A Call to Listen, to Worship, to Praise (Psalm 95)

As we move deeper into the season of Lent, our hearts are often turned toward quiet reflection and self-examination. But this week, our scripture from Psalm 95 starts with a bit of a joyful noise. It invites us to sing, to make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation, and to come into God’s presence with thanksgiving.

1 O come, let us sing to the Lord;
    let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
    let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

Psalm 95 begins with an invitation to praise. It calls us to lift our voices, to bow in worship, and to remember that the Lord is our Creator and Shepherd. There’s a sense of joy and gratitude—God is good, and all creation belongs to him. Psalm 95, known as the Venite (Latin: “O come”), has been used as a call to worship for millennia. Originating as a song for Israel’s Temple festivals and Sabbath, it highlights God as the Rock of salvation. It was adapted into Jewish synagogue liturgy, early Christian morning prayers (Matins), and the Anglican daily office. It serves as a constant reminder to begin worship with gratitude while remaining faithful, focusing on God as both Creator and Shepherd.

3 For the Lord is a great God
    and a great King above all gods.

4 In his hand are the depths of the earth;
    the heights of the mountains are his also.

5 The sea is his, for he made it,
    and the dry land, which his hands have formed.

6 O come, let us worship and bow down;
    let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

7 For he is our God,
    and we are the people of his pasture
    and the sheep of his hand.

O that today you would listen to his voice!

The Psalm gives us a very simple reason to worship: “For the Lord is a great God” (Psalm 95:3). The writer reminds us that the deep places of the earth and the heights of the hills belong to him. We believe in a God whose grace is as vast as the ocean. He is the Creator who made the dry land and the sea, yet he is also the Shepherd who cares for us personally. We are “the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand” (Psalm 95:7).

There is such comfort in that. We aren’t just random people wandering through life; we are held in his hand.

However, the Psalm takes a serious turn in the middle of verse 7.

O that today you would listen to his voice!

8     Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,
    as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
9 when your ancestors tested me
    and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.

10 For forty years I loathed that generation
    and said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray,
    and they do not regard my ways.”

11 Therefore in my anger I swore,
    ”They shall not enter my rest.”

Lent is the perfect time to check the “temperature” of our hearts. Sometimes, life’s stresses or old hurts can make our hearts feel a bit like stone. We stop listening. We start grumbling, much like the Israelites did at Meribah and Massah in the wilderness. (Exodus 17:1-7)

Hardening your heart doesn’t usually happen all at once. It’s a slow process of ignoring God’s nudges, skipping prayer because we’re too busy, or letting bitterness take root. The Psalmist is urging us: Listen today. Don’t wait for a “better” time to turn back to God. His grace is available right now.

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Walking Through Lent

As we go through this week, I want to encourage you to do two things:

1.      Sing a little. Even if it’s just in the car or while doing dishes, find a moment to thank God for being the “rock” you can stand on. Listen to a favorite praise or worship song or hymn on YouTube Music (or your music source of choice).

2.     Check your heart. If you feel yourself getting frustrated or “hardened” toward someone else or toward God, take a breath and ask him to soften you with his Spirit.

We are his sheep, and he is our wonderful Shepherd. Let’s make sure we are following close behind him.

Let us pray..

Gracious God, we thank you that we belong to you. Thank you for being a rock that never moves, even when our lives feel shaky. As we walk through this Lenten season, help us to keep our hearts soft. If we have become cynical or tired, refresh us with your living water. Help us to hear your voice today and follow where you lead. We offer ourselves to you in the name of Christ, our Savior. Amen.