First Christian

By Bruce Humes

Pastor

The 100th Psalm is a psalm (a poem set to music) of thanksgiving. Verse 1 begins with “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands (literally means all the earth).We see three things in this first verse, how we are to worship (with a joyful shout); who we are to worship; (the Lord); and who is to worship (all the Earth).

The second verse continues this thought,“Serve the Lord with gladness; Come (gather) before his presence with singing.” This verse gives further instruction on what our attitude should look like when we come together to worship the Lord; with gladness and with singing. Coming together should be a time of great joy, with gladness of heart and singing.

Verse 3 says,“Know that the Lord, he is God; It is he who made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.” When we come to the knowledge of who God is, our creator, our maker, who formed us in the womb, breathed life into us, and we realize that he desires reconciliation and a relationship with us, we should have no problem with coming together to worship him with a joyful shout, with gladness of heart and singing.

But the greatest joy and purpose for our worship is knowing that we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. So, if we are his people what should we do? Verse 4 tells us, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Be thankful to him, and bless his name.”

We praise and worship his name because there is no other name under heaven given among men for salvation. He is our Lord, our God our creator, and our shepherd, the only one who is deserving of our worship, praise and honor, the only one we bow to in adoration and worship. Verse 5 tells us that,“The Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endures to all generations.”