Recently I have been reading from the English Standard Version, a change from the NIV that I have used for study and devotion for the past 30 years. The new wording gives me a fresh perspective on familiar passages.
But one thing I noticed in both versions of the Bible is that Psalm 100 has the subtitle "A Psalm for Giving Thanks". The purpose of the psalmist was specifically to use for offering a tribute of thankfulness to the Lord. Just what I've been focused on these past days before our Canadian statutory holiday! So let's unpack Psalm 100...
"Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!"
Coming before God in worship is to be a joyful experience! Be noisy! Be exuberant! The invitation is to "all the earth". The Lord is to be worshiped by all His creation.
"Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing!"
Coming before God in worship is an act of serving. I always thought of service as "work", doing something practical or profitable somehow. But we are serving, obeying, being purposeful in spending time in worship of the Most High.
What is our attitude to be? "..with gladness and singing!" It seems this psalmist was setting forth a spirit of excitement not a spirit of dread or solemn duty.
"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."
Coming before God in worship is all about relationship. He is God. No mistaking who our Father and Maker and Lord is! And we are in relationship by virtue of our adoption into His family through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. We belong. His love and care extends to us as sheep in His safe pasture. We are worshiping Someone we know and are getting to know more and more.
"Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise!"
We lose the powerful image of the worshipers entering the Temple in Jerusalem as we cruise up to our churches in our vehicles and rush in. Those who came into the courts of God did enter literal gates on foot and as the crowds of people arrived, a growing buzz must have grown in anticipation. I'm sure they must have had their challenges and obstacles to worship; I don't want to idealize the Old Testament worship experience...but I want to stand where the psalmist stood to picture the people of God coming to offer God praise. They were able to take time to prepare and to greet one another and let the joy and gladness stir up among each other.
"Give thanks to Him; bless His name!"
Here is the climax of the psalm-the verse where the readers can "give thanks" to the Lord and offer their sacrifice of praise. We are not told to count our blessings or itemize the things God has done. This isn't just a mental exercise. We are exhorted to give Him thanks and bless His name. From our hearts in response to Him.
"For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations."
Why give thanks then? Because He is good. His love is steadfast. He is faithful to all generations. He is awesome and wonderful and deserves our hearts' expressions of gratitude just because of who He is!
Day 5-What has this psalm for giving thanks taught you about thanksgiving?
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