Psalm 95

by Kayla Antoni, 11th Grade

O Lord of Divine Majesty, You are the sustainer of the cosmos. We eternally express our admiration to You, for You are magnificent and exquisite in Your love. Every good and perfect gift is from You who does not change like shifting shadows. (1) Bestow humble hearts upon us, O Lord, that we may come properly into Your presence with shouts of thanksgiving. We will extol Your name forever with music and song. (2) We declare that the depths of the earth, and the crests of the mountains, all lie in Your righteous and omnipotent hand. (3)

Give us ears to hear Your voice, that we may never be people who go astray from You. (4) Direct us away from our worry and doubt, for worry is only a result of imagining a future without You in it. Though we are tossed by restless passions, we are redeemed by You at countless cost. (5) We pray that our hearts would not be hardened against You, for those who refuse You shall not enter Your rest. (6) We ask that You lead us out of our restlessness, and fill our hearts with stillness and peace. Grant us to have souls of submission towards You. We are the people of Your pasture, and the flock under Your care. (7)

We pray that we would not only be observers of Your work, but proclaimers of Your splendor and truth. Let repentance and forgiveness of sins be preached in Your name to all nations. (8) Oh righteous Lord, help us not to be cowards that fear speaking on Your behalf, for “cowards die many times before their deaths, but the valiant never taste of death but once.” (9) When our last fleeting breath is finally depleted, do not let us fear death, O Lord. Help us to remember that You are awaiting us with a peace that surpasses all understanding. We pray all this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

1 Allusion to James 1:17
2 Allusion to Psalm 95:2
3 Allusion to Psalm 95:4
4 Allusion to Psalm 95:10
5 Allusion to the hymn: “Christ for the World We Sing”
6 Allusion to Psalm 95:8,11
7 Allusion to Psalm 95:7
8 Allusion to Luke 24:47
9 Quote from William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar