November 23, Worshippers

Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.

Psalm 100:4

The book of Psalms represents that part of the sacred Scriptures comprising sincere expressions of God’s worshippers.  And most of the individual Psalms (songs) demonstrate one of two distinct responses to worship.  First, psalms can express a congregational song, as a particular psalm would have been intended for public worship in the temple.  Second, psalms can also express a more personal song, as if the psalmist were one on one with God.  

Psalm 100 demonstrates the former: a public song intended for the congregation.  And today, this reminds us of the significance of the public worship of God’s collective people, the church.  Each week, the people of God are called together to worship. And the focus is God and the glory of Jesus. The worship experience usually builds around the preaching and teaching of God's Word. But a significant part of such a gathering is indeed “the song.”  And why is this so?  Psalm 100 helps to answer that question.  We are called as God’s very own people to come into His presence collectively to give thanks and praise.  And because of this, each person of faith should view him or herself as a worshipper.  For, we are called to come before God in song to express our thankfulness and to render unto Him the praise He deserves.  This is not limited to a seasonal emphasis of thanks, nor is this an optional part of church life one can self-select out of when desired.   

If our faith is in Christ, we belong to God as sons and daughters of the “Most High.”  And because we are His people, we are called to enter into His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.   We are worshippers.  You are a worshiper.  And Psalm 100 gives us our instruction. 

This Psalm reads like an entry Psalm representing a company of worshippers in front of the gates to the sanctuary offering shouts and songs of praise.  (Because the Psalm is placed at the close of a section of songs proclaiming Yahweh’s kingship, this Psalm is likely a concluding response to God as our King.)  The structure of the Psalm is simple.  First, there is a call to give thanks in verse 1-2: “Shout to the Lord all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.”  The Psalmist has summoned all the earth before our Great King.  All nations are invited to sing to Him in joyful song.  And this expression reflects genuineness, for the gladness of the worshippers results from living in harmony with the King and Redeemer.  Second, the worshipper celebrates the Covenant God has established with His people (verse 3): “Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”  To know that the Lord is God suggests confessing God as the One true Lord (a covenantal confession).The shepherd imagery, the sheep of His pasture, expresses benefits of a covenant relationship with God (blessings, protection, etc.)  

Literarily, this structure, or movement, is repeated again to demonstrate to simple yet poetic flow of instruction.   First, there is a call the give thanks in verse 4: “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise, give thanks to Him and praise (bless) His name.”  Whereas verses one and two emphasized more of God’s kingship, verse 4 emphasizes the communal act of worship with the proper communal sacrifices: thanksgiving and praise (listed as inseparable because of God’s perfections that bring praise, and His acts that bring thanksgiving).  Second, as before, there is a celebration of the covenant of God with His people (verse 5): “for the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”  God remains faithful to His people because this is His covenant love. This becomes the motivation for thanksgiving and praise.  This describes the call to public worship. And this summarizes the structure of Psalm 100. For, twice in this short psalm stands the biblical guide of worship for the worshipper: (1) We are called to give thanks and praise unto our God; (2) His gracious and loving covenant relationship with us through Jesus Christ represents our motivation. 

There you have it! Your two-fold instruction for being a worshipper. 

So today, see yourself as a worshiper.  And, become excited about your opportunity to gather with the church to worship.  But, while you wait for the next gathering, worship Him now.  Right now.  Come before Him in your heart with thanksgiving and praise.  For this is indeed the spirit and song of the worshiper. 

Blessings.