Psalm 100

A Call for Thanksgiving

¹ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

² Worship the LORD with gladness;
       come before him with joyful songs.

³ Know that the LORD is God.
       It is he who made us, and we are his;
       we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
       and his courts with praise;
       give thanks to him and praise his name.

⁵ For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
       his faithfulness continues through all generations. (NIV)

Introduction: What is your purpose on earth?  This is a Psalm of praise and thanksgiving.  The purpose of this message today is summons all believers to exist in our call, our purpose—and that is praise and thanksgiving.

I.                  Principle of Thanksgiving (vv.1-2)

·         Principle - a rule or belief governing one’s personal behavior; Thanksgiving is a principle for the believers; these verbs are imperative

a.      1 – Joyfully Thankful

b.     Noise – to shout; raise a sound; cry out; give a blast; a war cry; shout for joy; shout in triumph

                                                                                      i.      Noise is not Silent

c.     2a – Serving Thankful

                                                                                      i.      Serving means to work

                                                                                    ii.      To Labor; labor with gladness (an attitude of gratitude)

d.     2b – Come Thankful

II.               Perception of Thanksgiving (v.3)-Perception is an acquaintance with…

·         3a – God’s Authority

a.      God is in control

·         3b – God’s Authorship

a.      God is the first/last; beginning/ending

·         3c – God’s Assurance

a.      We are his sheep, which makes him the shepherd

b.     Shepherds provide – we have pasture (cp. Ps. 23, “…he maketh me to lie down in green pastures…”)

III.           Progression of Thanksgiving (v.4)

·         4a – Public Praise

a.      Gates – entrance; public meeting place

·         4b – Personal Praise

a.      Courts - enclosures

·         4c – Privileged Praise

IV.            Why Render Thanks to God?  Here it is! (Conclusion) (v.5)

·         God is good; mercy is everlasting; truth is everlasting.

·         God sent his Son.