We have now reached a “milestone” in our journey through the Psalms – Psalm 100 (two thirds of the way through). The Passion Translation (TPT) gives it the title, “A poetic song of thanksgiving.”
But possibly you are thinking, what’s a “milestone”? Well, there is the literal meaning which is, “a stone set up beside a road to mark the distance in miles to a particular place” and by the way, for people who only think in the metric system, 1 mile equals approximately 1.61 Km. Then there is how I am using this word, meaning, “a significant stage or event in the development of something”.
So, we have now considered 99 of the 150 Psalms and this only after 292 Posts over 6 ½ years of writing this Blog! What’s the hurry!
And what a magnificent Psalm to mark this significant milestone! Read it with me and worship God with thanksgiving from The Passion Translation below:
Lift up a great shout of joy to Yahweh!
Go ahead and do it—everyone, everywhere!
2 Worship Yahweh with gladness.
Sing your way into his presence with joy!
3 And realize what this really means—
we have the privilege of worshiping Yahweh our God.
For he is our Creator and we belong to him.
We are the people of his pleasure.
4 You can pass through his open gates with the password of praise.
Come right into his presence with thanksgiving.
Come bring your thank offering to him
and affectionately bless his beautiful name!
5 For Yahweh is always good and ready to receive you.
He’s so loving that it will amaze you—
so kind that it will astound you!
And he is famous for his faithfulness toward all.
Everyone knows our God can be trusted,
for he keeps his promises to every generation! (TPT)
A simple summary of the teaching in this psalm comes from The Bible Panorama as follows:
V 1–2: PRINCIPLES Some valuable principles for praising God are found in these two verses. All lands [everyone, everywhere!] should be involved, joy is at the centre of worship [come into his presence with joy!], and this gladness should be expressed in songs.
V 3: PEOPLE The foundation for our praise is that we belong to God and we are His sheep [he is our Creator and we belong to him. We are the people of his pleasure].
V 4–5a: PRAISE We enter His gates with thanksgiving and should keep on praising Him [affectionately bless his beautiful name!]. His goodness should be our focus of attention [For Yahweh is always good and ready to receive you. He’s so loving that it will amaze you—so kind that it will astound you!].
V 5b: PERPETUAL The Lord’s mercy and truth, like God Himself, last for ever [he is famous for his faithfulness toward all. Everyone knows our God can be trusted, for he keeps his promises to every generation!]. (# 48)
Father, we worship you today and acknowledge that we have so much to be thankful to you for. For all that you are and for all that you have done, not only in our lives but in the world you created. Help us this day to affectionately bless your beautiful name and to share the wonder of your love with the people around us. Amen.
Tehilim (Psalms) - "songs of praise". 