God's People Are To Express Gratitude

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 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. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations (Psalm 100:1-5).

Providing seven ways to give thanks, the psalmist exhorts worshipers to be grateful at all times. The most obvious expression of gratitude is singing, which is the joyful expression of love and overflows from a liberated heart (vv. 1–2; Isa. 51:11; Col. 3:13–16). The redeemed also act gratefully when they pursue knowledge of God through his Word and works (Ps. 100:3; Rom. 16:25–27). Knowing God not only humbles dependent creatures, it heartens them to realize that he is willing to make himself known, and ultimately he does so through Jesus Christ, revealing our God as a Father and Good Shepherd (cf. Ps. 100:3, 5; Matt. 6:9; John 10:14). 

The psalmist then commands God’s people to express their gratitude (Ps. 100:2, 4). In Hebrew there is no distinction between serving in church or at work. The same word describes worship in every place (Col. 3:17). All of life in every realm is an opportunity to “give thanks to him” and “bless his name” (Ps. 100:4). 

The Father also provides reasons for his commands. The most obvious is that he is good in all his roles. He is the good Creator who endowed us with his image, which requires treating every person with dignity (v. 3; James 3:9). His universal rule reminds us of his protection (Ex. 6:7; Isa. 3:15), calls us to bold prayer (Isa. 64:9; John 17:6–9), and motivates us to discipleship as those purchased at a great price (Titus 2:14). That purchase was made out of the “steadfast love” that epitomizes God’s character and which finds full expression in the death and resurrection of Jesus. He is the Good Shepherd who cares for his sheep all the days of their lives (Ps. 100:5; 23:6; John 10:11; Rev. 7:17).

Adapted from the ESV Gospel Transformation Study Bible