Gratitude

Psalm 100 ESV

A Psalm for giving thanks. 1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 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. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

The Psalm gives us 5 imperatives or directives in the first 4 verses:

Come Before the Lord With Victory Cry.

I love the literal translation of this verse found in the Tanakh:

Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures (1985) Psalm 100

Raise a shout for the LORD, all the earth;

The reason I appreciate this translation of the Hebrew text is the literalness of the translation.

Likewise this is the same way that a literal translation of Psalm 98:4 would be rendered.

The Hebrew here (hariya) means to raise a war-cry—or shout.

Many English translations say “make a joyful noise”, but the Word seems to be more like a victory cry.

There is joy, but in a different way than a casual reading may bring out. The Psalmist is telling us that we should raise a shout as one who goes into battle with the certainty of victory.

We might think of a team shouting their battle cry (Gig’em, Hook’em Horns, or like we might shout in the Carolina’s “Spurs Up”)

Or maybe a nation’s Army proclaiming a battle cry...

But in this case it is not a possible or probable victory…This is the Crying Out knowing that the victory has already been won.

The second directive:

Work With Joy.

Psalm 100:2 (ESV)

2 “Serve the Lord with gladness...”

The English says serve, but the most common use of the Hebrew word here is work...

We are given the directive to raise the battle cry of victory and to work in gladness.

This is a portion of our public worship.

We are to, as an outflow of our joy, serve/work with a glad/joyous heart.

We do not come before the Lord as though we have lost, but in the knowledge of the victory of Adonai.

The name for God given here is the Covenant name of God, but the Jewish reader would have used the word “Lord” or “Adonai” rather than saying the Holy name of God.

We who have gone through the day of sadness, shall enjoy together that day of gladness.

We serve with joy as an outflow....

Our Third directive:

Bring on the Exaltation!

Psalm 100:2 (ESV)

2 “...Come into his presence with singing!”

A literal translation says bring the rejoicing or exalting before His (meaning the Lord’s) face.

So the directive is to come before Him in public/private worship with a heart that exalts Him.

Those who of tasted and see his grace and walk in & with gladness of heart.

Psalm 34:8 ESV

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Our Fourth directive:

Be Certain of Who He Is!

Psalm 100:3 (ESV)

3 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.

The Hebrew here conveys He is more than just any old god, but the LORD is God.

The text goes from the covenant name of God to the generic of word used to display that there is no other God.

He made us

We belong to Him

We are those whom He tends to.

The shepherd leads the sheep to pasture, but this phrase pictures the joy of the sheep in the pasture provided by the shepherd.

Archibald Thomas Robertson

Our Fifth Directive is:

Enter His Place In Gratitude!

Psalm 100:4 ESV

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Christian doctrine is grace, and Christian conduct is gratitude.

J. I. Packer

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Why?

Psalm 100:5 ESV

5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

He is Good

His love remains

He is faithful

There is none like Him.

Walking Away, But In...

Acknowledge Him

Trust Him

Thank Him