An Invitation To The Party

Psalm 100:4-5

4Enter his gates with thanksgiving;

go into his courts with praise.

Give thanks to him and bless his name.

5For the LORD is good.

His unfailing love continues forever,

and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

A man threw a party, sending out invitations to all his friends. But when the time arrived, those invited started offering excuses.

“I’m buying some real estate, and I need to inspect it.”

“I just got some new software, and I need to try it out.”

“I just got married and have some things to take care of.”

Meanwhile the host was sitting there with a live band, bowls of crab dip, and no guests. What did he do? Well, he went out to the streets, inviting to his party anyone he saw: travelers, cops, cab drivers, hookers, pushers, beggars. “Come on over! There’s plenty of food and festivity for all!”

Jesus told a story much like this one to describe God’s kingdom (Luke 14:16-24). Since the original guest list was filled with names of people who didn’t come, God threw open his gates to everyone—rich and poor, Jew and Gentile, good and bad. While the first group of people greeted the invitation with yawns, the second group was excited. They would certainly “enter his gates with thanksgiving.”

Psalm 100 gives us a glimpse of God’s great party. There’s plenty of singing and shouting, laughter and merriment, thanks and praise. The whole earth is invited to respond to the Lord’s “unfailing love.” The Lord has taken care of everything, so all you have to do is show up.

For why? the Lord our God is good,

His mercy is forever sure;

His truth at all times firmly stood,

And shall from age to age endure.

WILLIAM KETHE

Fascinating Fact

The first part of the psalm may have been chanted by those who gave burnt offerings, and the last verses may have been the response, sung by the whole company of singers when the fire was applied to the offering.

Notable Quotable

“Most of the bars have what is called a ‘happy hour.’ I wish we had a ‘happy hour’ in church, without the liquid.”

RADIO PREACHER J. VERNON MCGEE COMMENTING ON Psalm 100