THANKSGIVING: THE WAY OF WORSHIP (Ps 100)
Dr. Paul Manuel—2016
Mothers have high aspirations for what their children will become when they grow up, perhaps none more than Jewish mothers.
Once, when teaching a class of teenagers, I wanted them to memorize some scripture. I assured them that they would have plenty of time to work on it and that we would help the process by reviewing their passage each week. Not wanting to make the task too difficult, I selected two short psalms, only one of which they had to learn—either Psalm 100, which has five verses, or Psalm 121, which has eight verses. How do you think they made their decision? Did they consider the beauty of the imagery or the relevance of the psalm's message? ...No. They picked the shorter of the two, thinking that would be easier to memorize, because—from a student's perspective—easier is always better. If brevity were my primary reason for selecting a particular psalm, I would have suggested Psalm 117, which has only two verses. I was hoping to foster a more spiritual experience.
Whatever their reason for choosing Psalm 100, I hope the exercise of memorizing it helped the students to think about what it says, because this poem, short as it is, addresses The Way of Worship in general and mentions thanksgiving in particular.
Unlike many of the other psalms, this one does not name the author. We do not know if David, Asaph, Korah, or another poet composed it. The superscription does, however, identify its purpose. Psalm 100 is "A psalm of thanksgiving."1 It may have served as a call to worship in the temple, reminding the congregation that communal devotion to God must display four characteristics. The first characteristic is that...
I. Worship should be joyful (Psalm 100:1-2).
No matter what the stresses of the previous week, no matter what difficulties the worshiper may have encountered, he should leave them all behind when coming before God. How is that possible, especially when some or all of those stresses will still be there when normal life resumes? Can a person be joyful under such circumstances? ...Yes, he can, with the right perspective.
Many synagogues display an imperative on or above the ark containing the scrolls of God's word:
The psalmists relate many appropriate responses for a person who is "before the LORD."
Because there is generally a set time when you gather with others to express your devotion to God, you may not always feel like singing, especially if what preceded it that week or that morning was not conducive to praising God. Nevertheless, the author of Psalm 95, like many of the psalmists, invites his listeners to do:5
The second characteristic is that...
II. Worship should be thoughtful (Psalm 100:3).
Worship is not a mindless activity (despite the psalmist's comparison of the congregants to 'mindless' sheep).6 It must engage the intellect, generally by extolling the attributes or actions of God. Here the psalmist rehearses God's election of Israel, recalling the foundational expressions of His sovereignty and grace, that He chose Israel out of all the peoples on the earth to be His segula, His "treasured possession" (Exod 19:5; Deut 7:6). As Moses said,7
Your expression of devotion should evince a growing knowledge of God, especially as your confidence in His care for you grows. The author of Psalm 9 writes,
The third characteristic is that...
III. Worship should be thankful (Psalm 100:4).
The proper response for what God has done is gratitude. He is under no obligation to be beneficent to those He has made (Psalm 100:3). He is the potter and, at most, His people are the clay.8 They are insignificant lumps at His disposal.9 Nevertheless, He bestows great bounty on them in addition to granting them freedom from slavery in Egypt and bequeathing them the land of Caanan.10 As Paul notes,
What is your motivation when you go to church? Are you there to review what He has done for you and thank Him for it? You certainly have sufficient cause to be thankful. You should not, of course limit your gratitude to when you are in church.12 Gratitude should permeate your life. As Paul says, "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess 5:18).13 Nevertheless, one of the chief reasons for worship is to express your gratitude to God publicly for what He has given you personally. Worship, your worship, should be thankful.
The fourth characteristic is that...
IV. Worship should be purposeful (Psalm 100:5).
Worship should not be unplanned or unfocused. It is not enough for worship to be exciting (or exuberant), it must also be excellent (even exceptional)14 This high level of quality does not just mean the musicians are skilled, although that is certainly appropriate.15 They must also be committed to the One they are serving with their music.16 To that end, they must craft worship that directs attention in only one direction and to only one object. Similarly, the person who leads the congregation in worship must have as his goal to focus people's minds on the One who matters most. To do that, it is helpful to highlight God's attributes, as the author does here, making them a means of eliciting the congregation's response. The author chooses three: God's goodness, mercy, and faithfulness, all of which appear frequently in other psalms.17 These three attributes serve as the motivation for the congregation's devotion as the psalmist closes his song of thanksgiving.
When the worshiper comes before the LORD, he should not do so merely out of habit or obligation. Neither should he do so without a plan for expressing his devotion. He should have a reason that reflects an appreciation of who God is and of what He has done for His people. Worship should be purposeful.
Why do you go to church? Is it because that is just what you do on Saturday or Sunday, because that is what you have always done? Perhaps your reason is because that is what God wants, as the author of Hebrews writes: "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing" (Heb 10:25a). While that is a good reason, it must not be your only reason and certainly not your most important reason. John states in his revelation that one day people will worship God for His attributes (holiness) and His actions:
Psalm 100 is "A psalm of thanksgiving." Whether or not for a special occasion, it expresses The Way of Worship this author prescribes for his audience.
The first Jewish President of the United States phones his mother in Queens and invites her to come down for Thanksgiving. She says, "I'd love to, but it's too much trouble. I mean, I have to get a cab to the airport, and I really hate waiting on Queens Blvd...." He replies, "Mom! I'm the President! You won't have any need for a cab. I'll send a limo for you!"
His mother says, "I know, but then I'll have to get my ticket at the airport and try to get a seat on the plane, and I hate to sit in the middle.... It's just too much trouble." He replies, "Mom! I'm the President of the United States! I'll send Air Force One for you. It's my private jet!"
Then she says, "Oh, well, but then when we land, I'll have to carry all my luggage through the airport and try to get a cab.... It's really too much trouble." He replies, "Mom!! I'm the President! I'll send a helicopter for you! You won't have to lift a finger."
She says, "Yes, that's nice.. .but, you know, I still need a hotel room, the rooms are so expensive, and I really don't like the rooms..." A little irritated, he replies, "Mom! I'm the President! You'll stay at the White House." At last she agrees, "Well...all right...I guess I'll come."
The next day, she's on the phone with her friend Sandra. "So, Gilda, tell me...what's new?" "I'm visiting my son for Thanksgiving!" Gilda replies. "The doctor?" asks Sandra. "No," Gilda replies, "the other one."All mothers have high aspirations for what their children will become when they grow up. Teachers also have high aspirations for their students.
Once, when teaching a class of teenagers, I wanted them to memorize some scripture. I assured them that they would have plenty of time to work on it and that we would help the process by reviewing their passage each week. Not wanting to make the task too difficult, I selected two short psalms, only one of which they had to learn—either Psalm 100, which has five verses, or Psalm 121, which has eight verses. How do you think they made their decision? Did they consider the beauty of the imagery or the relevance of the psalm's message? ...No. They picked the shorter of the two, thinking that would be easier to memorize, because—from a student's perspective—easier is always better. If brevity were my primary reason for selecting a particular psalm, I would have suggested Psalm 117, which has only two verses. I was hoping to foster a more spiritual experience.
Whatever their reason for choosing Psalm 100, I hope the exercise of memorizing it helped the students to think about what it says, because this poem, short as it is, addresses The Way of Worship in general and mentions thanksgiving in particular.
Unlike many of the other psalms, this one does not name the author. We do not know if David, Asaph, Korah, or another poet composed it. The superscription does, however, identify its purpose. Psalm 100 is "A psalm of thanksgiving."1 It may have served as a call to worship in the temple, reminding the congregation that communal devotion to God must display four characteristics. The first characteristic is that...
I. Worship should be joyful (Psalm 100:1-2).
Shout joyfully to the LORD all the earth.
Serve the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing.
Many synagogues display an imperative on or above the ark containing the scrolls of God's word:
"Know before whom you stand." (b Ber 28b)At the risk of conflating members of the godhead, when anyone does that, when anyone appears before the God of creation, "the things of earth will grow strangely dim "2
- Isaiah was surrounded by political, social, and religious corruption. Yet when he stood before the Lord, none of what he was facing at the moment mattered.
- Ezekiel was ripped from his home and exiled in Babylon, a foreign and hostile environment. Yet when he stood before the Lord, none of what had happened to him mattered.
The psalmists relate many appropriate responses for a person who is "before the LORD."
- The author of Psalm 37 says he should "be still before the LORD" (v. 7).
- The author of Psalm 95 says he should "kneel before the LORD" (v. 6).
- The author of Psalm 116 says he should "walk before the LORD" (v. 9).
Because there is generally a set time when you gather with others to express your devotion to God, you may not always feel like singing, especially if what preceded it that week or that morning was not conducive to praising God. Nevertheless, the author of Psalm 95, like many of the psalmists, invites his listeners to do:5
Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. (Psalm 95:1-2)Given that corporate worship is generally scheduled, it cannot depend on how you feel, if the moment matches your mood. Worship is not about you; it is about Him. Therefore, you should not limit it to when you are emotionally disposed. Worship is mainly a matter of will; it is what you decide to do even when it is not what you desire to do. Worship, your worship, should be joyful.
The second characteristic is that...
II. Worship should be thoughtful (Psalm 100:3).
Know that the LORD is God; it is He who made us, and we are His.
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples.... It was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery.... Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. (Deut 7:7-9)By recounting these events, the believer's weekly expressions of devotion are opportunities for theological review, renewing the believer's understanding of who God is and of what He has done. Worship should be thoughtful.
Your expression of devotion should evince a growing knowledge of God, especially as your confidence in His care for you grows. The author of Psalm 9 writes,
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. (Psalm 9:10)You may not view what you do when the congregation gathers as an educational experience, but it can be, especially if it leads to a greater appreciation of God. In fact, you should look for ways that worship expands or enhances your understanding about the one you serve. Worship, your worship, should be thoughtful.
The third characteristic is that...
III. Worship should be thankful (Psalm 100:4).
Enter His gates with thanksgiving [and] His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him [and] bless His name.
The proper response for what God has done is gratitude. He is under no obligation to be beneficent to those He has made (Psalm 100:3). He is the potter and, at most, His people are the clay.8 They are insignificant lumps at His disposal.9 Nevertheless, He bestows great bounty on them in addition to granting them freedom from slavery in Egypt and bequeathing them the land of Caanan.10 As Paul notes,
Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! (Rom 9:4-5)Because of the many ways God has blessed His people, ways they did not deserve and ways they could not earn, it is only right that His people would express their gratitude. Indeed, gratitude is a common theme in Israelite worship.11 Given all that God has done and still does for His people, they should be, they must be grateful and express that gratitude when they proclaim their devotion to Him. Worship should be thankful.
What is your motivation when you go to church? Are you there to review what He has done for you and thank Him for it? You certainly have sufficient cause to be thankful. You should not, of course limit your gratitude to when you are in church.12 Gratitude should permeate your life. As Paul says, "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess 5:18).13 Nevertheless, one of the chief reasons for worship is to express your gratitude to God publicly for what He has given you personally. Worship, your worship, should be thankful.
The fourth characteristic is that...
IV. Worship should be purposeful (Psalm 100:5).
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is forever, and His faithfulness [endures] to every generation.
Worship should not be unplanned or unfocused. It is not enough for worship to be exciting (or exuberant), it must also be excellent (even exceptional)14 This high level of quality does not just mean the musicians are skilled, although that is certainly appropriate.15 They must also be committed to the One they are serving with their music.16 To that end, they must craft worship that directs attention in only one direction and to only one object. Similarly, the person who leads the congregation in worship must have as his goal to focus people's minds on the One who matters most. To do that, it is helpful to highlight God's attributes, as the author does here, making them a means of eliciting the congregation's response. The author chooses three: God's goodness, mercy, and faithfulness, all of which appear frequently in other psalms.17 These three attributes serve as the motivation for the congregation's devotion as the psalmist closes his song of thanksgiving.
When the worshiper comes before the LORD, he should not do so merely out of habit or obligation. Neither should he do so without a plan for expressing his devotion. He should have a reason that reflects an appreciation of who God is and of what He has done for His people. Worship should be purposeful.
Why do you go to church? Is it because that is just what you do on Saturday or Sunday, because that is what you have always done? Perhaps your reason is because that is what God wants, as the author of Hebrews writes: "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing" (Heb 10:25a). While that is a good reason, it must not be your only reason and certainly not your most important reason. John states in his revelation that one day people will worship God for His attributes (holiness) and His actions:
Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. (Rev 15:4)Why wait until later? Get a jump on eternity by making God's attributes and actions the reasons you worship Him now. Worship, your worship, should be purposeful.
Psalm 100 is "A psalm of thanksgiving." Whether or not for a special occasion, it expresses The Way of Worship this author prescribes for his audience.
- Worship should be joyful.
- Worship should be thoughtful.
- Worship should be thankful.
- Worship should be purposeful.
For a pdf including an Appendix ("The Literary Unity of Psalm 100"), Bibliography, and Endnotes, see here.
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Jim Skaggs