I don’t often do this, but I am going to share with all of you the Scripture verse that we are going to read as a part of our corporate worship this coming Sunday ... it is Psalm 100. I usually don’t tell you in advance for two reasons. First, I never thought about telling you in advance before; and second, I usually don’t have the verse totally confirmed and selected in my mind until Saturday evenings. But this week is different.
I had eye surgery this week. I found myself sharing with the surgeon and the nurses how grateful I was to live in a country that has the excellent medical care to which we are so accustomed. Most countries in the world do not have such blessings. As I mentioned in the sermon last week. there is a massive amount of military might being utilized by the United States against the nation of Iran right now. I thought of the freedoms we have in our country, and the incredible technology (militarily and otherwise) which we have developed to protect those freedoms. I found myself thanking God once again for causing me to be born in this country. All of which naturally led to my thanking God for His causing me to also be born into His family, making me His child, granting us “every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus”.
For all of the foregoing, Psalm 100 ... a short, five-verse Psalm totally focused on thanksgiving ... is what I have chosen to emphasize not only in our public worship this Sunday, but also in this encouragement section. One of the things (among many) that I love about this short Psalm is that right in the very heart of it (the end of verse 3) we are reminded of the 23rd Psalm, and all its promises and blessings, when the Psalmist tells us: “We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture” (Psalm 100:3c).
Here is the discussion of this Psalm by our good friend, Robert J. Morgan, in chapter 31 of his book, One Hundred Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart. Morgan’s words really blessed us. We are hoping that they will bless you, as well. Here is his account.
A preacher of olden days, Rev. W. Durban of Chester, England, once preached a sermon of three points from Psalm 100:5 – For the Lord is good, His lovingkindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations. (NASB). He talked about: (1) the Inexhaustible Fount – the Lord’s goodness; (2) the Ever-flowing Stream – His eternal love; and (3) the Fathomless Ocean – His ever-enduring faithfulness.
I can’t beat that, but I would like to suggest a simple outline for the entire Psalm that may aid you in memorizing it. Psalm 100 falls into two stanzas, and both begin with a call to worship. Verses 1-3 tell us to praise God with gladatude. We are to shout joyfully. Verses 4 and 5 tell us to praise Him with gratitude, to enter His gates with thanksgiving.
Gladatude and gratitude are appropriate for every situation in life. Several years ago, Martin and Gracia Burnham were serving with New Tribes Mission when they were kidnapped by terrorists. During their year in captivity, they faced near starvation and were sometimes caught in the middle of gun battles. In the end both were shot. Martin was killed, but Gracia lived to tell the story. She said that near the end of their ordeal, one of the passages of Scripture that sustained them was Psalm 100. One night Martin said, “You know, Gracia, I don’t know why the Lord has allowed this to happen, but today I have been thinking about Psalm 100, how we can serve the Lord with gladness. Just because we are here doesn’t mean we can’t serve Him with gladness, so let’s serve the Lord with gladness.” That night Martin was shot and killed, and Gracia was wounded in the firefight. But those words from Psalm 100 never died in her heart. “The Lord has given me joy,” was her testimony.
Morgan then goes on to share the following outline from Matthew Henry’s commentary.
The great commentator Matthew Henry summarized this Psalm by listing its 7 reasons for entering His gates with thanksgiving.
1. The Lord is God, the only living and true God infinitely perfect, self-existent, incomprehensible.
2. He is our Creator, for it is He that has made us, and not we ourselves.
3. He is therefore our rightful Owner, and we are His. To Him we belong.
4. He is our sovereign Ruler. We are His people, His subjects.
5. He is our bountiful Benefactor. We are not only His sheep, but the sheep of His pasture, the flock of His feeding. He gives us all good things richly to enjoy.
6. He is a God of infinite mercy and goodness, a fountain that can never be drawn dry.
7. He is a God of inviolable truth and faithfulness. His truth endures to all generations, and no word of His shall ever be revoked or become antiquated.
Morgan then ends with the following quote from Matthew Henry:
“It is with good reason that many sing this Psalm very frequently in their religious assemblies ... and if our hearts go along with the words, we shall make melody in it to the Lord.”
Morgan’s account ends there. We do not know what your personal situation might be today as you read these words; however, we would like to cause you to stop, open your Bible, and read Psalm 100 aloud. It is God’s word. It is true. It expresses the mindset and the heart attitude we should have at all times. Ask Him for the grace to give you “gladatude” as well as “gratitude”. Then start reciting specific things that you are thankful for as He brings them to your mind, and you will find your spirits genuinely lifting. Soli Deo Gloria!