Y' ALL COME

We Texans have an accent that is so notably us and one of our "dead giveaways" of being a Texan is our colloquialism of the contraction of You all/Y'all and our many idioms and metaphors. As I looked over Psalm 95, my mind immediately pictured an invitation and the invite, Y'all come!  Psalm 95 is written by an anonymous author, yet certainly one who could get his "praise on" and be expressive in it.   

He invites other worshipers to join him with singing and shouting to the Rock (Boulder) of our Salvation/deliverance. Our salvation and deliverance from sin are steadfast facts!  The paradigm certainly implodes the picture of quiet and staid worship.  I often wonder why we take on the attitude of non-visible emotion during congregational worship?  Note the emotions:  sing for joy, shout aloud, and exultation with music and song.  Can you just imagine the raised eyebrows of the other worshipers?  Please note this was audible!!  How do you know that someone is thankful if it is never spoken?  Too bad, we save our emotions of joy, laughter, and excitement for children's ball games and other sporting events!  Why are we reticent to show healthy emotional expressions in corporate worship?  I wonder if our discomfort or critical spirit at seeing or hearing another worshiper who is getting his "praise on" is a HINDRANCE TO THE WORKING OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD AND REVIVAL?  I am NOT advocating disorder and improper emotionalism taking over worship! 

We are reminded that Jehovah is the great God, Elhoim (No peers and is superior in power, authority, rule), and king. The psalmist prefers to give word pictures so that the reader or the singer can think in terms which we understand.  We see that in His hands are the depths of the earth and even the highest mountain peaks belong to Him.  Why even the seas are His for He made them. The dry land, He as Creator God formed the dry land.  The psalmist speaks anthropomorphically of God by speaking of His hands.  He uses physical features so we can get a better understanding of God's creative handiworks.  He was active in creation. He formed, He breathed, He rested, and He said. 

The psalmist gives a further invitation...come, let us bow in worship. Of course, bowing and kneeling are the pictures of the lesser one humbling himself before the Superior One.  The One who is our Creator, God, Elohim.  He pictures us as  sheep, ones of the less intelligent of God's creatures who always need care and leading to places for nourishment and protection.  

He reaches back into Exodus 17 and commands us not to act like Israel in stress and press times when they quarreled with God and Moses and put God to the test by their distrust and disobedience.  They were at Meribah (quarreling) and Massah (testing God).  How quickly we can experience Maribah and Massah when we are disappointed with what God has or has not provided.  How easily we move into distrust/testing God...can He?  Will He?  Why doesn't He? When will He?  Can He? The psalmist reminds the reader that God was angry with their disobedience and assigned their correction.  They missed the blessing of God's peace and rest and spent 40 years in wandering in the wilderness...One more trip around Mount Sinai!   If I am willing to focus on Him, that keeps the door closed to the old predator who is ever ready to enter through a cracked door.  He is always eager to pounce and take prey!  Enjoy praising!  Ever learning!  In process, still!  #IHAVETHREESONS.