Psalm 100

1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name.

5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations. (KJV)

This is one of the first psalms (along with psalm 23) that we teach our children. Yes, it was from the King James Version that most of us remember. As we read the truths found in this psalm, we must also ask how much we apply these truths to our daily routine. Do we truly worship the Lord with gladness, or do we question His actions or lack of actions in the affairs of man? Do we come before him with joyful songs or does our praise seem to focus on the deeds of fallen man whom we have elevated above the common man? Do we look to him as creator when we look at the world around us, or do we try to explain the existence of this universe to other forces? When we said the phrase “we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture” does our daily activity reflect his righteousness and truth in every aspect of our labor? The phrase “the sheep of his pasture” should reflect a total guidance of our daily activities being led by him. Do we even in the darkest of times know that the Lord is good, and his love endures forever? When we consider the phase “and his truth endures to all generations” do we stop and reflect upon this truth? In John 14:6 Christ states that He is the way, the truth and the life and that no one comes to God, but through Him.

One of my many ready made for the moment sermons is found in I John chapter five.  The words found in this chapter is like this psalm, in that all you have to do is read it and the message is clear and does not need any explanation.

I. Witness of Victorious living found in verse four. For whatsoever (our faith) is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

II. Witness of men found in verse nine.  If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God.

III. Witness of God in you found in verse ten. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.

IV. Witness of answer Prayer found in verses fourteen and fifteen. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

V.  Witness of a clean life found in verse eighteen. We know that whosoever is born of God sins not:  but he that is born of God    keeps himself and that the wicked one touches him not.

VI. Witness of true love found in verse twenty-one. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Summary verse twelve.   He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath   not life.

By knowing the Lord, we can fulfill the first two verses “make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.”  This gives the believer the peace that passes all understanding.