Joyful Worship and Service in Psalm 100 Because He Is Forever Faithful

One attribute that sets the Christian church apart from other religious traditions is corporate worship. Believers who have been forgiven, redeemed, reconciled, and made new are compelled to lift their voices to the Lord in worship. We worship alone, and we worship together.

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!” Psalm 100:1

The psalmist addresses all the earth and commands that they make a joyful noise in praise to the Lord. While it is a command, a heart enthused with the gladness of salvation and the goodness of God needs no command. And yet, some valleys in life—hard times, loss, illness, or pain—call for a reminder, even a command.

If you’re in a difficult season, choose to make a joyful noise to the Lord!

“Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” Psalm 100:2

In 1 Corinthians 4:1, Paul states, “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” In the biblical sense, a servant submits to God and chooses a life of service in response to the goodness they’ve experienced from God.

We have received a message—news of the gift of salvation—and we serve out of gladness of heart. We are not forced to serve the Lord. We sing of the goodness of God and serve because we cannot stop ourselves. We are compelled to serve and sing because we are enthused and overwhelmed.

“Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3

The psalmist puts a stake in the ground by reminding the reader that it is God who created us. We are his handiwork. We are owned by our Maker. We are people governed by him. Unfortunately, we need to be reminded that he is God, and we are not. We are sheep in his pasture.

“The human soul was made for God, and God alone can meet its need.” J. R. Miller, The Ministry of Comfort

There is an irony inherent in this truth. Humanity often rebels to be free when all the while the only way to true life is through reconciliation to the one who created us. How easily we refuse to recognize we are in his world and we are his creation. We did not get here on our own. He is the Shepherd, and we are his sheep.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” Psalm 100:4

We, the people of his pasture, erupt in gratefulness as we enter the gates of God. Joyful praise escapes from our mouths. We recognize we deserve judgment, but we receive mercy. We don’t deserve any kindness, yet we receive grace. Our response to the goodness of God is to give thanks and to bless his name.

We are filled with and overwhelmed by joy as we consider his goodness and kindness.

A repeated theme throughout The Psalms, verse five rehearses and summarizes this psalm with the steadfast love of the Lord. Our Lord—in good times and in bad times, on mountains and in valleys—is good to us. In the depths of brokenness and loss, he is faithful to past and future generations. Our response is joyful noise, serving with gladness, singing, thanksgiving, and praise.

He is faithful to all generations!

“For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 100:5