Psalms 100

General context

The psalm calls all lands to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, to serve him with gladness and to come before his presence with singing. The hearers are told to know that the Lord he is God, that he made us and not we ourselves, and that we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. They are to enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise, to be thankful to him and bless his name. The reason closes the psalm: the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endures to all generations.

Cited passages: Psalms 100:1, Psalms 100:2, Psalms 100:3, Psalms 100:4, Psalms 100:5

Psalms 100 (KJV)

This page shows the King James Version. In the app, reading opens in the Berean Standard Bible unless you have chosen another translation. The reader includes five translations: the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), the King James Version (KJV), the World English Bible (WEB), the Bible in Basic English (BBE), and the American Standard Version (ASV). Search covers three of them: Berean Standard, King James, and World English. Basic English and American Standard readers search the King James words.

Historical context

This source prints no superscription; the psalm is five verses and begins with Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. The commands are addressed to all ye lands, but verse 3 speaks as us and we, his people and the sheep of his pasture, so the voice belongs to a people who count themselves as made by him. The gates and courts of verse 4 are not named or located. No speaker, occasion or event is given, and nothing is asked of God; every verb directed at the hearers is a command to praise or to know. There is no Selah. The line it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves is printed with that wording in this source.

Cited passages: Psalms 100:1, Psalms 100:3, Psalms 100:4, Psalms 100:2, Psalms 100:5

Literary context

Seven commands carry the psalm: make a joyful noise, serve, come, know, enter, be thankful, bless. The verse that states who the speakers are, verse 3, sits in the middle, and it is the only verse that speaks in the first person. The movement is spatial, from all lands toward his presence, then through gates into courts, so the poem walks its hearers inward. Gladness, singing, thanksgiving and praise name the manner of approach, and the last verse gives the reason with For, in three clauses about goodness, mercy and truth, each stretched over time: everlasting, to all generations. Sheep of his pasture is the only image in the poem.

Cited passages: Psalms 100:1, Psalms 100:2, Psalms 100:3, Psalms 100:4, Psalms 100:5

Key moments

1. All ye lands (Psalms 100:1). Every land is called to make a joyful noise to the Lord.
2. He made us, not we ourselves (Psalms 100:3). The hearers are told to know that the Lord is God and they are his sheep.
3. Enter his gates (Psalms 100:4). Thanksgiving and praise are the way into his gates and courts.
4. Mercy everlasting (Psalms 100:5). The closing reason is the Lord's goodness, mercy and truth.

For reflection

The psalm tells all lands to know that they did not make themselves. What changes about thanksgiving when it starts from that admission rather than from a particular gift?