John Calvin Commentary Psalms 95:1

"Oh come, let us sing unto Jehovah; Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation." — Psalms 95:1 (ASV)

Come, let us rejoice before Jehovah. This psalm is suited for the Sabbath, when we know that religious assemblies were especially convened for the worship of God. He does not exhort individuals among the godly to celebrate divine praises in private; he enjoins these to be offered up in the public meeting.

By this, he showed that the outward worship of God primarily consisted in the sacrifice of praise, and not in dead ceremonies. He urges haste upon them, so that they might show their eagerness in this service. For the Hebrew word קדם, kadam, in the second verse, which I have rendered, let us come before, etc., means to make haste.

He calls upon them to speed into the presence of God; and such an admonition was needed, considering how naturally reluctant we are when called by God to the practice of thanksgiving. The Psalmist found it necessary to bring this indirect charge of laziness in this duty against God’s ancient people; and we should realize that there is just as much need for a stimulus in our own case, since our hearts are filled with similar ingratitude.

In calling them to come before God’s face, he uses language that was also well suited to increase the fervor of the worshippers; nothing being more pleasing than to offer in God’s own presence such a sacrifice as he declares he will accept. He, in effect, says this to prevent them from supposing the service was vain: that God was present to witness it. I have shown elsewhere in what sense God was present in the sanctuary.