God Promises You Are Under His care

Psalms 95:6-7 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; 7 for he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.
 
HAVE you ever wondered, “Why do we sing in church?” It is so common to every church service in every denomination that the answer may simply be, “That’s what we do.” This psalm is a good answer to the question.
   The psalmist says we sing because it is an intimate way to express our heart’s love for God. God has given us music, poetry and singing to help us remember his great love for us, and he is rich in mercy (from Ephesians 2:4). He has chosen us to be his own under his care even though we are completely unqualified for his gift.
   Think of it. To be under God’s care should evoke a wondrous love in our hearts for the One who is love. He cares for us. This should cause us to shout with joy and sing to God as we celebrate the joy of our salvation. And that is what the psalmist urges us to do.
   He exhorts us to sing, and he tells us how to sing: v 1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud … v 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. To come before God means to meet with God face-to-face. This is mankind’s desire since sin turned our face from God in Eden. What better reason to sing than to know we can spiritually stand before God’s face? He sees us and acknowledges us as his children. We see him as our Father. With joy, we will praise him when we remember he has so deeply considered us to form a place where we are under his care. Sing with loud joy and thanksgiving because you are his own! The many songs and hymns of praise, worship, contrition and thanksgiving should draw your heart into the shelter of God’s gathering wings. You realize the God of the universe has you under his care because he, the sovereign LORD has chosen you when you were dead in your transgressions (Ephesians 2:1). Under his care you are a benefactor of his eternal love and mercy.
   How valued you feel when you realize v 3 the LORD is the great God. He is omniscient and omnipotent, v 4 in his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. Savor the truth that you, too, are in his hand. God’s hand is the power and the tenderness to shape the universe, guide nature’s course and hold you close.
   Today we know even more personally than the psalmist that we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has come to reveal the Father’s love. The Spirit has come to reveal the Savior. We have the means to understand that we are under his care for eternal life.   
   In this song of praise, the psalmist ends with a warning. He urged the Jews then, and the Spirit urges us now to remain faithful. The Jews’ hard hearts separated them from God’s loving care. A generation died in the wilderness because they failed to worship God.
   Worship the LORD with your heart, mind and soul – and your singing voice. The LORD hears you in perfect pitch when you sing with a heart lovingly devoted to him.