Psalm 95:7, 8 - When You Hear His Voice Do Not Harden Your Heart!
Psalm 95:7, 8 - When You Hear His Voice Do Not Harden Your Heart!
Psalm 95:7-8 (NKJV) ...Today, if you will hear His voice: Do not
harden your hearts, as in the rebellion...
Psalm 95:7, 8 (NCV) ...Today listen to what he says: Do not be
stubborn, as your ancestors...
CONTEXT
Psalm 95 to 100 constitute a group of psalms, in the nature of a
"festal anthem," intended for thanksgiving in public worship. As such,
the group exhibits a sort of pendulum structure, the content
swinging between praise to Jehovah and reasons for that praise. The first
psalm of the group, Ps. 95, sometimes called The Invitatory Psalm,
because of its traditional use in the Christian church as a fervent
invitation to praise, has two distinct parts: an invitation to worship (vv.
1-7a) and a warning against unbelief and disobedience (vv. 7b-11).
[SDA Bible Commentary]
Psalm 95: A Call to Worship and Obedience.
God Is Great (1-7a)! This is a call to jubilant worship, not
just participation in services as usual. He invites us to "shout
joyfully" and to "kneel before the Lord." Why? Because God is great! He is
a great Creator and a great King, and we are privileged to be His
people.
God Is Grieved (7b-11). The opposite of a worshiping heart
that pleases the Lord is a hard heart that grieves the Lord. Imagine
seeing God's wonders and not submitting gladly to Him! The unbelieving
Jews paid a high price for their sin: they died in the wilderness and
never entered the Promised Land (Heb.3-4).
Do you want to enjoy your life of faith? Then take time to
see the greatness of God and to praise Him. Do you want to inherit
all that God has planned for you in this life? Then give yourself to
worship and praise. A hard heart leads to a hard life, so keep your
heart tender before God. [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by
Warren Wiersbe]
WORD STUDY
To day. The phrase suggests that it is high time for a momentous
decision. God's commands and invitations should be obeyed and accepted at
once. As often as the Christian repeats this psalm, he should realize
anew the force of the emphatic "to day". As often as he proves
faithless to God, he should hear anew the gracious "to day," promising him
forgiveness and restoration. [SDA Bible Commentary]
Hardening One's Heart is one of the worst choices.one can make,
because a person is convinced about truth by the Holy Spirit but does
not want to surrender and follow God's voice (see Ex. 7:13-14, 22
[Pharaoh's hardening]; 17:1-7 [the incident at Rephidim]; Num. 20:1-13 [one
of the wilderness experiences]). Such an attitude grieves God
because in this case He cannot help. He respects our choice and
decision. [Andrews SB]
COMMENTARY APPLICATION
A hardened heart is as useless as a hardened lump of clay or a
hardened loaf of bread. Nothing can restore it and make it useful. The
psalmist warns against hardening our hearts as Israel did in the desert
by continuing to resist God's will (Exodus 17:7). They were so
convinced that God couldn't deliver them that they simply lost their faith
in him. When someone's heart becomes hardened, that person is so
stubbornly set in his ways that he or she cannot turn to God. This does not
happen all at once; it is the result of a series of choices to
disregard God's will. If you resist God long enough, God may toss you
aside like hardened bread, useless and worthless. [Life Application
SB]
The writer of Hebrews returns to this psalm two times, quoting
or alluding to it in 3:7-11, 15, and 4:3, 5-11. The psalm recalls
Israel's refusal during the Exodus to obey God and enter the Promised
Land. That failure to obey led to 40 years of wandering in a
wilderness until an entire generation died. This psalm celebrates God as
the great King. We acknowledge His Lordship by responding when we
hear His voice. Only by showing respect to God as King and Lord, and
obeying His voice, can we find rest. [The 365-Day Devotional
Commentary]
The writer of Hebrews quotes this verse three times in one short
section of his letter (Heb. 3:7, 8, 15; 4:7) to encourage his readers to
listen carefully to God and to demonstrate their faith by obeying Him.
[Life Principles SB By Charles Stanley]
Christ is ready to set us free from sin, but He does not force
the will; and if by persistent transgression the will itself is
wholly bent on evil, and we do not desire to be set free, if we will
not accept His grace, what more can He do? We have destroyed
ourselves by our determined rejection of His love. "Behold, now is the
accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." "Today if ye will
hear His voice, harden not your hearts." 2 Corinthians 6:2; Hebrews
3:7, 8. {SC 34}
CROSS REFERENCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
Hebrews 3:7, 8 (KJV) Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day
if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the
provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Hebrews 3:15 (KJV) While it is said, To day if ye will hear his
voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Hebrews 4:7 (KJV) Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in
David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will
hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV) For He says: "In an acceptable time I
have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you."
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
A Better Way to Live: http://www.itiswritten.com/betterway/
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Grace Notes: http://www.e-gracenotes.org/index.php
Excellent Spiritual Resource Site:
http://www.christianlifemediacenter.com/
More Spiritual Resources: http://www.aBible.com
