Psalm 100 — We Come with Praise

A Psalm of thanksgiving.

1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness:
Come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God:
It is he that hath made us, and we are his;
We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
And into his courts with praise:
Give thanks unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy endureth for ever;
And his faithfulness unto all generations.

In this sweet little psalm we bring together our Praise & Homage to God: We Come with Praise. Within this idea we see our submission (we come) and hour reverence (we praise). This simple phrase or theme is repeated & considered in beautiful ways.

What noise must one make, but joyful noise? What feelings but gladness in the presence of the Lord? The end of the psalm tells why: goodness, mercy & faithfulness are in abundant supply with God. With God we are safe and secure from all alarms & atrocities. His mercy covers our guilt, his faithfulness reflects his eternal care and his goodness is how we understand and define goodness around us. This love of God generates our reverence & praise.

And so, with reverential praise, we come. We come to serve, leaving our homes & comforts and we approach his courts. Not that his courts are uncomfortable. Rather, to leave our selfish comforts, to follow like a sheep the shepherd to the grasses of his courts for pasture, is submission & obedience. This is laying down our old man, selfish situations & proud possessions. Entering God's courts is a blessing, but demands our submission.