For some reason, when it comes to spiritual matters, we are less comfortable encouraging ourselves to do things we don’t feel like doing. That is because spiritual matters are often like exercise. The things God commands us to do are for our good and are things that once we have been trained in righteousness, we will desire to do. This is the point of obedience. Doing what you are supposed to do, even when you don’t feel like it will ultimately help us “acquire a taste” for righteousness.
Worship is the same way. When you don’t feel like worshiping is the time you need to worship most. When we are being stubborn, selfish, stiff-necked, strong-willed, hard hearted people, the cure is to force ourselves to worship, to put the focus on God and see how He can change our hearts in the light of his presence.
Psalm 95 is an invitation to this kind of worship. It is a call to worship God with your whole self – heart, mind, strength – and in the midst of it, to meet God and be transformed by Him from the outside in.
Worship through Rejoicing (v1-5)
Worship through Reverence (v6-7)
Worship Through Obedience (v7-11)
The psalm ends with rest, because that is what God wishes to give those who follow Him. He calls us through worship into a life of following Him, a life that ends in fulfillment and rest.
