Psalm 100
A Psalm of Praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
THOMAS COKE (1747-1814): This is the only psalm in the whole collection entitled “A Psalm of Praise;” and it is supposed to have received this appellation because peculiarly adapted, if not designed, to be sung when the sacrifices of thanksgiving were offered.
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): The invitation to worship here given is not a melancholy one, as though adoration were a funeral solemnity, but a cheery, gladsome exhortation, as though we were bidden to a marriage feast.
CHARLES BRIDGES (1794-1869): Sometimes a naturally morose temper gives a gloomy tinge to religion. Professors forget, that it is no matter of option, whether they should be happy or not; that it is their obligation no less than their privilege to be so; that the commands of God on this duty carry weight, and demand obedience.
THOMAS WATSON (1620-1686): “Serve the Lord with gladness.” It is a sign the oil of grace hath been poured into the heart “when the oil of gladness” shines on the countenance. Cheerfulness credits religion.
C. H. SPURGEON: There is a certain breed of Calvinists, whom I do not envy, who are always jeering and sneering as much as ever they can at the full assurance of faith. I have seen their long faces; I have heard their whining periods, and read their dismal sentences, in which they say something to this effect —“Groan in the Lord alway, and again I say, groan! He that mourneth and weepeth, he that doubteth and feareth, he that distrusteth and dishonoureth his God, shall be saved.” That seems to be the sum and substance of their very ungospel-like gospel.
WILLIAM GURNALL (1617-1679): A sad heart does not become a living hope.
CHARLES BRIDGES: From doubting, the soul comes to chilling fear; thence to gloomy despondency.
A. W. PINK (1886-1952): In such a case the means of grace may still be used and duties performed, but there is no joy in the one or thankful gratitude behind the other. It is more the service of a slave than of a son.
EDWARD PAYSON (1783-1827): I need not inform you that the word, gospel, literally signifies “glad tidings,” Romans 10:15―In a word, do you feel that the gospel is glorious glad tidings of great joy? and is it the language of your hearts, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift?” If not, it is most certain that you never believed the gospel; for the apostle Paul assures us, that it does work effectually in all that believe; and we have already seen that it has, in all ages, filled the hearts of believers with joy, and their lips with praise.
CHARLES SIMEON (1759-1836): See, then, in this psalm what is the proper effect of religion upon the soul…See it in the Psalmist’s own experience; and see it in all whom he here addresses. Is this gloom or melancholy? Is it not the very reverse? Doubtless, as far as we deviate from religion, we have need to weep and mourn: but, in proportion as we conform to it, and imbibe its spirit, it will fill us with unutterable joy. What is it that the glorified saints are now doing in heaven? Are they not beholding all the glory of their God and Saviour, and singing His praise for all the wondrous works which He has done? This, then, is religion in perfection: and the privilege of God’s people now is, to be assimilated to them, in mind, in spirit, in employment. Be aware of this, my beloved Brethren; and learn, not only to estimate religion aright, but to have it reigning in your hearts, and exemplified in your lives.
A. W. PINK: If there be no joy, there can be no worship.
WILLIAM GURNALL: “Saints shall shout aloud for joy,” Psalm 132:16. To see a wicked man merry, or a Christian sad and dumpish, is alike uncomely…Truly the saint’s heaviness reflects unkindly upon God Himself: we do not commend His cheer, if it doth not cheer us. O Christians, let the world see you are not losers in your joy, since you have been acquainted with the Gospel; give them not cause to think by your uncomfortable walking, that when they turn Christians, they must bid all joy farewell, and resolve to spend their days in a house of mourning.
C. H. SPURGEON: What was the very first emotion that you and I felt when we had a sense of guilt removed? We felt joy for our own sake; but immediately after, or at the same instant, we felt such intense gratitude to God that we loved Him beyond all expression.
A. W. PINK: Thankfulness is an expression of love.
THOMAS GOODWIN (1600-1679): We never thank God truly, but our hearts are warmed with His love, and we rejoice in Him; therefore, when Mary praised God, she said, “My spirit doth magnify the Lord, and rejoice in God my Saviour,” Luke 1:46,47; and as joy is the ground of it, so the consequent and the issue of it.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): All the lines of joy must meet in Him as in the centre. Let it express itself in praise and thanksgiving.
C. H. SPURGEON: Is there any true praise without joy? Is not praise a twin brother to joy? And do not joy and praise always dwell together?
JEREMIAH DYKE (1584-1639): There is nothing that so feeds spiritual joy, and so maintains and holds up that holy frame that should be in the heart in the duty of thanksgiving, as meditation. That is the oil and the fuel that keeps such fire burning. The sweeter our meditation is, the more is the heart prepared and enlarged to praises, thanksgiving, and joy in the Lord.
C. H. SPURGEON: Gratitude is that oil which makes the wheels of life revolve easily; and if anybody ought to be grateful, surely we are the men and women, for whom the Lord has done so much: “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise.”
JOHN CALVIN (1509-1564): Besides, the Psalmist adds, that God’s mercy endureth for ever, and that His truth also is everlasting, to point out to us that we can never be at a loss for constant cause of praising Him. If, then, God never ceases to deal with us in this manner, it would argue the basest ingratitude on our part, if we wearied in rendering to Him the tribute of praise to which He is entitled.
