The One Hundredth Psalm

There are 150 psalms. Some, like the 117th psalm, are very short. Others, like the 119th psalm, are very long. Two thirds of the way through is, of course, Psalm 100, a psalm of praise unto God. This short, five verse psalm instructs us in how to praise God and in why we should offer praises and thanksgiving to the Lord. It is worth our while to keep these things in mind as go throughout our lives, as we are to be always thankful to God for all that He has done (Colossians 3:17 I, Thessalonians 5:18).

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Psalm 100:1 (KJV)

The psalm begins with instructions to all the lands (that is, all the earth). The instruction is simple: to shout joyfully to God. Have you ever been so happy, so full of rejoicing that you can not contain it, but have to loudly tell others? That is the sort of joy we should all have in the Lord. The latter part of this psalm gives us the reasons as to why we should be so joyful.

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Psalm 100:2 (KJV)

Two things are mentioned in this verse. The first is serving the Lord. Often when we serve someone, it is done grudgingly. Here, we are told that we should be glad to serve the Lord. Serving God is something that we should each want to do, and is something that we should each be excited to do. The second part of this verse tells us to come before Him with singing. To come before the Lord is to follow Him dutifully, being upright in His sight and so not separated from Him by sin. The singing in this verse most likely represents the idea, once again, of joy and gladness. Instead of wishing we could partake of sinful activities and thoughts, we should glad that we can have our sins forgiven, and so approach God. Also, as many of the psalms, some songs may be a form of prayer, and in this way (prayer) we approach God and speak to Him.

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 100:3 (KJV)

First, this verse instructs us to know that the Lord is God. This is not simply an intellectual piece of information we are to store, but rather a fact that we are to base our lives, beliefs, and actions on. This is confirmed by the fact that God made us, we did not make ourselves. We belong to God, and are compared to sheep in this passage. That is, we follow the Lord, remain close to the Lord, and are protected and nurtured by the Lord.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Psalm 100:4 (KJV)

Again, we are instructed to draw close to God with thanksgiving. In this verse it is described as entering the gates and court of a building. It is not only when we are obviously and clearly presented with blessings from God that we are to praise Him and thank Him, but we should go to Him in praise. The impetus is on us to go to Him. We are told to be be thankful to Him in addition to praising Him. Praise and thanksgiving are very closely related. Praise to God will note the awe that is felt when His righteousness and works are seen. Thanksgiving to God is recognizing that all such things come from God, and being glad that the Lord has seen fit to bless us.

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 100:5 (KJV)

Here, in the last verse of the psalm, three reasons are given for offering the Lord praise and thanks. The first is that the Lord is good. While we might describe men and women as good, none can approach the perfect righteousness of God. To say that the Lord is good seems almost an understatement. It is a comfort to have a God that is good, and not one that is evil or twisted, is it not? The second reason is that the Lord's mercy (sometimes translated as love or lovingkindness) is everlasting. The clearest example of this love is, of course, our salvation. When we reach the end of our life, if we have diligently followed the Lord to the end, we are promised eternal life. And the third reason is that His truth endures. There has never been, and will never be, a time when the truth of God, contained in His holy word, the Bible, will not be true. It is perfect and absolute, and as such can be depended on. God will not suddenly change His mind and abandon the plans He has put in place.

How often do we offer God praise and thanksgiving? Once or twice a week? Once or twice a day? Once or twice an hour? No matter how often you may offer such to the Lord, He is owed more. Because of Him, we are. Because of Him, we can have hope. Because of Him, there are so many blessings to be thankful for. Let us all strive to draw close to God, to offer Him praise, and to thank Him for what He has so freely given to us.