~ written by Connie Dunmyer
You’ve heard the quote “big things come in small packages” said before. And I know something about “small packages”, being that I’m short. So believe me when I say Psalm 100 is a very short psalm. I am 5 feet, and this Psalm has 5 verses. Hmmm. We may be onto something here.
At the top of the psalm in my Bible is says “A psalm. For giving thanks.” And as I contemplated those words – these 5 short verses – I thought, shouldn’t our thankful psalms be the longest psalms we bring? Or shouldn’t they at least be as long as the mournful desperate ones we turn to so often? But isn’t that just like me … such a human-nature-thing. I can drone on and on about things I want, things I need, things I worry about – as though God didn’t hear me correctly the first time. And then when He answers my prayer, I say “thanks” and go on my merry way because after all, I am very busy.
Psalm 100 (ESV)
1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Ahhhh! Then as I read this – (multiple times because having only 5 verses gives me time to do so) – it occurs to me that it may be short, but it really does say it all.
So I decided to look at it from a practical aspect. Because it’s easy to say “thanks” and even mean it. BUT is there more to LIVING that gratitude. There are some actions involved in this psalm. Remember as kids going to Vacation Bible School, and learning new songs that had all those motions? (Well, actually this 65-year-old-memory knows that happened, but I really don’t remember all the motions.) Anyway … let’s prep for some praise actions...
Actions:
- Make a joyful noise! NIV says “Shout”. So do not be quiet. Don’t just tell God thanks – but make such a racket, neighbors want to know what’s going on!
- Serve the Lord. Whoa – serve? NIV says “Worship”. And how do I serve the Lord? By serving others. (Matthew 25:40) And apparently to do so is worship. (and I thought it was just singing fun songs about God.)
- Come to His presence. Don’t stay away just because I’m hurt, or tired, or weary, or even cynical. Make the time to connect one-on-one with God. And sing a song or two along with Him.
- Know God. Knowledge takes effort. So there’s some study involved here. I should read and study all I can, until such time as I’m convinced of Who God is, and who I am in Him.
- Enter His gates/courts. I think this is similar to “Come” but perhaps it’s private vs public. My thanksgiving should be as public as possible.
- Give. Sometimes giving thanks is a sacrifice. Perhaps God’s timing was not what I wanted. Perhaps God even said “no”. Have I considered that I should be thanking God for those “no” answers as well?
- Bless His Name. Praise Him. For the answer, sure. But to Bless the Lord goes beyond my physical wants & needs of life. To Bless His Name is to dig deep and contemplate the amazing attributes of God. And that even in all His amaziness, He is my Father and He loves me (& you) with a perfect love more powerful than hell itself.
Let’s also note, that even though this is a Psalm for Giving Thanks, the writer does not say it was for something we have received. In fact, I think it’s entirely possible that this Psalm is meant for those of us who are waiting for our miracle, waiting for our answer.
When time and trial overtakes us,
and floods all of our senses –
PRAISE, JOY, WORSHIP & SINGING
are the ONLY way through.
So rather than lay in bed depressed, or yelling at God, or running around like a chicken with its head cut off . . . perhaps, just perhaps, I should take a look at this little psalm (which means song) and take up the actions listed.
Maybe that’s why it’s so short. God knows I need a short list of “things to do” while I wait upon His timing, His Lordship, His Sovereignty. And that if I will have ears to hear these words, and the will to follow in praise, I will receive great things from this small package.
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© 2025: Connie F. Dunmyer, All Rights Reserved.