Psalm 100 Be Thankful to the Lord

Psalm 100  Be Thankful to the Lord

An Expository Sermon by Wesley McCarter

November 25, 2020


Introduction

How will you celebrate Thanksgiving? Will you cook a big meal? Will it just be a day of rest? Will the kids and grandkids paint those little turkeys with their handprints or make little Indian hats with feathers?

 

I have thought of some of the classic Thanksgiving episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond and wondered if some families actually experience some of those same things. One episode has a woman making a vegetarian turkey that the men are scared to eat, and another has the whole extended family attempting to do a skit of Indians and pilgrims. There is lots of comedy, and I’m sure there has been some humorous times at your family get-togethers over the years and maybe even some nerve-wracking times as well. 

 

Thanksgiving is said to be a uniquely American holiday. Not surprisingly, Thanksgiving as an American federal holiday is said to be a cultural and secular holiday. In many ways it is just that. There are traditions of turkey and dressing, backyard football games, and fall decorations. It looks fairly neutral.

 

However, look at the two terms so often used: “Thanksgiving” and “holiday.”

 

A holiday is a “holy day” at its root. It is a day set aside for a particular purpose—to rest from work, to remember, to reflect, to celebrate.

 

Thanksgiving entails giving thanks to someone. Gifts and blessings imply a Giver. 

 

Christians have always seen thanksgiving as an indispensable part of the life of faith and worship. It is essential in our devotion to God.

 

Thanksgiving, as an American holiday, has these Christian underpinnings. While ongoing thanksgiving is a commitment of the Christian life, we have also always found value in taking this special day every year to do it together as churches and as families.

 

I am happy to share this message with you now to help you do just that—give thanks to God.

 

May God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord and the Holy Spirit be hallowed and appreciated in our churches, in our families, and in our hearts.

 

I’d like to share some reflections with you from Psalm 100, that most famous of the thanksgiving psalms found in the psalter.

 

READ Scripture- This is the Word of God

 

1 Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!

This is about the people of God who gather to worship Him. In the Old Testament context, of course, this was primarily a Temple gathering. In the New Testament context, we speak of the gathered church. That’s what it means to be a church, to gather. The people of God have always gathered to worship the Lord, to make a joyful sound. 

 

But notice that the call here goes out to all the lands. All the peoples of the earth are called upon to make a joyful shout to the Lord. One commentator writes, “This verse claims the world for God” (Kidner). I think it may better be said that this verse is a call for all the world to realize to whom it belongs. It is a call for the whole world to acknowledge its Creator.

 

2 Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.

There is an eagerness on the part of God’s people to serve Him. There is joy and gladness. There is enthusiasm. That is why believers come before His presence, in the gathered assembly, to sing to Him and about Him. Worship is service. It is the first service and all other service to God flows out of it. To this day, in English, we refer to our appointed times of worship as worship “services.” The well-respected scholar on the psalms, Derek Kidner writes, “[S]ervice is indivisible; it is a word which leaves no gap or choice between worship and work. (We find this confirmed, incidentally, in practice, in that praise and prayer go stale in isolation, and activity goes sterile.)” 

 

3 Know that the LORD, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

You may have noticed in this psalm that “LORD” is in all caps. You probably know that this means that the divine name Yahweh is used. The one who revealed Himself to Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Moses; the one who made Himself known to Israel; Yahweh, the Great I AM is God. He is Creator and Sustainer. He is Sovereign. He is the eternally existing and self-existing one. He is the uncreated one, the beginning and end.

 

Because He is Creator and created everything, including us, all creation belongs to Him, including us. We have not made ourselves. We are merely creatures. We were created in His image for His glory, created by Him and for Him. Human beings, of course, are a special creation of the Lord God. Humans are created in God’s image, His very likeness. This is personal, and that is why it we are reminded by the psalmist that we are “His people” and the “sheep of His pasture.” He has a relationship with us. We were created in His image in order to know Him, worship Him, serve Him, and to obey Him.

 

This imagery of us as sheep and God as shepherd gives us a personal feel, and we see God as caring, providing, and protecting. The ancient cultural background tells us that this is often how kings were viewed. In Israel, David is the architype of the shepherd-king. The point that the psalmist is making here is that Yahweh God is our King. He is King of all the earth. And, as a king, one might imagine His palace and having to enter by the gates and into the courts. This is the imagery of the next verse.

 

4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Verse four is in the context of worship. We take the initiative to “Enter.” We get up and go. As we enter “His gates” and “His courts,” language that originally referred to the Temple, we do so with thanksgiving, being thankful to Him (the LORD God), and we bless His name. 

 

Let me just make a clear statement right here, the New Testament application of Temple worship is in the context of the gathered church on the Lord’s Day. Passages such as 1 Pet 2:4-5, 9; Eph 2:19-22; and 1 Cor 3:9-17 explain how the gathering of Christians as a church becomes the spiritual temple within which God’s Holy Spirit dwells. 

 

Back to Psalm 100:4—notice that thanksgiving is repeated. This is usual for Hebrew poetry. It is parallelism. It is repetitious for singing, places an emphasis on the point being made, and makes it memorable for the worshipper. Thanksgiving is something we must all do. Rom 1:21 highlights ungratefulness as a hallmark of the godless, darkened, and condemned society. In the psalm, the repetition of thanksgiving highlights the natural inclination for the people of God to give thanks to God. This is an act. It is a “giving.” It is our worship and our service.

 

We bless His name. Notice that the name of Yahweh is repeated several times in this brief psalm. Why is that? To put the Lord front and center. To lift Him up and to humble ourselves. He is the subject, and we are not (Goldingay).

 

5 For the LORD is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations.

The basis of our thanksgiving, a major reason for it is stated in verse 5: “For the LORD is good.” Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights (Jas 1:17). The Lord not only gives good, He not only does good, He is good. This is who He is. This is His very character. This is the God we worship and serve.

 

His “mercy” or “loyal love” or “covenant faithfulness” is everlasting. His “truth” or “faithfulness” endures to all generations. This is good news. This is reason to give thanks to God. He truly is good.

 

Conclusion and Christian Application

(1) The world needs to hear that there is a Creator, that they are created in His image, and that they are created to know Him and enjoy Him forever. There is a God to whom we must give thanks.

 

(2) Christians, be thankful. Yes, show appreciation to Christian brethren, friends, and relatives, but, most vitally, give thanks to God from whom all blessings flow. The people you have in your life are there because of the Lord. The church you are a member of is a creation of God and a purchase of Jesus with His own precious blood. Every other good gift you have is from God. Be thankful. If we shun thankfulness, we will be greedy, prideful, arrogant, selfish, and worse. We will damage our Christian witness and even jeopardize our own souls. Let the light of Christ fill you, and be thankful. Praise God, make shouts of joy to Him, serve Him with gladness, come before Him with singing, be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

 

(3) John Goldingay reflects upon this psalm with the words, “Theologically, its central affirmation is ‘Yhwh—he is God.’ Thus the whole earth is bidden to acknowledge Yhwh, not as mere overwhelmed and unwilling vassals but as people who ‘serve with joy.’”

 

(4) God is worthy of thanksgiving. His very nature and His acts of redemption demand our gratitude. Reflect upon the great love of God in Christ Jesus who laid down His life for you and even for the sins of the whole world. As Kidner points out, we not only have God’s gates and courts to enter, but we are invited into the Holy of Holies, into the very presence of God, because of the new and living way. The blood of Jesus, the atoning sacrifice He has made secures our forgiveness of sins, our cleansing. Peace between God and us is accomplished because of Christ’s sacrifice. He is worthy of our praise. He is to be glorified. We must give thanks to Him and bless His name.

The Church Needs Members Who Are. . .

The Church needs members who are. . .

 

(1) Faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ

 

(2) Committed to one another

 

(3) Persistent in prayer

 

(4) Devoted to the Bible as God’s Word

 

(5) Consistently present in church services and ministries

 

(6) Generous to the church, individual members, and others

 

(7) Courageous in the face of pressure and threats

 

(8) Pursuing holiness

 

(9) Great Commission driven 

 

(10) Alert to the kingdom opportunities around them

What We are For

What We are For

by Wesley C. McCarter


Many people make the claim that Christians only make a stand on things that they are against. It is true that many who claim the name of Christ seemingly show more passion for the things that the Bible condemns than for the things that the Bible promotes. But, we are not near that extreme. We try to speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where the Bible is silent. We try to speak truth on both sides, that mankind is created in the image of God, which is a great positive truth, and that mankind is fallen and sinful to the point of condemnation because of the holy God’s righteous judgment.

 

(1) We are for the truths that God exists, that He is one in essence and three in persons, and that He is Creator of every single thing, the things we can see and the things we cannot see.

 

(2) We are for the word of God. The Bible is God’s clear revelation to us of his character, his will, the order he has given creation, and our hope of ultimate salvation and eternal life.

 

(3) We are for the gospel — believing it, defending it, sharing it, promoting it, proclaiming it in this pulpit, in our church classrooms, in our homes, in our communities, and around the world among every nation and language and people group.

 

(4) We are for God as sovereign over our lives. We are for learning and proclaiming his holiness and his character and his deeds in history.

 

(5) We are for Jesus Christ as unique Son of God and the only Savior of the world.

 

(6) We are for marriage between one man and one woman. This is for the glory of God and for human flourishing.

 

(7) We are for wives respecting their husbands and following their godly lead. We are for husbands loving their wives like Christ loved the church.

 

(8) We are for raising children “in the Lord.” We are for raising boys to be men and girls to be women. We are for guiding them in the faith.

 

(9) We are for people working hard, submitting to leadership at work, doing a good job, and earning a living. We are for people making as much money as possible and giving away as much money as possible.

 

(10) We are for submitting to our governing authorities. And we are for praying for all people and those in high positions of government. 

 

(11) We are for compassion and support and generosity. We are for reconciliation and forgiveness.

 

(12) We are for older men mentoring younger men and older women mentoring younger women.

 

(13) We are for godly leadership in the church. For a plurality of elders who are biblically qualified, called by God to lead, love the Lord, their families, and the church.

 

(14) We are for honesty, letting our yes be yes and our no be no. Our word being our honor. We are for telling the truth. 

 

(15) We are for God’s glory and human flourishing.

A Poem by C. T. Studd: Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Past

 Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Past

by C. T. Studd, 1860 - 1931

English Missionary to China, India, and Africa


Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life's busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill. living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Oh, let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, “Thy will be done;”
And when at last I'll hear the call, I know I'll say, “twas worth it all;”
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I'll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.

A Poem by E. Shillito: Jesus of the Scars

 Jesus of the Scars

by Edward Shillito

“Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” John 20:27

If we have never sought, we seek Thee now;
Thine eyes burn through the dark, our only stars;

We must have sight of thorn-pricks on Thy brow; We must have Thee, O Jesus of the Scars.

The heavens frighten us; they are too calm; In all the universe we have no place.

Our wounds are hurting us; where is the balm? Lord Jesus, by Thy Scars, we claim Thy grace.

If, when the doors are shut, Thou drawest near, Only reveal those hands, that side of Thine;

We know to-day what wounds are, have no fear, Show us Thy Scars, we know the countersign.

The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak; They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne; But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak,

And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.

A poem by Edward Shillito (1872-1948), a Free Church minister in England during the First World War. Cited by D.A. Carson in How Long, O Lord?: Reflections on Suffering and Evil on page 170 of the 2nd edition. According to Carson: The poem is found in Shillito’s Jesus of the Scars, and Other Poems, but I have not been able to obtain a copy. The poem is reprinted in William Temple, Readings in St. John’s Gospel (New York: St. Martin’s, 1968), 366).

What have Christians Learned from COVID-19?

May 6, 2020
What have we learned (for the first time, in a fresh way, or been reminded) from the COVID-19 pandemic and the stay-at-home orders?

Among many lessons, we have learned and are continuing to learn:

#1 We have learned that we are not in control.

#2 We have learned that our health is fragile, and our lives are temporary.

#3 We have learned that we should hold on to our worldly possessions loosely.

#4 We have learned that we have a lot for which to be thankful.

#5 We have learned how much prayer we need.

#6 We have learned how important the church is.

#7 We have learned that ministry is more than a building.

#8 We have learned that repentance is necessary.

#9 We have learned that the Gospel is relevant in ordinary and good times as well as strange and uncertain ones.

#10 We have learned that we are living history.