(29) The Heart of Worship is Satisfied

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD,

Let us shout joyfully

to the rock of our salvation.

Based on the context of Psalm 95 (v. 8) we must conclude that the psalmist’s reference to the “rock of our salvation” looks back to the rock that gushed water to provide for the people of Israel in the wilderness. You remember when Israel came out of Egypt they crossed the Red Sea and then traveled for about 40 miles without any water source. They complained to God and He provided water from a rock. Israel failed to be content in how God led and provided. It seemed as though they were never satisfied. Here in Psalm 95, the psalmist is reminding the people of Israel of this event and is calling on them to worship God as the one who provides for them – the God who delivers, and to be content in Him.

For us, worshiping God as the rock of our salvation signifies worshiping Him as our provider. There are two attitudes that are at the core of this characteristic of the heart of worship. First, there is confidence in God as our provider. Second, there is contentment in the provision. And the two work together, hand in glove.

The heart of worship is confident that God will provide all that is needed because this is what He has promised. But in that statement there is a bit of a rub for each of us. God has promised what we need and so, coupled with confidence must be contentment.

What does it take for me to be content? It takes a reorientation of affections and values. If my heart is set on earthly things, I will have a difficult time being content. I will always want more, better, newer. But, if my heart is set on God, if I value Him above all else or rather, at the exclusion of all else, I will be content with whatever my earthly status. When I value God and His glory above all else, all else will be meaningless. I will have my treasure in Him and I will be content.

The heart of worship is content in wealth or poverty, satisfied simply in the shear pleasure of personal relationship with God! The heart of worship leads to a person who is content to have Christ and nothing else!

Whom have I in heaven but you?

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

(Psalm 73:25 ESV)

So, what does it say about me if I am not content? It tells me I don’t have a heart that is satisfied in God and God alone. It tells me I need to reorient my heart to break free from the fleeting, decaying, empty and counterfeit treasures this world offers and set my heart on the greatest treasure in all the universe, the God of the universe! The heart of worship is satisfied because it has what it treasures most.

He who delights in the possession of the Lord Jesus

has all that heart can wish.

(Charles Spurgeon)

Soli Deo Gloria

Next:  The Heart of Worship is Purposeful