The psalmist acknowledges the Lord is the “great god” and the “great king” above all other gods. The highest form of worship is to hear and obey his voice. (Ps. 95:6-8)
In the Babylonian religions the god Marduk held kingship over the gods and, like him, Assyria religious hymns of King Assurbanipal declared the god Ashur to be the king of the gods who ruled supreme over the divine councils. Canaanite worshippers declared Baal to be above all, while Egypt worshipped Osiris as the “lord of eternity” and “king of the gods.”
In addition to worshipping the Lord by hearing and obeying his word, the Lord is to be worshipped with singing and shouting, with thanksgiving and with music and song.
The reason for the Lord’s rightful seat at the head of the divine council above all is because:
- The depths of the earth are today held in the Lord’s hand (Ps. 95:4)
- The extremities of the earth’s mountain tops belong to the Lord (Ps. 95:4)
- The sea is the Lord’s because he created it (Ps. 95:5)
- The was formed by the Lord (Ps. 95:5)
The image is that of the Lord coming out of eternity as the originator and the creator of the earth. And, he continues to maintain order in his creation from the roots of the mountains (which are the depths of the sea according to Jonah 2:5-6 and Psalm 104:5) to the highest peaks of those same mountains.
It is this Lord, the Creator and Sustainer from eternity, who is to be praised with thanksgiving, shouts and song. This Great King of all gods is the very Rock and Foundation of the worshipper’s salvation and deliverance. |
