Psalm 100 is the last of the “Royal Psalms” — 93, 95, 96, 97, 98, and 99, proclaiming God’s reign over the earth. It calls for everyone, of all ages, to praise the lord and shout with joy! It’s short, but it packs a punch. It vocalizes living in an attitude of gratitude. Let’s dig in…
Psalm 100
1 Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Psalm 100 NLT
2 Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
Shout with Joy! Rejoice!
Over and over again we read in the Scriptures the call to rejoice — to shout with joy! That’s hard when we are suffering, when times are tough, when crazy things are happening that we have no control over. Let’s take a look at some of these joyful Bible verses…
Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.
Paul, Philippians 3:1 NLT
Paul also wrote…
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Romans 5:3-5 NLT
This one helped me get through 2 years of unemployment! Undoubtedly, it’s good to memorize these verses to have them handy when life doesn’t go the we hope or plan. Write them down on Post-It notes or cards and keep them around your home.
James, Jesus’ half-brother wrote…
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
James 1:2-4 NLT
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Paul, Philippians 4:4-5 NLT
Soon? How Soon?
Jesus IS coming back. Paul wrote this around 65 AD from prison in Rome. Yes, he was telling us to be joyful even as he was sitting in chains. The word “soon” here doesn’t mean in a few ___ (hours, days, or years). It means imminent. It IS going to happen at some time in the future. That’s why we must be READY! Are you ready?
Continunig with the Psalm…
God created us humans in HIs image. As David wrote…
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
Psalm 139:13-16 NLT
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
We ARE His creation, His people, His sheep.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
Isaiah 53:6 NLT
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all.
This is why we need the Good Shepherd. Have you strayed from the Good Shepherd?
Living in an Attitude of Gratitude
We can shout with joy each morning because He’s given us another day to live. Be grateful for everything that you have because He has allowed you to have them. He gave you the skills, knowledge, talents, and opportunities to earn a living. Everything you have, you have because He allowed it!
The Psalm begins calling for all the people of the earth to shout with joy. It concluded reminding us that His faithfulness continues through all generations.
The Goodness of God
Here is an incredible story of faith and how people whose homes were destroyed by Hurricane Beryl can sing about the His Goodness. Following, I’ve embedded a praise song.