Psalms — Chapter 100

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1Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

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

3Know 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.

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

5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

1Make a joyful noise unto Jehovah, all ye lands.

2Serve Jehovah with gladness: Come before his presence with singing.

3Know ye that Jehovah, he is God: It is he that hath made us, and we are his; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Give thanks unto him, and bless his name.

5For Jehovah is good; his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever, And his faithfulness unto all generations. Psalm 101 A Psalm of David.

1A thanksgiving psalm. Shout out praises to the Lord, all the earth!

2Worship the Lord with joy. Enter his presence with joyful singing.

3Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us and we belong to him, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give him thanks. Praise his name.

5For the Lord is good. His loyal love endures, and he is faithful through all generations.

1Shout for joy to Yahweh, all you lands!

2Serve Yahweh with gladness. Come before his presence with singing.

3Know that Yahweh, he is God. It is he who has made us, and we are his. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, and bless his name.

5For Yahweh is good. His loving kindness endures forever, his faithfulness to all generations.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Videos
Reflection

Summary

A psalm of thanksgiving — 'Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands'; know that the LORD is God who made us; enter His gates with thanksgiving; 'his mercy is everlasting and his truth endureth to all generations.'

Authorship & Background

Author: Multiple authors — primarily David (73 psalms attributed), plus Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Heman (1), Ethan (1), and anonymous. The Psalter was compiled over approximately 1000 years and served as Israel's hymnal and prayer book. The book is divided into five 'books' (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150), paralleling the five books of Moses. Key themes: worship, lament, praise, trust, kingship, creation, wisdom, Messianic prophecy, and the full range of human emotion brought before God.
Classification: Hymn of Praise / Thanksgiving Psalm Attributed Author: Anonymous (superscription: "A Psalm of praise/ thanksgiving") Key Themes: Joyful worship, serving God with gladness, knowing God as Creator and Shepherd, entering His presence with thanksgiving, God's eternal goodness, mercy, and faithfulness
Historical Context: Psalm 100 is one of the most beloved and frequently recited psalms in all of Scripture. Only 5 verses, yet it contains the fullness of worship theology. The superscription identifies it as "A Psalm for thanksgiving" (todah) — likely used when bringing a todah (thank offering) to the temple. It serves as the climactic conclusion to the enthronement psalm series (93-100), summarizing the appropriate response to God's kingship: joyful service, knowing Him rightly, entering His presence, and acknowledging His character. The Jubilate Deo (Latin translation of v.1) has been set to music thousands of times and used in Christian liturgy for two millennia. This is the psalm that captures the heartbeat of worship in five perfect verses.
Structure:
  • Command: Joyful Noise and Service (vv.1-2)
  • Foundation: Know Who God Is (v.3)
  • Command: Enter with Thanksgiving and Praise (v.4)
  • Foundation: Know What God Is Like (v.5)

Map & Geography

  • No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.

Videos

The Bible Project — Psalms Overview

Reflection

  • 1. Serve with gladness (v.2). If your service to God feels like a burden, something is wrong — not with the service but with the heart. Gladness is the oxygen of true service. Serve because you WANT to, not because you HAVE to.
  • 2. Know three things (v.3). WHO: the LORD is God. WHERE: He made you (you didn't make yourself). WHOSE: you belong to Him. These three truths resolve all identity crises. You are created, owned, and shepherded by the living God.
  • 3. Enter with thanksgiving (v.4). Don't come to God listing complaints. Come first with gratitude. Thanksgiving is the gate; praise is the courtyard. Gratitude opens the door to everything else in worship.
  • 4. God is good, loving, and faithful — always (v.5). Not sometimes. Not to some people. His goodness is His nature. His hesed is everlasting. His faithfulness spans ALL generations — including yours. These three truths never change.
  • 5. This psalm is the summary of all worship. Five verses. The whole theology of praise distilled: who God is, who we are, how to come, what He's like. If you memorize one psalm about worship, let it be this one.