The 100th Psalm is often called The Thanksgiving Psalm. It is a favorite of many people, and it begins with the exhortation to give thanks and praise to God. As we read this Psalm, we experience an invitation to the whole earth to know and worship God.
Psalm 100: A psalm for giving grateful praise.
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before Him with joyful songs.
3 Know 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
and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good, and his love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.
So why should we be people who live in thanksgiving and praise to God?
The first reason is simply that the Lord is our God. Psalm 100:3 instructs us to realize and know that the Lord is God. Think about that for just a moment. God, by definition, is supreme. He is above all else. His power, authority, wisdom, and knowledge—everything there is about Him—is ultimate. God, alone, is like no other. God is in charge. God's designs will ultimately be accomplished. Add to that the declaration that "the Lord is God."
God is the One true God—the One to whom we have given our allegiance, the One we serve, and the One we are in an intimate relationship with. Colossians 1:16-17 says this about our Lord Jesus, who is eternal God in human flesh: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him, all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together." The Lord is God.
One of the most glorious truths imaginable is the truth that the One who loves us with perfect, everlasting love is the only true Master of all. When we know that our Lord is indeed God, no matter the situation or the circumstances, we understand why we should be people of praise and Thanksgiving.
Continue a deeper study into Psalm 100 and discover how you can be thankful everyday!
As Lent commences on Ash Wednesday, we are entering a time of introspection and prayer leading to Easter. Let us reflect on the significance of death preceding resurrection, urging readers to embrace a daily practice of surrendering self in preparation for our spiritual transformation.