Psalm 100: A Call to Thanksgiving
November 27, 2025 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments
Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement
In ministry training, one area of focus is planning worship services. A minister of the gospel must know the why and the how of a worship service. One key component of the worship service is the Call to Worship. This is a summons from God to enter his presence with hearts ready to worship. Since the summons is from God himself, we look to Scripture for a Call to Worship. One of the most commonly known passages is Psalm 100. Read again this familiar text:
1 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.
Notice that there are seven commands. This is where we understand that this is a Call or a summons from God. He commands: make a joyful noise, serve the Lord, come with singing, know that he is God, enter with thanksgiving, give thanks, and bless. While there are nuances to each command, there is a common thread that ties them together: Worship the Lord as the greatest in your life. He is our greatest delight, our greatest strength, our greatest hope. The superlative commands direct us to place God in the highest place in our hearts and lives, with no competition.
The psalm gives two reasons for this call to exalt God. First, God has made us his people. Verse 3 says, “It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” These are not generic statements. They are redemptive statements. They speak to the fact that God rescues his people from the bondage to their sin in order to make them his own. We no longer are enemies or aliens to God. We are the sheep of his pasture. This is the precious and intimate picture of God’s providential care for his people. This is great reason to give thanks and make a joyful noise to the Lord. No matter what circumstances you face today, you are commanded to know that the Lord is your God; and there is great comfort in that.
The second reason is found in verse 5. “For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” If verse 3 speaks about what God has done for us, verse 5 speaks about who God is in his character. His steadfast love and faithfulness are two of God’s core character qualities that are repeated throughout the Old Testament. He is committed and unfailing in his love. He is faithful and trustworthy to himself and his promises. Therefore, God is good. This is a great reason to enter his presence with thanksgiving!
As you celebrate Thanksgiving this week, consider God’s summons to honor him above all things. He is good and has done good things for you. May you be moved to make a joyful noise to the Lord.
Happy Thanksgiving!
