Psalm 95:2 - Printer Friendly

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

NIV: Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

NASB: Let’s come before His presence with a song of thanksgiving, Let’s shout joyfully to Him in songs with instruments.

CSB: Let us enter his presence with thanksgiving; let us shout triumphantly to him in song.

NLT: Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.

KJV: Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

NKJV: Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

Gratitude and joy are appropriate when approaching the Lord God for worship. Philippians 4:4–6 encourages this perspective in believers. Other passages also highlight the importance of thanking our Creator (Psalm 97:12; Colossians 4:2; Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18); His very nature demands this response (Psalm 7:17).

While it is good to make requests to God, it is especially important to thank Him for His answers to prayer. That includes when He does not respond the way we might prefer, and, of course, for all the good things He has given. Giving thanks before every meal is a traditional practice that follows an example set by Jesus. After receiving five barley loaves and two fish, Jesus had a hungry crowd of five thousand sit down and then He "took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated" (John 6:10–11).

Psalm 95:1–5 opens with a call for grateful worship of God. Everything that exists is part of His creation—so His people ought to respond with their praise. The next section transitions to a warning about Israel's stubborn disobedience after the exodus from Egypt (Psalm 95:6–7).

The psalm begins with a call to worship, gratitude, and celebration of the Lord. God is great and a great King above all gods. He rules over the oceans and lands, which He created. The psalmist then turns to a warning about a time when Israel resisted the Lord's leadership. That entire generation was denied God's "rest," including being barred from entering the Promised Land.

"Enthronement" psalms make up this portion of Scripture. Because they speak of God's rule, they are also labelled "theocratic." Psalms 24, 27, 93, and 96—99 have similar themes. These songs anticipate the Lord God ruling over the entire world. This perspective often aims at the future when the Messiah Jesus will personally oversee earth for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4). The last portion of the song is quoted in the New Testament book of Hebrews (Hebrews 3:7–11, 15, 4:3–7).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 11/21/2024 7:14:20 AM