Week of July 11

Our Purposeful Praise

Read: Hosea 13-14; Psalm 100; Hebrews 5
 
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!”
Psalm 100:1, ESV

Introduction

“Worship is an act that develops feelings for God, not a feeling for God that is expressed as an act of worship” (Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction). Our corporate acts of worship testify to the glory of God and provide an open invitation to the world to join us. God is worthy of the praise from all creation, and we provide an important catalyst to worship Him.

The Psalmist knew the importance of unified corporate worship and its intent to make known to God our sincere hearts and to make known to the world God’s sovereignty and goodness. Psalm 100 takes worship a step further when the author calls us to consider how we are to worship and who is to participate in the praise! Let’s examine and apply this important song to our lives.

Let's See What the Bible Says

The Psalm 100 worshipers have gathered together to sing about the Lord and His “covenant relationship” with them (EBC). Some believe that the psalm forms something like a doxology to Psalms 93 and 95-99. Perhaps the hymn was sung during a festival or some other holy observance, but the central identifying element in the psalm is the Lord. The division of the psalm is a simple two-parted one with a call to give thanks and a rationale for doing so. Regardless of who the worshipers were or when the worship took place, the psalm calls for worship.

The psalmist has a specific purpose in mind. He wants worshipers to know that it is through the worship event that the nations are to gain knowledge that Jehovah is God (vv. 2-3). God’s people are to reflect to those who have yet to believe in the one true God that He is the “Founder, Guardian, Lord, and Shepherd of His Church” (Lange, et al). Therefore, we are to be done with our selfish worship wars, especially when the world sees enough conflict every day. True worship is witness. How does this occur?

First, the psalmist calls for an attitude of thanksgiving on our part (vv. 1-2). In so doing, the world is expected to recognize who the Lord is. It is by His grace and blessings that His people exist. Even the nations are invited to sing hymns to the Lord and worship Him (cf. Isaiah 56:6-7)! This invitation is a “free offer,” where the aim is for the world to submit to His rule with genuine hearts and gratitude for His covenant promises (v. 3). We may even say that true worship is missional. There is more to consider.

Secondly, our praise paves a path for the world to approach the Father. Try quickly repeating that last sentence three times in succession! Seriously, “gladness” on behalf of all means that there is genuine joy that flows from living in harmony with one another and the Creator. I wonder how many times, if ever, we have entered our houses of worship thinking that the way to conquer the hearts of the world is to invite them to praise our good God along with us? Rather than entice them to attend with our breakfast donuts and coffee, we would encourage them to receive God’s benefits of being shepherded and having “safe pasture” (Psalm 23; Luke 15:3-6; and John 10:1-18).

Thirdly, the sweet harmony of our songs should produce sincere unity in our hearts. All hearts then are called to give thanks to the Lord (v. 4). There is a specific order to worship: enter, give thanks, and praise. We are to lift our hearts and voices in thanksgiving from the moment that we cross the threshold of our houses of worship. Our focus is God’s revelation of Himself in His “perfections and acts” (cf. Psalm139:1; Jeremiah 33:11; EBC). We are to address God in a certain way by calling Him “good” (Psalm 106:1; 107:1; and 136:1). We are to praise Him for being full of love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6-7). He is also faithful to His people because He is truthful and gave them His word to be so (v. 5; EBC).

Let's Deepen Our Walk

My first pastorate observed fifth Sunday services where all the churches in the area would join in a Sunday evening worship service. Those were memorable occasions because they produced community among believers. I am chuckling because once the service was over people laid aside their unity and picked up the rivalries that had kept them separated for decades. I thought to myself, “Surely, there must be a better way.” Indeed, there is a better path.

Here are some thoughts for our spiritual growth. First, this psalm is not about listening; instead, it is about singing! “Make a joyful noise” translates a word that means “to shout,” meaning to sing loudly. The call is for all the nations to offer God their praise. You will not praise what you do not worship, so we see evidence in this passage that the worshipers are inviting the world to enter into a relationship with the one true God. True worship causes the worshiper to eliminate all hostility toward others (cf. Ephesians 4:25).

Secondly, there cannot be genuine singing without submitting. The invitation is to know Him, meaning that the world is to acknowledge and confess Him as their Lord and only true God (100:3; 1 Kings 18:39; cf. Philippians 2:9-11). The same holds true for us. Thirdly, all worshipers must confess their accountability to Him (“It is he who has made us”), this will lead us to testify that we are dependent upon Him (“the sheep of his pasture”). Lastly, and Christians the world over need to heed this truth: This God is not about blasting nonbelievers to “smithereens,” but blessing them so that they will be saved (100:5, “good,” “love,” and “faithfulness”).

Let's Think and Discuss

1. Take a moment to craft a worship service based upon the events in your life from that past week. Use portions of Psalm 100 as headings. Then, pause to offer God your heartfelt thanks for His goodness and strive to live in such a way that even nonbelievers see God’s goodness.

2. For families: A great way to apply today’s passage is to write your own worship service for the Sunday you will be gone on vacation this year and hold the service wherever you are (campground, the lake, in your hotel room). Or arrange to invite friends or other family and host one in your own home one Saturday night. Design your worship service around Psalm 100, and adjust it to express the worship of your family as in the devotional above. Include every member, so that each one can share in leading the family in worship. Choose your praise songs and have the songs available for singing along. God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3) and is pleased to receive our praise!

May all your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock