Bible Commentaries

Psalms 100.

An exhortation to praise God cheerfully, for his greatness, and for his power.

A Psalm of Praise.

Title. לתודה מזמור mizmor lethodah— This is the only psalm in the whole collection intitled "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. See Leviticus 7:12. The Greeks think it was written by David, who here invites all the world to join with the Israelites in the service of God, whose divine sovereignty he here recognizes.

Psalms 100:3. Know ye, &c.— Acknowledge that, &c. "Recognize Jehovah for your God." The next clause is rendered by Houbigant and Mudge, more conformably to the context, He hath made us, and we are his: his people, &c.

Psalms 100:5. For the Lord is good— I think the following, says Mudge, is the true version. Bless his name, for it is good: the Lord, for his favour is everlasting; and so every where. See Psalms 135:3. This last verse seems to be the response of the whole chorus of the priests, at the instant of firing the sacrifice; the prefect or precentor having sung the rest. But the psalm may also be understood as prophetical of the calling forth of Jews and Gentiles to the profession of the Gospel. And then, by the gates of Sion, Psalms 100:4, must be mystically meant the Christian church; and this last verse must be considered as the answer of the people to the Psalmist's call, in the same sense with Isaiah 2:2-3.

REFLECTIONS.—Praise is the work of heaven, and upon earth the pleasing employment of God's people.

1. The Psalmist calls upon them to laud the Lord, and directs how to worship and serve him acceptably. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, aloud proclaim his glory, all ye lands from pole to pole. Serve the Lord with gladness, not under the yoke of Jewish ceremonies, and the spirit of bondage, which under the law prevailed; but with that delight which the spirit of adoption gives, rendering his service perfect freedom: come before his presence with singing; in private and public worship celebrating his mercies, and pouring forth the tribute of our grateful songs. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise, joining our voices to the great congregation that in his house adore him: be thankful unto him for all the innumerable blessings, spiritual and temporal, which with unsparing hand he hath bestowed, and daily showers down upon us, and bless his name, ascribing to him the honour and glory of all, to whom alone the praise of all is due.

2. Abundant cause there is, why we should thus bless and praise him. [1.] He is God, the only true God, the fountain of blessedness, in his perfections transcendently adorable, and exalted far above all blessing and praise. [2.] He is the God that hath made us, and not we ourselves; in him we live, and move, and have our being; our bodies and our souls are both the work of his hands, and the new creation in Christ Jesus is by the mighty working of his Divine Spirit. [3.] We are his people; as our Creator, he hath the most incontestable right to our service; all we have and are is his, derived from him, and should be devoted to him; and before him we must at last render up an account of the talents with which he has intrusted us. [4.] We are the sheep of his pasture, bought with his blood, fed by his providence and grace, protected by his care, and regarded as his treasure. [5.] He is good in himself, and in the dispensations of his providence and grace is continually manifesting his goodness to us. [6.] His mercy is everlasting; he bears with us long and is kind, multiplies his pardons, and his love to faithful souls continues eternally. [7.] His truth endureth to all generations; his fidelity to his promises is inviolable for ever, and all the generations of his faithful people shall prove it to their great consolation. This know ye; O ye children of God, meditate on the glorious subject, and then it cannot but fill your enraptured hearts with love, and your joyful lips with grateful, constant, and ardent praise.