Psalm 100 – Wonderful Invitations, Glorious affirmations
(by Daniel Chew)
In the hustle and bustle of life, we must remember who our LORD is and the reasons to do so just as the Psalmist did in Psalm 100. There appears to be two movements in this Psalm like in some great symphonies of famous music composers. The first movement gives us three exhortations followed by the reasons to do so.
In the first movement, we are exhorted to shout for joy to the LORD, and at the same time to invite the whole earth to proclaim such delight in our LORD. We are invited to worship the LORD, and in the King James Version, we are also exhorted to serve the LORD. Someone has said that “Every act of worship is an act of service, and every act of service done for the Lord is an act of worship.” Then, we are to come before the LORD with joyful songs, and we can sing before Him melodious songs of joy, praise and worship.
The Psalmist gives us the reasons to do these things because we know Him as our God – the God who made us, and we are His, His people, and the sheep of His pasture. We belong to Him and are within His embrace. What a wonderful affirmation that results from complete devotion to God and worship of Him.
The second movement in the Psalm follows the same pattern. We receive another invitation, and it is to enter His gates with thanksgiving. What boldness and confidence to come into His presence. We are able to enter His courts with praise. Gentiles and Jews, God’s chosen people, can congregate in the LORD’s courts. The invitation is also to give thanks and praise His Name. What a privilege afforded us!
How is this possible? It’s because the LORD is good. It sounds so basic, but yet we know it as a most profound character attribute of our God. We enter into His presence as His love endures forever. It is the steadfast love of the covenant-keeping God. A love that is resolute, never-failing, and never-ending. Furthermore, our rationale for praise is rooted in God’s faithfulness. God is always faithful and His covenantal promises are extended beyond Israel to all nations. We too will see, know, and experience the unshakable and absolute commitment of the LORD to His people which continues through all generations.
Let’s Read Psalm 100
A psalm. For giving grateful praise.
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before Him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise His name.
5 For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.
Let’s Pray
Our Heavenly Father, we thank and praise You that we have the boldness and confidence to enter Your holy presence by the blood of Jesus. It’s a new and living way opened for us through the curtain in the substitutionary death of Jesus on the Cross. We can therefore worship You as your community of the redeemed. We indeed thank You for the call and invitation to join in the praise of our Shepherd King.
Make our praise always exuberant, joyful, vibrant, colourful, and endeavouring to capture the foretaste of heavenly praise as in Psalm 100.
May our lives be a continual act of worship to our King and to direct such shouts and proclamation of praise to You who reigns over all the universe. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
This devotional was kindly contributed by Dr. Chow Li Sze and her channel Heavenly Devotion. You may find the channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/HeavenlyDevotion/videos
About the Heavenly Devotion channel
The Heavenly Devotion channel is dedicated to encouraging you to listen to Bible Scriptures and pray with the Scriptures. They are inspired by the call of service as expressed and exemplified by Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:12-15.
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrew 4:12 NKJV)
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