A Psalm Of Thanksgiving

A Psalm of Thanksgiving

Q: Fill in the missing words: “Enter his gates with _____________; go into his courts with __________. Give __________to him and praise his name.”

• a. offerings, sacrifices, tribute
• b. thanksgiving, praise, thanks
• c. praise, joy, thanks

What gets you really excited? Is it watching a good football game on television with your dad? Is it scoring a goal for your team in your Saturday morning soccer game? Is it getting a perfect test score in math? Different things cause different people to become excited.

Psalm 100 calls us to have the same kind of excitement and enthusiasm in worshiping God. That doesn’t mean standing up and cheering for God during a church service like you would cheer for a home run during a baseball game, although that would certainly show enthusiasm. It means being excited about the chance to worship the very God who created you and everything around you.

Psalm 100:1-2 says, “Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth! Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.” God wants us to be joyful about spending time with him. He wants us to “enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.” How can you do that? By making time each day to spend with him. By singing and praying enthusiastically. And by attending Sunday school and church willingly and cheerfully rather than grumbling about how early you have to get up or what you have to wear.

Psalm 100 is a short psalm having only five verses, but those verses have a lot to say about joyfully worshiping God.

For You

Why should you worship God joyfully? (Hint: Today’s verse has the answer.)

Answer: b

For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.   Psalm 100:5

(The Whole Story: Psalm 100)