Psalm 100
The psalms are very personal, written after deep life experiences. We can relate to them. They are reassuring, soothing. Psalm 100 is one of the most uplifting psalms. It is a transforming psalm, all about worship. The world sees worship as boring, for ageing members, with long sermons, which are far-removed from their lives. That is how it is perceived by many. Yet, in this Psalm we see true worship is exhilarating. We look for something greater than ourselves to stand in awe of. We were made to stand in awe of something greater than ourselves – God. We were made by God for God. We are to be enraptured with God. There is none like him. We should be taken up altogether with him. God has made us for something greater than this life – Himself. God is greatly to be praised. We come to worship expecting something new, fresh, heavenly and glorious – God!
It is a misconception that worship is confined to a particular day: open doors, close doors, that’s worship. Yet, when we turn to a psalm like this and find worship is the believers’ life. We do all to the glory of God. Live in the spirit of worship.
We are to be joyful in God (verses 1-2),
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
(verse 1-2). There is a note of gladness enjoy in God, all that He is and opened up to us in Christ. Gospel is a calling out of ourselves into Christ. The Philippians were repeatedly told to rejoice in the Lord. We are to be a joyful people. Pull writes quite personally; he renounced everything and rejoices in Christ Jesus, his Lord. Joy is a great characteristic of the believer in God. He is a God who has created beauty, the senses. He has made us for joy with him. He is a God who would have us rejoicing in him. Here we read of a joyful shout to the Lord. It’s an affirmation of joy that silence is every other voice of guilt and shame (Habakkuk 3). Here is a voice of affirmation that rises above other voices. Look up and see who God is. In trust all to him.
There is also a joyful service of the believer. Paul writes, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1). His mercies towards us make us glad to serve Him. It is a matter of delight and joy. God has taken us to Himself, we live to please Him. When we serve the Lord gladly, we do all unto him.
In verse 2 we see a joyful song; we are to come with singing.
God rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).
In verse 3 we read,
“Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
We are to be mindful of God. Yes, we are to be joyful in God, but there are certain things we ought to know about God. Get to know God better. We need a good dose of theology. There is none like Him, who is all-powerful. He is our maker. How we think determines how we feel (Philippians).
The most important thing about you is how you see God and relate to Him. We see here we have come from God, he has created us. We are a divine heir. This is where our beginning lies. We are designed, made by Him. He stamps individuality on everything he has made. God has not made you to be a cheap copy of someone else. You are uniquely made and fashioned by God. Do not compare yourself to others.
God made you to be you and providentially placed you where you are. He cares for us. We are the sheep of His pasture. He is our Good Shepherd, watching over us. We ought to be joyful and mindful. He will keep us. The older you get in life the more you marvel at the ways God has kept you. We ought to be thankful to God – that is how the Psalm ends.
In Thessalonians we read, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Be appreciative through all things. See the hand of God in everything.
Matthew Henry was once robbed by a highway man. When he got home he thanked God it was the first time he had been robbed. Although everything had been taken, it was not much. He thanked God that he had been robbed and he was not the one who had been doing the robbing. He thanked God the highwayman took his purse and not his life. Be thankful! Be joyful each day in God, ever mindful of who and all He is. Be thankful to God in all that happens.
Penuel Baptist Chapel, Roch 