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A psalm of thanksgiving.
1Everyone on earth shout for joy to the Lord!
2Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with joyful songs!
3Know that the Lord is God! He made us, so we belong to him.a We are his people, the flock he cares for.
4Go in through his gate with thanks; enter his courts with praise. Thank him; praise him for who he is.
5For the Lord is good. His trustworthy love lasts forever; his faithfulness continues for all generations.
Footnotes:
3 a“So we belong to him”: alternatively, “we did not make ourselves.”
The Burdens of Ravenhill - Part 3 (Compilation)
By Leonard Ravenhill19K20:14CompilationPSA 100:4MAT 6:6LUK 18:1ACT 2:42ACT 2:46ROM 8:261TH 5:17In this sermon transcript, the speaker, Brother Ravenhill, engages in a conversation with a man named Brother Singh about the procedure in his church service. Brother Singh describes a unique and intense worship experience where the first three hours are dedicated to praise, worship, and adoration, followed by three hours of prayer and intercession, and then three hours of breaking bread and sharing testimonies. He mentions that sometimes the meetings can last for 11 to 14 hours, as they allow the Holy Spirit to move and direct the gathering. Brother Ravenhill expresses his longing for a sovereign move of the Holy Spirit in the church today and highlights the importance of spending more time in prayer.
My Jesus, I Love Thee (Brookyln Tabernacle Service)
By Jim Cymbala4.7K02:38HymnWorshipLove for JesusPSA 100:2JHN 14:15ROM 12:1EPH 5:191JN 4:19Jim Cymbala emphasizes the deep love and devotion we should have for Jesus, encouraging believers to express their affection through worship and song. He reflects on the grace of God and the importance of recognizing Jesus' sacrifice and love in our lives. Cymbala calls the congregation to respond to this love with heartfelt praise and commitment, reminding them that true worship flows from a genuine relationship with Christ.
How You Can Walk in the Spirit
By Bill Bright4.3K33:26Walk In The SpiritPSA 100:4MAT 6:33ROM 8:28EPH 6:121TH 5:18JAS 2:221JN 4:4In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal experience of saving his son from falling and relates it to how God saves us from spiritual falls. He emphasizes the importance of letting God control our lives and walking with Him daily. The speaker encourages living by faith and trusting in God's faithfulness, sharing a testimony of how God provided a miraculous solution to a problem. He emphasizes that Christianity is about knowing and relying on Jesus Christ, who is all we need, and encourages gratitude in all circumstances, citing the promise in Romans 8:28 and the command in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to give thanks in everything.
Our God Can Fix Anything - Part 1
By David Wilkerson4.2K30:08GEN 18:14PSA 100:4MAT 19:26MRK 9:23LUK 18:272CO 12:9PHP 4:6HEB 11:6JAS 1:6Pastor Wilkerson of Times Square Church welcomes worshippers from various nationalities and encourages them to draw closer to Jesus through worship and preaching. The sermon emphasizes the belief in God's ability to fix any situation, drawing from the story of Abraham and Sarah to illustrate the power of trusting in God's ability to do the impossible.
Garments of Praise
By Ben Crandall4.2K38:40PSA 100:4PSA 148:1PSA 150:1ISA 61:3MAT 17:20HEB 13:15REV 5:13This sermon emphasizes the importance of praising God and being clothed with the 'garments of praise' instead of the 'spirit of heaviness.' It highlights how praise lifts faith, reveals God's truth, and leads to victory over problems. The message encourages continuous praise throughout the day and explores the significance of praising God with all creation, from angels to mountains, as a powerful act of worship and declaration of His greatness.
Habitation!
By Leonard Ravenhill3.2K51:59PSA 96:1PSA 100:4MAT 6:33MAT 17:21JHN 1:1ACT 2:4ACT 3:8ACT 4:18EPH 1:17EPH 3:201TI 2:1JAS 4:10In this sermon, the speaker discusses the structure of a church service and the different elements that make up the first three hours and the second three hours. The first three hours are dedicated to praise, adoration, and thanksgiving, while the second three hours focus on preparation, supplication, and intercession. The speaker emphasizes the importance of each individual's contribution to the service, whether it be through singing a psalm or hymn, sharing a personal experience, or gaining new insights from the Word of God. The sermon also touches on the concept of abiding in Christ and the need for Christians to seek help and support from their Heavenly Father.
The Closet, Our Test of Devotion
By Alan Bartley3.1K1:08:35PSA 100:4MAT 6:6LUK 11:1ROM 8:26EPH 6:12PHP 4:61TH 5:17HEB 4:16JAS 5:161JN 1:9This sermon emphasizes the importance of spending dedicated time in prayer and seeking God's presence in the closet, drawing from the experiences of Wilbur Chapman and insights on the challenges and distractions faced in prayer. It highlights the need for serious, intelligent, obedient, expectant, persistent, and faith-filled prayer, while addressing common hindrances like distractions, sleepiness, interruptions, and condemnation, urging believers to resist the enemy and claim the power of the blood of Jesus.
Whatever Happened to Joy
By David Wilkerson2.8K45:29DEU 28:45NEH 8:10PSA 100:2MAT 6:33GAL 6:9PHP 4:42TI 4:16In this sermon, the speaker discusses the various forms of sadness and tragedy that people experience in life, such as illness, death, and uncertainty. However, the speaker emphasizes that the worst tragedy is when someone grows bitter towards Christ. The sermon then shifts to the story of Ezra and Nehemiah in the Bible, where God sends a spirit of sorrow and repentance to the people of Israel. The people gather together and listen to the book of the law being read, and they are deeply moved and weep when they hear the words. The sermon concludes by highlighting the importance of serving God with joy and gladness, even in the midst of trials, and trusting in Him for true peace and confidence.
God Is Worthy of Worship
By Leonard Ravenhill2.6K1:18:17EXO 15:2PSA 29:2PSA 96:9PSA 100:2PSA 150:6ISA 6:1JHN 4:23HEB 13:15REV 5:1REV 7:9This sermon emphasizes the privilege and importance of worship, focusing on the scene in Revelation 5 where the Lamb is found worthy to open the book and receive worship from all creatures in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. It highlights the need for believers to engage in deep, passionate worship, gazing on the holiness, faithfulness, love, and purity of God, and anticipating the eternal worship in His presence.
Jesus Paid It All
By Keith Daniel2.5K1:26:58Cross of Christ1CH 16:232CH 7:14PSA 100:4MAT 6:33ACT 4:12ROM 12:1EPH 5:19COL 3:16In this video, the speaker expresses gratitude for the pastor and his family for their support during a tour of meetings in different states. The speaker also thanks various individuals for their contributions, such as the music director, the orchestra, and a person named Bob who provided transportation. The speaker emphasizes the importance of preserving traditional hymns and warns against incorporating worldly music into worship. Additionally, the speaker mentions a historical tour they took and expresses appreciation for the meals provided by the pastor and his family.
The Full Resurrection Power of Christ
By Keith Daniel2.4K1:07:52Resurrection PowerGratitudeResurrection LifePSA 100:4JHN 3:16ACT 3:19ROM 10:92CO 5:17EPH 5:20PHP 4:6COL 3:171TH 5:16HEB 13:15Keith Daniel emphasizes the significance of gratitude and the full resurrection power of Christ in the lives of believers. He encourages the congregation to maintain their high standards of faith and to continually offer praise to God, which empowers them and strengthens their faith. Daniel shares personal anecdotes and testimonies to illustrate the transformative power of worship and the necessity of repentance and belief in the risen Christ for salvation. He concludes by urging everyone to commit their lives to God and to embrace a lifestyle of thanksgiving, which leads to spiritual strength and joy.
William Booth Preaching - Actual Voice
By William Booth2.1K02:41PSA 100:2PRO 19:17MAT 25:35GAL 6:2JAS 2:15This sermon emphasizes the importance of serving the Lord with gladness and reaching out to those in need, highlighting the call to help the poor, the wretched, the innocent children, and ultimately following the example of Christ in practical and compassionate ways. It challenges the audience to not just offer prayers or advice but to actively feed, reclaim, employ, and assist those who are suffering, even if success is not guaranteed.
Desiring God
By John Piper2.1K34:20PSA 37:4PSA 100:2PHP 1:19In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the need for believers to hunger for God and be convicted of their worldly desires. He argues that discipleship requires a complete surrender to God, as illustrated by the parable of the man who sells everything to obtain a hidden treasure. The preacher also highlights the importance of pursuing joy in God as a means of honoring Him and glorifying Him. He discusses the nature of evil, stating that forsaking God is the ultimate evil. The central thesis of the sermon is that God is most glorified in believers when they are most satisfied in Him, and therefore, believers should prioritize maximizing their joy in God above all else. The preacher supports this thesis with biblical references, including 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Philippians 1.
Encouraging Each Other at the End of the Age
By John Piper1.8K43:04DEU 10:12PSA 100:2ISA 35:10MAT 5:11MAT 13:442CO 9:71TH 4:13This sermon emphasizes the importance of believers coming together in small groups for mutual ministry, encouragement, and prayer. It highlights the need for Christians to stir up one another to love and good works, recognizing that God's commandments are always for our good. The speaker urges the congregation to embrace the joy and blessings found in community, where spiritual gifts are discovered and supernatural blessings are channeled through one another.
Ravenhill Humor - on Hymn 'And Can It Be'
By Leonard Ravenhill1.7K00:19Ravenhill HumorWorshipReverence in MusicPSA 100:1PSA 150:6EPH 5:19COL 3:23HEB 13:15Leonard Ravenhill humorously critiques the rendition of the hymn 'And Can It Be,' expressing his disappointment after hearing it sung poorly for many years. He imagines that Charles Wesley, the hymn's author, would be turning in his grave at the lack of reverence and quality in the performance. Ravenhill's remarks serve as a reminder of the importance of honoring the legacy of great hymns through sincere worship.
Law & Grace
By Chuck Smith1.7K48:112CH 16:9PSA 100:2ACT 15:32CO 3:171PE 5:2In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that God is able and willing to meet all our needs. He highlights that God's eyes are constantly searching the earth for those whose hearts are in tune with Him, so that He can show Himself strong on their behalf. The preacher encourages the audience to get their hearts in tune with God in order to receive His blessings and ministry. He also acknowledges the challenge of living in a fast-paced world, where it is difficult to find time for spiritual communion and meditation. The sermon includes references to Bible verses, such as Galatians 5:1, which urges believers to stand fast in the liberty that Christ has given them and not be entangled again in bondage.
Christ in Genesis: Joseph's Throne
By Stephen Kaung1.7K1:06:31GenesisGEN 37:2PSA 100:5PSA 105:17PSA 105:22In this sermon, the speaker discusses the lives of four individuals from the book of Genesis: Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Paul. He emphasizes the importance of accepting Jesus as the sacrifice for our sins and walking with God. The speaker highlights how these individuals pleased God through their faith and obedience. He also encourages listeners to abide in Christ and rule over their environment, just as Paul did in his life. The sermon emphasizes the idea that God is interested in individuals who align with His thoughts and desires.
Walk of the New Man 03
By Rick Bovey1.7K30:23New ManPSA 96:1PSA 100:11CO 12:12EPH 1:3EPH 4:7EPH 4:12In this sermon, the speaker breaks down the passage into three parts. He begins by discussing the growth stages of children and relates it to the spiritual growth of believers. He then mentions the upcoming arrival of a minister and expresses excitement about it. The speaker goes on to explain that the sermon will focus on Ephesians chapters 4, 5, and part of chapter 6. He emphasizes the importance of unity, diversity, and edification in the body of Christ, and how believers should reflect the character of Jesus.
Desiring God - Lesson 2
By John Piper1.6K44:17NEH 8:10PSA 16:11PSA 34:8PSA 37:4PSA 100:2PSA 119:14ISA 61:10JHN 15:11ROM 15:13PHP 4:41TH 5:161PE 1:8In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of pursuing joy in God. He believes that God desires for us to have a worldview that centers around His glory and our joy. The preacher mentions that there are twelve points that support the biblical basis for pursuing joy in God, but only briefly touches on them. He also mentions that the first point is the existence of biblical commands to pursue joy in God. The sermon encourages listeners to embrace the offer of infinite joy in God rather than settling for temporary pleasures.
19 Reasons Why I Am Going to Urbana
By George Verwer1.5K46:09UrbanaPSA 100:4MAT 28:19JHN 14:6ACT 4:12ROM 12:5EPH 2:81TI 4:12The video is a sermon transcript about the Urbana event, which is an international, interdenominational, and interracial gathering focused on spreading the message of the gospel. The speaker highlights the impact of the event, particularly in terms of the Lordship of Christ, and how the message has reached a wide audience through videos and tapes. The video emphasizes the importance of faith and expectation leading up to the Urbana event, as well as the need to be positive and praise God for the work He is doing in the world. The speaker also mentions the opportunity to learn about God's work in different nations through first-hand reports and missionary exhibits.
Jehovah's Disobedient Servant
By Charles E. Fuller1.5K51:11DisobediencePSA 61:2PSA 100:2PRO 13:15JON 2:1MAT 5:16In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of holding forth the Word of God in these critical days. He acknowledges that the world cannot offer lasting peace and security, and that true peace and security can only be found in the Lord Jesus. The preacher leads the congregation in prayer, asking for forgiveness of sins and strength for those facing persecution. He encourages believers to be patient in difficult circumstances, assuring them that God's foreknowledge extends to every incident in the lives of his children. The sermon concludes with a hymn about the hope of a heavenly home.
Desiring God - Lesson 3
By John Piper1.5K1:12:04DEU 28:47PSA 37:4PSA 100:2ISA 55:1JER 2:12MAT 6:33In this sermon, Pastor John Piper discusses the concept of Christian hedonism, which is the belief that our highest duty is to pursue delight in God. He argues that there are biblical commands to pursue joy in God, such as Psalm 37:4. Piper also emphasizes that God is most glorified when His people are most satisfied in Him. He urges listeners to turn away from fleeting pleasures that do not satisfy and instead seek true satisfaction in God.
The Lewis Revival 1949 - Part 5
By Colin Peckham1.4K09:08PSA 30:11PSA 100:2ACT 2:46ROM 15:131JN 4:7This sermon reflects on a time of intense spiritual revival where singing, joy, love, unity, and hunger for God's presence were prominent. The atmosphere was filled with the presence of God, leading to unforgettable experiences of worship and prayer, even in the early hours of the morning. The joy and love experienced were described as unspeakable and overwhelming, transforming lives and bringing people together in unity and care for one another.
Quote - Prayer, Praise, Worship
By Leonard Ravenhill1.4K00:11PraiseRavenhill QuoteWorshipPrayerPSA 95:6PSA 100:4PSA 103:2MAT 6:33JHN 4:24ROM 12:1PHP 4:6COL 3:161TH 5:16HEB 13:15Leonard Ravenhill emphasizes the distinctions between prayer, praise, and worship, noting that prayer often focuses on our needs, praise centers on our blessings, and true worship is a deep preoccupation with God Himself. He encourages believers to move beyond mere requests and gratitude to a profound engagement with the divine presence, highlighting the importance of prioritizing God in our spiritual lives.
We're Marching to Zion (Zion City Choir)
By John Alexander Dowie1.4K02:43PSA 66:1PSA 95:1PSA 98:4PSA 100:1MAT 7:7PHP 4:4JAS 1:2The video is a repetitive chant or song asking the Lord to let His joy be known. The phrase "And hear us, how we sing our song" is repeated multiple times throughout the video. The video emphasizes the importance of singing and praising the Lord. The overall message is a call to worship and express joy through song.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Introduction
In this Psalm the profession of the principles of his domestic and political government testifies, as well as actions in accordance with it, David's appreciation of God's mercy to him, and His judgment on his enemies: and thus he sings or celebrates God's dealings. (Psa 101:1-8) He avows his sincere purpose, by God's aid, to act uprightly (Gen 17:1; Psa 18:30).
Introduction
INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 100 A Psalm of Praise. The Arabic version ascribes this psalm to David, and very likely it is one of his: the Targum calls it "a hymn for the sacrifice of thanksgiving;'' and so Jarchi. It is supposed to have been used when peace offerings for thanksgivings were offered up, Lev 7:11. The Syriac inscription is very odd; "concerning Joshua the son of Nun, when he made the war of the Ammonites to cease;'' though it more rightly adds, "but in the New Testament, when the Gentiles are converted to the faith:'' and indeed the scope of the psalm is to exhort the Gentiles to praise the Messiah, to serve and worship him, from the consideration of his goodness and mercy, truth and faithfulness.
Verse 1
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Or, "all the earth" (c); that is, as the Targum, all the inhabitants of the earth, who are called upon to shout unto him as their King; as the angels did at his birth, the disciples when he made his public entrance into Jerusalem, the apostles at his ascension to heaven, the saints when the marriage of him, the Lamb, will be come, and both men and angels when he shall descend from heaven to judge the world; and such a joyful noise or shout should be made unto him as to a triumphant conqueror, who has got the victory over sin, Satan, death, and the grave, and every enemy of his and his people, and made them more than conquerors through himself; see Psa 95:1. (c) "omnis terra", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, &c.
Verse 2
Serve the Lord with gladness,.... Not with a slavish fear, under a spirit of bondage, as the Jews under the legal dispensation; not in the oldness of the letter, but in the newness of the Spirit: with spiritual joy and freedom of soul, as under the spirit of adoption; readily, willingly, cheerfully; without sinister and selfish ends and views; as their Lord and Master; taking delight in his person, and pleasure in his service; rejoicing in him, without having any confidence in the flesh: come before his presence with singing; to the throne of his grace with thankfulness for mercies received, as well as to implore others; and into his house, and at his ordinances, beginning public worship with singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; see Psa 95:2.
Verse 3
Know ye that the Lord he is God,.... Own and acknowledge him to be God, as well as man; and though a man, yet not a mere man, but the great God and our Saviour, the true God and eternal life; so a man, as that he is Jehovah's fellow; or our God, as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions; Immanuel, God with us, God in our nature, God manifest in the flesh: it is he that hath made us; as men, without whom nothing is made that was made; in him we live, move, and have our being; and, as new creatures, we are his workmanship, created in him, and by him; regenerated by his Spirit and grace, and formed for himself, his service and glory; and made great and honourable by him, raised from a low to an high estate; from being beggars on the dunghill, to sit among princes; yea, made kings and priests unto God by him; so, Kimchi, "he hath brought us up, and exalted us:'' and not we ourselves; that is, did not make ourselves, neither as creatures, nor as new creatures; as we have no hand in making either our souls or bodies, so neither in our regeneration, or in the work of God upon our hearts; that is solely the Lord's work: there is a double reading of this clause; the marginal reading is, and we are his; which is followed by the Targum and Aben Ezra: both are approved of by Kimchi, and the sense of both is included; for if the Lord has made us, and not we ourselves, then we are not our own, but his, and ought to serve and glorify him: we are his by creation; "we are also his offspring", as said Aratus (d), an Heathen poet, cited by the Apostle Paul, Act 17:28, we are his people; by choice and covenant; by his Father's gift, and his own purchase; and by the power of his grace, bringing to a voluntary surrender and subjection to him; even the Gentiles particularly, who were not his people, but now his people, Pe1 2:9, and the sheep of his pasture; his sheep also by gift and purchase, called by him, made to know his voice, and follow him; for whom he provides pasture, leads to it, and feeds them with it himself; see Psa 74:1. (d) . Arati Phaenomena, v. 5.
Verse 4
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,.... The same with the gates of Zion, loved by the Lord more than all the dwellings of Jacob; the gates of Jerusalem, within which the feet of the saints stand with pleasure; the gates of Wisdom, or Christ, where his followers watch and wait; the gates into his house, the church, and the public ordinances of it, to be entered into with thankfulness for all mercies, temporal and spiritual; for the Gospel, and Gospel opportunities and ordinances: and into his courts with praise; with the sacrifice of praise, as in Psa 96:8, of these courts, see Psa 65:4, be thankful unto him; for all blessings of grace in him and by him; for all things, and at all times: and bless his name; by ascribing honour, blessing, and glory to him, saying, "blessed be his glorious name for ever", Psa 72:19.
Verse 5
For the Lord is good,.... Both in a providential way, and in a way of grace, and does good; he is the good Shepherd, that has laid down his life for the sheep; and the good Samaritan, that pours in the wine and oil of his love and grace, and his precious blood, to the healing of the wounds made by sin: while he was on earth, he went about doing good to the bodies and souls of men; and he continues to do good unto them, and therefore should be praised, served, and worshipped: his mercy is everlasting; or "his grace" (e); there is always a sufficiency of it for his people; and his lovingkindness, which may be also here meant, is always the same; having loved his own which were in the world, he loves them to the end, Joh 13:1. and his truth endureth to all generations; or his faithfulness in fulfilling his promises, and performing his engagements; he was faithful to his Father that appointed him, and to the covenant he made with him; and he is faithful to his people, to keep what they commit to his care and charge now, and to give them the crown of righteousness at the last day, which is laid up for them; and upon all these considerations, and for these reasons, ought to be praised and adored. (e) "gratia ejus", Cocceius, Gejerus; "gratia et misericordia ejus", Michaelis. Next: Psalms Chapter 101
Verse 1
The call in Psa 100:1 sounds like Psa 98:4; Psa 66:1. כּל־הארץ are all lands, or rather all men belonging to the earth's population. The first verse, without any parallelism and in so far monostichic, is like the signal for a blowing of the trumpets. Instead of "serve Jahve with gladness (בּשׂמחה)," it is expressed in Psa 2:11, "serve Jahve with fear (בּיראה)." Fear and joy do not exclude one another. Fear becomes the exalted Lord, and the holy gravity of His requirements; joy becomes the gracious Lord, and His blessed service. The summons to manifest this joy in a religious, festive manner springs up out of an all-hopeful, world-embracing love, and this love is the spontaneous result of living faith in the promise that all tribes of the earth shall be blessed in the seed of Abraham, and in the prophecies in which this promise is unfolded. דּעוּ (as in Psa 4:4) Theodoret well interprets δι ̓ αὐτῶν μάθετε τῶν πραγμάτων. They are to know from facts of outward and inward experience that Jahve is God: He hath made us, and not we ourselves. Thus runs the Chethξb, which the lxx follows, αὐτὸς ἔποήσεν ἡμᾶς καὶ οὐχ ἡμεῖς (as also the Syriac and Vulgate); but Symmachus (like Rashi), contrary to all possibilities of language, renders αὐτὸς ἐποίησεν ἡμᾶς οὐκ ὄντας. Even the Midrash (Bereshith Rabba, ch. c. init.) finds in this confession the reverse of the arrogant words in the mouth of Pharaoh: "I myself have made myself" (Eze 29:3). The Ker, on the other hand, reads לו, (Note: According to the reckoning of the Masora, there are fifteen passages in the Old Testament in which לא is written and לו is read, viz., Exo 21:8; Lev 11:21; Lev 25:30; Sa1 2:3; Sa2 16:18; Kg2 8:10; Isa 9:2; Isa 63:9; Psa 100:3; Psa 139:16; Job 13:15 cf. the note there, Psa 41:4; Pro 19:7; Pro 26:2; Ezr 4:2. Because doubtful, Isa 49:5; Ch1 11:20 are not reckoned with these.) which the Targum, Jerome, and Saadia follow and render: et ipsius nos sumus. Hengstenberg calls this Ker quite unsuitable and bad; and Hupfeld, on the other hand, calls the Chethb an "unspeakable insipidity." But in reality both readings accord with the context, and it is clear that they are both in harmony with Scripture. Many a one has drawn balsamic consolation from the words ipse fecit nos et non ipsi nos; e.g., Melancthon when disconsolately sorrowful over the body of his son in Dresden on the 12th July 1559. But in ipse fecit nos et ipsius nos sumus there is also a rich mine of comfort and of admonition, for the Creator of also the Owner, His heart clings to His creature, and the creature owes itself entirely to Him, without whom it would not have had a being, and would not continue in being. Since, however, the parallel passage, Psa 95:7, favours ולו rather than ולא; since, further, ולא ,reh is the easier reading, inasmuch as הוּא leads one to expect that an antithesis will follow (Hitzig); and since the "His people and the sheep of His pasture" that follows is a more natural continuation of a preceding ולו אנחנו than that it should be attached as a predicative object to עשׂנוּ over a parenthetical ולא אנחנו: the Ker decidedly maintains the preference. In connection with both readings, עשׂה has a sense related to the history of redemption, as in Sa1 12:6. Israel is Jahve's work (מעשׂה), Isa 29:23; Isa 60:21, cf. Deu 32:6, Deu 32:15, not merely as a people, but as the people of God, who were kept in view even in the calling of Abram.
Verse 4
Therefore shall the men of all nations enter with thanksgiving into the gates of His Temple and into the courts of His Temple with praise (Psa 96:8), in order to join themselves in worship to His church, which - a creation of Jahve for the good of the whole earth - is congregated about this Temple and has it as the place of its worship. The pilgrimage of all peoples to the holy mountain is an Old Testament dress of the hope for the conversion of all peoples to the God of revelation, and the close union of all with the people of this God. His Temple is open to them all. They may enter, and when they enter they have to look for great things. For the God of revelation (52:11; 54:8) is "good" (Psa 25:8; Psa 34:9), and His loving-kindness and faithfulness endure for ever - the thought that recurs frequently in the later Hallelujah and Hodu Psalms and is become a liturgical formula (Jer 33:11). The mercy of loving-kindness of God is the generosity, and His faithfulness the constancy, of His love.
Introduction
It is with good reason that many sing this psalm very frequently in their religious assemblies, for it is very proper both to express and to excite pious and devout affections towards God in our approach to him in holy ordinances; and, if our hearts go along with the words, we shall make melody in it to the Lord. The Jews say it was penned to be sung with their thank-offerings; perhaps it was; but we say that as there is nothing in it peculiar to their economy so its beginning with a call to all lands to praise God plainly extends it to the gospel-church. Here, I. We are called upon to praise God and rejoice in him (Psa 100:1, Psa 100:2, Psa 100:4). II. We are furnished with matter for praise; we must praise him, considering his being and relation to us (Psa 100:3) and his mercy and truth (Psa 100:5). These are plain and common things, and therefore the more fit to be the matter of devotion. A psalm of praise.
Verse 1
Here, I. The exhortations to praise are very importunate. The psalm does indeed answer to the title, A psalm of praise; it begins with that call which of late we have several times met with (Psa 100:1), Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all you lands, or all the earth, all the inhabitants of the earth. When all nations shall be discipled, and the gospel preached to every creature, then this summons will be fully answered to. But, if we take the foregoing psalm to be (as we have opened it) a call to the Jewish church to rejoice in the administration of God's kingdom, which they were under (as the four psalms before it were calculated for the days of the Messiah), this psalm, perhaps, was intended for proselytes, that came over out of all lands to the Jews' religion. However, we have here, 1. A strong invitation to worship God; not that God needs us, or any thing we have or can do, but it is his will that we should serve the Lord, should devote ourselves to his service and employ ourselves in it; and that we should not only serve him in all instances of obedience to his law, but that we should come before his presence in the ordinances which he has appointed and in which he has promised to manifest himself (Psa 100:2), that we should enter into his gates and into his courts (Psa 100:4), that we should attend upon him among his servants, and keep there where he keeps court. In all acts of religious worship, whether in secret or in our families, we come into God's presence, and serve him; but it is in public worship especially that we enter into his gates and into his courts. The people were not permitted to enter into the holy place; there the priests only went in to minister. But let the people be thankful for their place in the courts of God's house, to which they were admitted and where they gave their attendance. 2. Great encouragement given us, in worshipping God, to do it cheerfully (Psa 100:2): Serve the Lord with gladness. This intimates a prediction that in gospel-times there should be special occasion for joy; and it prescribes this as a rule of worship: Let God be served with gladness. By holy joy we do really serve God; it is an honour to him to rejoice in him; and we ought to serve him with holy joy. Gospel-worshippers should be joyful worshippers; if we serve God in uprightness, let us serve him with gladness. We must be willing and forward to it, glad when we are called to go up to the house of the Lord (Psa 122:1), looking upon it as the comfort of our lives to have communion with God; and we must be pleasant and cheerful in it, must say, It is good to be here, approaching to God, in every duty, as to God our exceeding Joy, Psa 43:4. We must come before his presence with singing, not only songs of joy, but songs of praise. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, Psa 100:4. We must not only comfort ourselves, but glorify God, with our joy, and let him have the praise of that which we have the pleasure of. Be thankful to him and bless his name; that is, (1.) We must take it as a favour to be admitted into his service, and give him thanks that we have liberty of access to him, that we have ordinances instituted and opportunity continued of waiting upon God in those ordinances. (2.) We must intermix praise and thanksgiving with all our services. This golden thread must run through every duty (Heb 13:15), for it is the work of angels. In every thing give thanks, in every ordinance, as well as in every providence. II. The matter of praise, and motives to it, are very important, Psa 100:3, Psa 100:5. Know you what God is in himself and what he is to you. Note, Knowledge is the mother of devotion and of all obedience: blind sacrifices will never please a seeing God. "Know it; consider and apply it, and then you will be more close and constant, more inward and serious, in the worship of him." Let us know then these seven things concerning the Lord Jehovah, with whom we have to do in all the acts of religious worship: - 1. That the Lord he is God, the only living and true God - that he is a Being infinitely perfect, self-existent, and self-sufficient, and the fountain of all being; he is God, and not a man as we are. He is an eternal Spirit, incomprehensible and independent, the first cause and last end. The heathen worshipped the creature of their own fancy; the workmen made it, therefore it is not God. We worship him that made us and all the world; he is God, and all other pretended deities are vanity and a lie, and such as he has triumphed over. 2. That he is our Creator: It is he that has made us, and not we ourselves. I find that I am, but cannot say, I am that I am, and therefore must ask, Whence am I? Who made me? Where is God my Maker? And it is the Lord Jehovah. He gave us being, he gave us this being; he is both the former of our bodies and the Father of our spirits. We did not, we could not, make ourselves. It is God's prerogative to be his own cause; our being is derived and depending. 3. That therefore he is our rightful owner. The Masorites, by altering one letter in the Hebrew, read it, He made us, and his we are, or to him we belong. Put both the readings together, and we learn that because God made us, and not we ourselves, therefore we are not our own, but his. He has an incontestable right to, and property in, us and all things. His we are, to be actuated by his power, disposed of by his will, and devoted to his honour and glory. 4. That he is our sovereign ruler: We are his people or subjects, and he is our prince, our rector or governor, that gives law to us as moral agents, and will call us to an account for what we do. The Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver. We are not at liberty to do what we will, but must always make conscience of doing as we are bidden. 5. That he is our bountiful benefactor. We are not only his sheep, whom he is entitled to, but the sheep of his pasture, whom he takes care of; the flock of his feeding (so it may be read); therefore the sheep of his hand; at his disposal because the sheep of his pasture, Psa 95:7. He that made us maintains us, and gives us all good things richly to enjoy. 6. That he is a God of infinite mercy and goodness (Psa 100:5): The Lord is good, and therefore does good; his mercy is everlasting; it is a fountain that can never be drawn dry. The saints, who are now the sanctified vessels of mercy, will be, to eternity, the glorified monuments of mercy. 7. That he is a God of inviolable truth and faithfulness: His truth endures to all generations, and no word of his shall fall to the ground as antiquated or revoked. The promise is sure to all the seed, from age to age.
Verse 1
Ps 100 This psalm calls all nations to come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord and acknowledge his goodness to Israel.
Verse 3
100:3 The Lord is the one who determines who his people are. • the sheep of his pasture: God will guide and protect his people (23:1, 4).
Verse 4
100:4 Gates and courts were part of the Temple in Jerusalem.