Unknown
Psalm 100
A Psalm of praise.
Scripture (KJV)
1Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Summary
Psalm 100 is the only psalm explicitly titled "A Psalm of praise," and it functions as a universal call to worship. In just five verses it summons all the earth to joyful noise, glad service, and singing. It grounds worship in theology: the Lord is God, He made us (not we ourselves), and we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Worship is therefore both joyful and humble—we enter His gates with thanksgiving because we belong to Him.
The closing verse gives three reasons praise never ends: the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. The major themes are praise, thanksgiving, joy, God’s goodness, and enduring mercy. Practically, the psalm is a short liturgy anyone can pray: come with singing, know you are His, enter with thanks, and bless His name. The great lesson is that worship is the fitting response of creatures who belong to a good and faithful God.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 100
Lord God, I make a joyful noise to You, the Maker of all. I serve You with gladness and come before You with singing. You are God; it is You who made me, and I am not my own. I am Your person and the sheep of Your pasture. I enter Your gates with thanksgiving and Your courts with praise; I bless Your name. Thank You that You are good, that Your mercy is everlasting, and that Your truth endures to all generations. Let my whole life be a joyful noise, and keep me grazing in Your pasture all my days. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1How can I "serve the Lord with gladness" in my daily work?
- 2What does it mean that I am "the sheep of His pasture"?
- 3Which of God’s three attributes in verse 5 most moves me to praise?
- 4How can I enter this day with thanksgiving?
Related Psalms
Psalm 23
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
The beloved shepherd psalm: provision, guidance, comfort, and eternal dwelling.
Read morePsalm 95
“O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.”
A call to worship and a warning not to harden the heart at Massah.
Read morePsalm 96
“O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.”
A missionary hymn calling all nations to ascribe glory to the Lord as King.
Read morePsalm 98
“O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.”
A new song for God’s victory; all creation joins the praise.
Read morePsalm 150
“Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.”
Psalm 150 is the thunderous doxology that closes the Psalter.
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