Psalm 95, 97, 98, and 99

• Click here to read
• Click here to listen
• Sorry I am late, I was up late! (my son graduated 8th grade and he had a party so I was a helicopter mom!)

These are called Enthronement Psalms or Royal Psalms.  Most of you cling to the Psalms that Praise and Celebrate God so you will love these.  Even in a “lament” Psalm, you guys (“ya’ll” if you grew up in the South) will read a long Psalm and find that ONE verse that Praises the Lord.  Well, you are in for a wonderful read.

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Psalm 95:  I picture a church worship leader feeling the Spirit on his church so powerfully that he grabs the microphone and says with his eyes closed because it is not about himself, but his God

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
    and extol him with music and song….

And then the congregation in unison would Praise God.  Now picture God looking down on it.  Whoever the Psalmist was who wrote this did the same thing, he called the Israelites to sing his praises.

There is a clear shift at the end of verse 7.  This psalm is a reminder that praise needs to connect with trust and
obedience.  What were Meribah and Massah?  In a word: Ingratitude!   Complaining about your blessings!  I could screenshot you a text I sent to my closest friend that I was on a rant about just this week about “my messy house”, “my busy schedule”, “my weight gain” “how busy work is”.  From God’s viewpoint: Szymanski’s burdens are: her beautiful house, her healthy busy family, the abundance of food, and her amazing job”.

This is a wonderful Psalm and reminder!

Click here to read Exodus 17if you need a recap

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Psalm 97-  As you can imagine after reading this I am ready to set up a Zoom with you and read Revelation!  Don’t dare me…I will!!   So I want you to find a  place and actually sing this.  In your house, at work, go outside for a walk  (and when it goes acapella you better be loud!)

CLICK HERE

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Psalm 98– You know when you read something and you know it is NOT a coincidence!  Last night about 11:30  I started researching “leveling the playing field” for work.  I got STUCK on the word Equity.  In other words Equality verse Equity.

And then Psalm 98 ends with-

He will judge the world in righteousness
    and the peoples with equity.

Shut up!  These are the moments I have to say “Are you talking to me” (Yes,  I said that in my Robert De Niro Italian voice”.

Look for your one Word from God sometimes.

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Psalm 99-

STOP!  So when I write a post in the Psalms I read only one.  I write one.  I read the next one….So can you picture me writing the above, reopening my BIble and THEN reading –

The King is mighty, he loves justice—
    you have established equity;

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Back to Psalm 99.-This may be called the Sanctus, or ‘the Holy, Holy, Holy Psalm,’ for the word ‘holy’ is the conclusion and the refrain of its three main divisions.   God extends Mercy without ever compromising His Holiness.  How?  By answering our prayers and forgiving us.  Think about that.  Our Prayers are undeserved!