Bible Commentaries

Psalms 100:1 « A Psalm of praise. » Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

A Psalm of praise] Suavis et gravis, short and sweet; appointed, likely, to be sung at the thank offerings, quando pacifica erant offerenda, say the Italian and Spanish annotators. See Psalms 100:4. Enter with thanksgiving, or with thank sacrifice, Leviticus 7:12.

Ver. 1. All ye lands] Both Jews and Gentiles, Romans 15:10-11, for your common salvation.

Psalms 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Ver. 2. Serve the Lord with gladness] The Cabbalists have a proverb, The Holy Ghost singeth not but out of a glad heart. Cheerfulness is much called for in both Testaments, God loveth a cheerful server.

Psalms 100:3 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.

Ver. 3. Know ye that the Lord he is God] Be convinced of it, ye heathens, whose fantasies have forged false gods; and ye Jews, acknowledge the true God to be Three in one, and One in three.

It is he that hath made us] And newly made us; "for we are his workmanship" (a second time) "created in Christ Jesus unto good works," Ephesians 2:10. The word signifieth, saith Kimchi, Ornare beneficiis, afficere donis, gratiis cumulare {confer 1 Samuel 12:6} and so is distinguished from Bara, to create, and Jatsar, to form. William of Malmesbury telleth of a certain emperor of Germany, who, coming by chance into a church on the sabbath day, found there a most misshapen priest, pene portentum naturae, insomuch as the emperor much scorned and contemned him; but when he heard him read those words in the service, "For it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves," the emperor checked his own proud thoughts, and made inquiry into the quality and conditions of the man, and finding, upon examination, that he was a very learned and devout man, he made him archbishop of Collen, which place he discharged with much commendations.

We are his people, and the sheep] See Psalms 95:7. This is a privilege proper to the communion of saints.

Psalms 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name.

Ver. 4. Enter into his gates, &c.] As sheep into his sheepfolds, frequent his public ordinances, wait at the posts of the gates of wisdom; there, as at a heavenly exchange, the smuts present duty, and God confers mercy.

Psalms 100:5 For the LORD [is] good; his mercy [is] everlasting; and his truth [endureth] to all generations.

Ver. 5. For the Lord is good] Though we be evil, he giveth us all these good things gratis; and although we provoke him daily to punish us, yet his mercy is everlasting: like a fountain, it runneth after it hath run; and as the sun, which shineth after it hath shined. See Zechariah 13:1; Joh_1:27.

And his truth endureth to all generations] Heb. to generation and generation. He saith not, for ever, saith an interpreter, because his promises are true, but under a condition, which perhaps the following generations will not observe; the condition is to the promise as an oar in a boat, or stern of a ship, which turns it another way.