Part 34: Wisdom About Worship Series

Great Prayers of the Old Testament

Part 34: Wisdom about Worship

Psalm 95:1-11

Sermon by Rick Crandall

(Prepared November 11, 2025)

BACKGROUND:

*Today our focus is on worship, and nothing is more important in Christian life than heartfelt worship of the LORD! God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is always worthy of our worship! He is the only true and living God, eternally perfect in every way. He created us, loves us, and has given us every good thing we have ever received. Best of all, God the Father gave His only begotten Son to become a mortal man, live a perfect life, and die on the cross for our sins. God the Holy Spirit also had a crucial part in this saving work all the way from our creation to Jesus' conception, and His resurrection.

*This anonymous Psalm doesn't list the author, and many commentators question if King David was the writer. But three Bible scholars I trust the most were all sure David was the author. John Phillips said that Hebrews 4:7 quoted this Psalm as a Psalm of David. John Gill wrote that the Jews believed all anonymous Psalms were written by David. But the most important fact about the author of this Psalm is found in David’s last words. 2 Samuel 23:1-2 says, "Now these are the last words of David. Thus says David the son of Jesse; thus says the man raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet Psalmist of Israel: 'The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue.'" (1)

*Hallelujah Church! There is no question that God is most worthy of our worship! But how can we truly worship God? F. B. Meyer explained that "This psalm should be lived out every week in God's Church as His people gather for worship.

*Some of the wonderful works of God in creation are listed as inspirations to worship and praise the LORD. The sea, the hills, the deep places of the earth have often inspired the musician, but how much more the devout soul! Let us remember, also, when we are tossed on the seas of life, or are called to descend into valleys of shadow, that faith will still dare to sing!

*But from Psalm 95:6 onward, we are confronted with the sad story in Exodus 17:1-16. There the Children of Israel came to a place without water. They started grumbling against the LORD God, and were almost ready to stone Moses! Of course the LORD provided everything they needed. And the LORD will provide everything we need, if we will only trust Him enough to wait upon the LORD!" (2)

MESSAGE:

*Heartfelt worship is incredibly important in Christian life, and a great place to see this truth is the salvation of the woman at the well in Samaria. John 4:19-26 reports:

19. The woman said to Him (that is to Jesus), "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.

20. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."

21. Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.

23. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

24. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

25. The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When He comes, He will tell us all things."

26. Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He."

*William MacDonald explained that "Jesus announced to the woman that from now on worship of the Father would be in spirit and truth. The Jewish people had reduced worship to outward forms and ceremonies. They thought that by religiously adhering to the letter of the law, and going through certain rituals, they were worshiping the Father. But theirs was not a worship of the spirit. It was outward, not inward. Their bodies might be bowed down on the ground but their hearts were not right before God. Perhaps they were oppressing the poor, or using deceitful business methods.

*The Samaritans, on the other hand, had a form of worship, but it was false. It had no Scriptural authority. They had started their own religion and were carrying out ordinances of their own invention. Thus, when the Lord said that worship must be in spirit and truth, He was rebuking both Jews and Samaritans.