Psalm 95 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

95:1

Psalm 95:1-11. David (Hebrews 4:7) exhorts men to praise God for His greatness, and warns them, in God‘s words, against neglecting His service.

The terms used to express the highest kind of joy.

rock — a firm basis, giving certainty of salvation (Psalm 62:7).

95:2 presence — literally, “approach,” or, meet Him (Psalm 17:13).95:3 gods — esteemed such by men, though really nothing (Jeremiah 5:7; Jeremiah 10:10-15).95:4-5

The terms used describe the world in its whole extent, subject to God.

95:6

come — or, “enter,” with solemn forms, as well as hearts.

95:7

This relation illustrates our entire dependence (compare Psalm 23:3; Psalm 74:1). The last clause is united by Paul (Hebrews 3:7) to the following (compare Psalm 81:8),

95:8-11

warning against neglect; and this is sustained by citing the melancholy fate of their rebellious ancestors, whose provoking insolence is described by quoting the language of God‘s complaint (Numbers 14:11) of their conduct at Meribah and Massah, names given (Exodus 17:7) to commemorate their strife and contention with Him (Psalm 78:18, Psalm 78:41).

95:10

err in their heart — Their wanderings in the desert were but types of their innate ignorance and perverseness.

that they should not — literally, “if they,” etc., part of the form of swearing (compare Numbers 14:30; Psalm 89:35).