SHOUT FOR JOY

Psalm 100:1-5 / Keywords 100:3

Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

 

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

100:1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

2     Worship the Lord with gladness;

    come before him with joyful songs.

3 Know that the Lord is God.

    It is he who made us, and we are his[a];

    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving

    and his courts with praise;

    give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Footnotes

a. Psalm 100:3 Or and not we ourselves

1. I believe that God created us because he imagined that we would like it. However, not every day is a joyous occasion. While some look forward to spending sweet time with family, others may be lonely or be grieving a loss. While it may not always feel like it, all life is a gift from God. Every day we inhabit this life, we can experience all its wonders and emotions. In our joy, it is OK and good to shout, sing, and dance. If we are sad, it is OK to cry out. One woman I know shouted “Praise the Lord!” both at her son’s wedding and at her husband’s funeral. It was a beautiful testimony to God’s love and mercy in all things.

 

2. God is our creator, and he is good. In love, he created us and gave us life. In love, he sustains us. In love, he provides when we humbly ask him. When we live in humility and gratitude, each day may be filled with joy, grace, and hope.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for your love and life-giving spirit poured out on us.

One Word His love endures forever