Read Psalm 100 right now. I’ll wait.
Now that you have done that, what you just read was an invitation for the Lord’s people to recognize the Lord and His goodness and to publicly acknowledge Him. While this Psalm does not call on us to praise the Lord with thankfulness, it does describe for us the nature of thanksgiving. Look at these aspects of thanksgiving:
- Thanksgiving is joyous (vs 1-2). First, “SHOUT joyfully to the Lord.” We are to vocally proclaim our joyful thanks. Our thankfulness needs to show. Second, “SERVE the Lord with gladness.” God has done so much for us and we have so much to be thankful for. We should be willing servants. We must be about serving the Lord with our hands, head and heart. Then underline the word “gladness.” Third, “Come before Him with JOYFUL SINGING.” You can tell a lot about a church by its singing. A spiritually alive church has an intensity in their singing whether there is 10 or 10,000 in attendance. Colossians 3:16 (the last phrase): “singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
- Thanksgiving must be with a purpose (v. 3). “Know that the Lord Himself is God, it is He who has made us and not we ourselves.” My paraphrase: “The Lord is God and you are not.” Our world has become so ungrateful. When we know who God is and who we are, we will give him thanks.
- Thanksgiving must be passionate (v. 4). “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.” When we come together, is there praise and gratitude? Or are there pockets around the building where there is grumbling and griping? Thanksgiving needs to come from the heart and with a passionate attitude.
- Thanksgiving needs to be perpetual (v. 5). Notice the three attributes of God. First, “The Lord is GOOD.” No variation with Him. No dark side. He is always good. Second, “His MERCY is everlasting.” You and I deserve judgement because we are sinful. Yet, God not only has mercy on us, it is everlasting. Third, “His TRUTH endures forever.” Read Matthew 24:35 and Isaiah 40:8. From the beginning of time until today, the Word of God endures.
We have so much for which we can be thankful. God has blessed us all immeasurably. Let’s not allow Thanksgiving week to be consumed with food, football, family, shopping and all the other festivities without remembering the One from whom all blessings flow. And let us make our Thanksgiving joyous, purposeful, passionate, and never-ending.
– David Myers