were restricted by various standards of holiness. To enter these holy places was to enter God’s presence. Confer Herod’s Temple in the LSB, 1838.
Before worship, it is wise to prepare oneself for worship. My parish rector advises: (1) Greet others cordially. (2) Enter expectantly. (3) Worship reverently, kneeling for prayer and standing for the hearing of the Gospel. (4) Listen attentively and with application of God's Word to one's life, hearing the Law and resting in the gracious promises of Christ. (5) Leave thoughtfully. (6) Greet other cordially as you leave. (7) Come again. Upon entrance to divine worship, we bring you this meaningful prayer.
http://www.comfortablewords.com/comwords/prayers.php?searchtype=titles&searchvalue=Before Worship
"GRANT unto us thy servants, O Lord, humble and contrite hearts, that we may come before thee in thy holy temple, and worship thee this day in spirit and in truth. Open thou our lips, O Lord, that our mouth and tongue may show forth thy praise. We bless thee, O Lord, for thine unspeakable mercy in giving thine only beloved Son to be an atonement for our sins, and to open to us the gates of everlasting life."+
95.2. “Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving.” According to Psalm 92.4-6, fools hate this; it makes no sense to them on any meaningful level.
http://www.comfortablewords.com/comwords/prayers.php?searchtype=titles&searchvalue=Of Praise To The Trinity
With thanksgiving, we come into the presence of the Triune God with all the company of heaven.
+Of Praise To The Trinity
Clement Of Alexandria (late 2nd century)
Be merciful to thy children, O Instructor, O Father, charioteer of Israel, Son and Father, both one, O Lord. Grant that we, thy followers, observing thy commandments, may make perfect the likeness of thy image; that through his strength we may know the goodness of God and the kindness of his judgment. Bestow on us all good things; that we may live our lives in thy peace, and be transferred to thy city; that we may sail over the waves of sin without storm, and be borne along in calm, night and day, by the Holy Spirit, the inexpressible Wisdom, until we come to the perfect day. That we may give praise and thanksgiving to the only Father: and the only Son; to Son and Father, the Son our instructor and teacher, together with the Holy Spirit: rendering all praise to the One, in whom are all things, though whom all things are one, through whom is eternity, of whom all men are members, and the Ages [in this case, heavenly powers] are his glory; all praise to the Good, the Lovely, the Wise, the Just: to him be glory now and for ever. Amen.+
95.4. “in His hand.” God’s hands are pictured as holding up what he has made (vs.5) and caring for His people (vs.7). “depths…and heights.” The vast expanses of the heaven and drying land, images that picture and teach that the whole universe is God’s.
95.7. “…people of His pasture…sheep of His hand.” A shepherd provides for and protects his sheep and flock, as a King does for his subjects. David, Israel’s great shepherd and king, was a shepherd in his youth. God is the great Shepherd, Psalm 23. Jesus would later refer to Himself as the Good Shepherd (Jn.10.11-17).
95.8-11. Recalls Israel’s wandering in the wilderness wandering when rebellion and complaint was often evident against God and Moses.
95.11. “harden not your hearts.” To "harden the heart" is "to stubbornly rebel" against what God has said. See Ex.4.21; 9.12. Meribah, “dispute.” Massah, “testing.” Cf. Ex.17.7. Even after the miraculous deliverance, the people still questioned God’s presence with them. Heb.3.7-4.12 pictures those who stubbornly refuse and reject God’s Word. “Today” means every day. The warning is “do not be deceived by the deceitfulness of sin.”
95.10. “For forty years I loathed that generation.” “Loathed”. God’s reaction is revulsion and disgust. This is very strong language, even as poetic language. As narrative sections in the Pentateuch, "it reads as it reads." Now, for the modern church, it generally "loathes" God's "loathing" and will have nothing to do with it. Ask enough questions of the leadership in time; it will come out; it cannot be hidden. We have come of age, we are assured by the modern prophets. (As a result, they have little left of mercy, kindness or love. What is left is self-entitlement programs.) But, to turn the tables on the modern audience, does God "loathe" the moderns' "loathing" of God's holiness, righteousness, and justice? Does God loathe their imaginations, images, dreams, aspirations and plans, spun and crafted without faith, without God, without reference to His Glory or Word? 95.10. “For forty years I loathed that generation.” Is God disgusted and revulsed? Who are you going to believe?
95.11. swore. What God says He will do, He does and no one resists His will or hand, in the heavens, galaxies, or on earth, Kings, nobles, or impoverished (Dan.4.34-35). Israel wandered for forty years until that generation died and a new generation arose. The promised rest was the “Promised Land,” a place to live in peace and prosperity. Heb.3-4 expands that rest to “include salvation: our eternal rest in God’s presence.” God's covenanted promises are sure and a "Yeah and amen."
Psalm 95, The Venite as traditionally know in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, shoud be sung with cheer and animation. We again recommend the purchase and use of the Psalter-set from St. Paul's Cathedral, London, UK. Pricey, but profitable for the Psalms at Morning Prayer.
Sung everyday before and in preparation for the OT and NT lections, it serves an expectant saint, family, and congregation well.
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