The Rest

Michael E. Wood

July 31, 2016

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!   

For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, Psalm 95:1-2, 7

 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. Hebrews 1:2

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, Hebrews 3:7

 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.” Hebrews 4:4-5

Psalm 95 can be divided into two distinct parts. We are given an invitation to worship the LORD in verses 1-7 and then a warning against unbelief in verses 7-11. Whether we come before Him individually or especially as in the context of this Psalm assembling together with the people of God, we are to come joyfully, thankfully, humbly; believing the good news that Christ alone enables us by the power of the Holy Spirit to enter the presence of God to worship Him.

While researching and contemplating the authorship of this Psalm, the following came to mind.

The voice of the Father, the voice of the Son,

The voice of the Spirit, the great three in One;

His Word now declares as He speaks from on high

To humble our hearts and rejoice to draw nigh

To give Him the praise and with thankfulness lift

Our voices as one though we tend now to drift

With our doubts and our fears, but exhorted to seek

His presence, our Savior, who Shepherd’s His sheep.

For we are His people and graze in His land,

The pastures of promise till with Him we stand.

So help us, Oh Father, endure every test

With joy now with Jesus who gives us the rest