Psalm 100: From Every Nation and Generation

Key Verse
1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!... 5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations
 
Meditation
When Jesus reveals Himself as “The Good Shepherd,” He makes sure to share that He “has sheep that are not of this fold.” (John 10, esp 10:16) God’s “human sheep” (Ezekiel 34:31) are from every tribe, tongue, and nation (Revelation 5:9-10) and the celebration from their salvation is for every generation.

In today’s reading, “All the earth” is commanded to join the chorus of joyful noise, serving the Lord with gladness and coming into His presence with thanksgiving (vv. 1-2).
 
“All generations” are to know the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever, His faithfulness to His children and our children’s children (vv. 4-5).
 
“We are His… the sheep of His pasture” (v. 3).  God knows the sheep of His pasture personally. Corporately we come into His fold as His flock, responding to His work and trusting His word.
 
The final verse reveals the reasons for worship as covenantal:
“The Lord is good…” Our good shepherd laid His life down for His sheep.
“His steadfast love endures forever…” Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
“His faithfulness endures to all generations.” His covenant commitment is based on His work, not ours. God is faithful when we are faithless.
 
The right response to God’s sacrificial, covenant, faithful love in Jesus Christ is to “make a joyful noise!” That is, to sing His praise with our lips, lives, labor, and loves. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
 
Today’s Reading
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2     Serve the Lord with gladness!
    Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you in today’s psalm, especially the focus of “all the earth” making a joyful noise?
 
- What holds you back from making a joyful noise to the Lord?
 
-How does the celebration of God’s covenant love to every generation empower you to sing His praise with your lips, life, and labor? Where, specifically, would you like to make a joyful noise?
 
Key Verse
1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!... 5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations