I love these lines from Psalm 95, they even read like poetry in the English! Psalm 95 is a call to worship the God who is the great God, creator of the universe and maker of his people. It's really broken into two parts though, the first is a call to worship the Lord of all the earth – the second (which is where our verses start) is a call to be submissive and obedient to him.
Bowing down and kneeling are signs of submission and obedience. It was done in ancient times where when you came into the presence of royalty. You always had to ensure that they were higher than you – and thus kneeling, bowing down to show reverence for the higher position were common practices. Bowing or kneeling also puts you in a weaker position. In some ways it renders you powerless before the powerful ruler.
Thankfully, between people, this practice is seldom seen today – and rightly so. However I wonder if in losing that practice we have lost something in our relationship with God. How often do we literally go on our knees before him in our quiet times? When last did you literally bow down in reverence? While I don't believe in legalism in these areas, perhaps the simple action of physically kneeling before our King, would remind us powerfully of the true position we hold in relation to him.
Aside from the action though – bowing and kneeling are truly attitudes of the heart. We are incredibly privileged to worship a God whom we can call Father; Jesus who we can call friend and brother and the Spirit who we can call counsellor. Yet we dare not ever forget that he is King of kings and Lord of lords. That he made all that we see with simply a word. That the true power of life and death lie in his hands.
Knowing God as the shepherd continues this same idea though some may not think so. It is a royal image that was used in the time to describe the relation of a king to his kingdom and understand his role of leader, provider and protector.
I pray that as you go into your day, that you assume the position of kneeling within your heart before a God who created you, loves you, redeems you and cares for you. May you know him as your Shepherd King.
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