Psalm 95:9
ESV
when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
NIV
where your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did.
NASB
'When your fathers put Me to the test, They tested Me, though they had seen My work.
CSB
where your fathers tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did.
NLT
For there your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw everything I did.
KJV
When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.
NKJV
When your fathers tested Me; They tried Me, though they saw My work.
What does Psalm 95:9 mean?
After leaving Egypt, God miraculously provided Israel with water (Exodus 15:22–26) and food (Exodus 16:2–3, 12–14). And yet, at Rephidim, they complained that they would die of thirst. God provided them with water then but was angered at their lack of faith (Exodus 17:1–7). This hard-hearted refusal to trust the Lord "tested" Him much as a disobedient child causes stress for a parent. It also hinted at an attitude which assumed that by complaining, the people could force God to intervene. When the Devil tempted Jesus to "test" God, Jesus refused and instead cited Scripture (Matthew 4:5–7; Deuteronomy 6:16).The people were obstinate once again when they refused to begin taking the Promised Land (Numbers 14:1–4). So, the Lord kept an entire generation from taking their "rest" in Canaan. Instead, they spent forty years in the wilderness (Psalm 95:10) until their children were ready to obey the Lord (Numbers 14:28–32). In Hebrews, the writer points to these incidents to warn Christian believers (Hebrews 3:7–11, 15; 4:3–7). Rather than fearful or stubborn disobedience, we should trust the Lord and follow His will.
Psalm 95:8–11 refers to the incident recorded in Exodus 17, and potentially a similar incident in Numbers 20. Despite all the Lord had done for Israel, the people "tested" Him with doubt. A similar obstinate lack of trust arose when the nation was supposed to take the Promised Land (Numbers 13—14). For this, God denied His "rest" to an entire generation of Israelites. The book of Hebrews (Hebrews 3:7–11, 15, 4:3–7) applies this idea to show that even saved believers can experience a loss of divine fellowship and blessing when we doubt and resist God's Word.
The psalm begins with a call to worship, gratitude, and celebration of the Lord. God is great and a great King above all gods. He rules over the oceans and lands, which He created. The psalmist then turns to a warning about a time when Israel resisted the Lord's leadership. That entire generation was denied God's "rest," including being barred from entering the Promised Land.
