A closer walk
Our Bibles contain nuggets of gold. These nuggets are wisdom from the ages available for us to take into our spirit and ponder, and try to understand the superficial meaning and the deeper, broader meaning that can be gleaned if we pay attention. Psalm 100 is just such a nugget. By listening and paying attention to these nuggets we can arrive at a place where our lives are enriched, as well as being a help in negotiating life on a daily basis.
Let's dig in. “Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth,” Psalm 1:1 NASB. Notice this does not say sing or hum. It clearly states shout to the Lord! When we go to a ballgame to support the home team and we cheer them on, do we do that quietly? In a whisper? No, of course not. They would not hear us and would not know that we were cheering for them. Now, our God has no problem with His hearing. He can hear even if we only speak in our spirit rather than verbalizing our words and speaking out loud. So, if shouting to our Lord is not for our Lord, who are we shouting for? Well, there are only two participants in a conversation between us and our God. So could it be that we are instructed to do this for us? Further, we are to shout joyfully. Joyfully. And who is it that should do this shouting? All the earth. Everyone and everything is to shout to our Lord.
“Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing,” Psalm 1:2 NASB. Serve the Lord with gladness. Why? Why should we do that? Because He is a God of hope, and promise, and faithfulness, and grace, and mercy, and strength, and more. Because we are children of the Living God we have hope regardless of what is going on around us. Because we know in our hearts that tomorrow is a better day. And we are to come before Him with joyful singing for the reasons just named.
“Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture,” Psalm 100:3 NASB. The Lord God Almighty wants us, you and I, to know that He Himself is God. We can be assured that He is the only true and living God. All those Old Testament “gods,” Baal, Ashteroth, Dagon, Chemosh, Molech, etc. (this list is NOT exhaustive), are merely the work of a man's hands and are nothing more than a pagan idol. The nation of India has over three thousand different pagan gods. This information comes from a missionary who was serving in India at the time. It is our God who made us and not we ourselves. Our Lord formed us in the womb and since birth has been working on us and with us ever since. We, you and I, are the sheep of His pasture. We, you and I, are His people. What a blessing is that?
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name,” Psalm 100:4 NASB. When we worship the Lord we are to enter His gates with thanksgiving. Where are His gates? Well, in heaven of course. So how do we enter these heavenly gates while still here on earth? We can't physically go into those gates but we can spiritually. How? By coming before the Throne of Grace. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need,” Hebrews 4:14 NKJV. We are commanded to come BOLDLY to the Throne of Grace. Why? To receive mercy and the grace to help in time of need. Further, we are instructed to give thanks to Him. And to bless His name. By offering our thanks to God we remind ourselves who it is that supplies our needs. And by blessing His name we remind ourselves that the Lord is the originator and creator of all blessings.
“For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, And His faithfulness to all generations,” Psalm 100:5 NASB. This Scripture informs us that the God we worship and serve is good. There is no part or parcel of Him that is not good. How long does His lovingkindness, or steadfast love, as some translations word it, last? It is everlasting, eternal, forevermore, no end to it. His faithfulness is to ALL generations. Who does that leave out? No one. Absolutely no one. Here is what the Old Testament prophet Nahum stated about our God. “The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him,” Nahum 1:7. Here is what James, the half brother of our Lord, told us, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes],” James 1:17 Amplified Bible.
Need refreshment or encouragement? Turn to Psalm 100 and fill your spirit with the nuggets of gold and the wisdom of the ages that reside there. And then turn to Psalm 2.
For your enjoyment there is a song on Youtube titled, “Shout to the Lord.” It was written, became a hit, and made popular by Australian Christian singer Darlene Zschech. It may cause your eyes to well up with tears, not only because of the beautiful melody but also the message it contains. Enjoy.