Answers to questions on Psalm 95

Posted 16 Sep, 2009

Q: Psalm 95:1-2 talks about “coming into his presence”. Aren’t we always in God’s presence? This is also in direct context of singing. Does singing “bring” us into God’s presence? You mentioned how emotions are tied in with this, these are often confused, how do we steer clear of this?

The answer is along the lines of that the presence of God in the Old Testament is particularly associated with the Temple.

So come in to the temple with songs of praise and thanksgiving because the temple is the spatial reminder of God’s presence amongst you, his awesome power and his amazing love, because your sins are atoned for.

It’s not a causal link, it’s a idea of “along with”. The Christian is already seated with Christ in the heavenlies (Eph 2:6) and is united with Christ in life and death (Rom 6, Gal 2) and so we are the temple of God (1Peter 2). Hence nothing except faith and repentance moved by God’s gracious action can “bring us into the presence of God”. So singing does not ever “bring us into the presence of God” but being in the presence of God we should sing and over flow with thankfulness (Col 3:16; 2:7)

Now I assume he means that emotions are often confused – actually I suspect he really means misleading – how can we avoid this? We don’t avoid emotions, there is no scriptural call, or possibility in reality I think. We are all emotional beings, it just runs quieter in some of us. Rather, we are to strive to keep our emotions shaped by the word of God, by obedience and practice. So we are not to plunge into debauchery, sensuality, passions, drunkenness and orgies, but be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of our prayers. (1Peter 4:3-7) or in a more Pauline way – “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Eph 5:18–19). So renewe the old self in the image of it’s creator. Be changed inside by the operation of the Spirit in the Word, and be thankful.

Q: When Israel hardened their hearts at Meribah, what makes you say they were praising God? It appears (to me) that they are completely rejecting YHWH, not doing lip-service to him.

That’s true, in Exodus 17 they were no longer giving lip-service to God, but before that they had been. Check the End of Ex 15 – after the song of Moses they all wend dancing and singing, and at the end of 14, “the people feared the LORD and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.”

However, the point really is that David is saying to them not to say one thing and do another. The Israelites of Exodus are accused of hardening their hearts despite all that God had done, so you Israel, now, who have the trappings of religiosity and worship, you are in danger of being just like them, in hardening your heart. So don’t!