Power in Praise



Psalm 100
1Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
3Know 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.
4Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

It’s a brief 5 verses in this little gem of a praise song. The psalmist assumes that the one who meditates upon these words, or uses them as part of their own worship life already knows the God to whom they are addressed, for He is indeed praiseworthy.

So, what does it mean to “know God” and worship Him with understanding? That’s probably a far larger question than it may appear at first blush, for He is at the same time knowable through His Word and the world around us as well as being mysterious and hidden in many ways. But this psalm makes us feel like we are welcome in the courts of the Lord, which we are because the blood of Jesus has purchased our place there. And once there, we are overwhelmed by the glory of the Lord and compelled by that glory to bow down and worship the Most High God.

I heard a pastor at a worship conference describe what it might be like in the courts of the Lord and I say ‘might’ because we truly don’t have a clear picture. He maintained that those who thought the music was too loud in church were going to be sorely disappointed to learn that the praises for the Most High God were already extremely loud in the heavens. When that many trumpet-blowing angels and redeemed saints gather around the throne to sing about the Lord God, it’s gonna be LOUD! I remember my first experience at chapel while at the seminary with my husband. A large, acoustically dynamic room, filled with men who love the Lord, singing a favorite hymn – and they were enthusiastic. It was a moving experience and but a glimpse into what the worship in heaven must be like. This psalm leads us in that direction.

These 5 verses can be an incredibly helpful tool for the believer. Sometimes you just want praise God and uttering this song can be an integral part of a vibrant devotional life. Taken verse by verse you can think of times when you experienced the scenes described here. Each verse is cause for meditation upon the greatness of God.

Read the psalm a few more times. Dare I suggest you even try to commit some of it (all of it!!) to memory. And here’s the real test. When you’re down, struggling, bored, stressed – recite these words. The change that they make will be dramatic. Try it.

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