Exposition of Psalm 100 and Its Meaning
Psalm 100 is a "Psalm of Praise" [1], calling all nations to worship the Lord and acknowledge His goodness [6]. The Arabic version attributes it to David, and it is thought to have been used during the offering of peace sacrifices for thanksgiving [5]. Matthew Henry notes that its call to "all lands" to praise God extends its relevance beyond the Jewish economy to the gospel age [7, 8].
The psalm begins with an exhortation: "Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all ye lands" (Psalm 100:1, Webster) [1]. This is followed by a call to "Serve Yahweh with gladness. Come before his presence with singing" (Psalm 100:2) [2]. Augustine interprets this opening as an exhortation to "jubilate unto the Lord" [9]. The psalm continues by declaring God's identity and relationship with humanity: "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" (Psalm 100:3, KJV). This verse emphasizes God as the Creator and sustainer of His people, a theme cross-referenced with passages like Deuteronomy 32:6 and Ezekiel 34:30-31 [3].
The psalm then invites worshippers to "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name" (Psalm 100:4, KJV). The concluding verse provides the theological basis for this universal praise: "For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations" (Psalm 100:5, KJV). This declaration of God's enduring goodness, mercy, and faithfulness is a central theme, echoed in other scriptures such as Exodus 34:6 and Psalms 107:1 [4]. The enduring nature of God's truth and mercy is presented as a reason for perpetual thanksgiving and praise across all generations [4].
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 100:1 (Webster) — A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all ye lands.”
- Psalms “Serve Yahweh with gladness. Come before his presence with singing. -- Psalms 100:2”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Psalms 100:3 cross-references: Exodus 6:7, Deuteronomy 4:35, Deuteronomy 4:39, Deuteronomy 7:9, Deuteronomy 32:6, Deuteronomy 32:15, 1 Samuel 17:46, 1 Kings 18:36, 2 Kings 19:19, 1 Chronicles 16:14, Job 10:3, Job 10:8, Psalms 12:4, Psalms 46:10, Psalms 74:1, Psalms 78:52, Psalms 79:13, Psalms 95:3, Psalms 95:6, Psalms 119:73, Psalms 139:13, Psalms 149:2, Ecclesiastes 12:1, Isaiah 40:9, Isaiah 63:11, Isaiah 63:19, Isaiah 64:7, Jeremiah 10:10, Ezekiel 34:11, Ezekiel 34:30, Ezekiel 34:31, John 10:14, John 10:26, John 17:3, Acts 17:23, Acts 20:28, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Galatians 4”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Psalms 100:5 cross-references: Exodus 34:6, Deuteronomy 7:9, 1 Chronicles 16:34, 2 Chronicles 5:13, Ezra 3:11, Psalms 25:8, Psalms 36:5, Psalms 52:1, Psalms 85:10, Psalms 86:5, Psalms 89:1, Psalms 103:17, Psalms 106:1, Psalms 107:1, Psalms 107:8, Psalms 107:15, Psalms 107:22, Psalms 118:1, Psalms 118:4, Psalms 119:68, Psalms 119:90, Psalms 136:1, Psalms 138:8, Psalms 146:6, Jeremiah 33:11, Jeremiah 33:20, Micah 7:20, Nahum 1:7, Luke 1:50, Romans 15:8, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:13”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 100 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 100 A Psalm of Praise. The Arabic version ascribes this psalm to David, and very likely it is one of his: the Targum calls it "a hymn for the sacrifice of thanksgiving;'' and so Jarchi. It is supposed to have been used when peace offerings for thanksgivings were offered up, Lev 7:11. The Syriac inscription is very odd; "concerning Joshua the son of Nun, when he made the war of the Ammonites to cease;'' though it more rightly adds, "but in the New Testament, when the Gentiles are converted to the faith:'' and indeed the”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 100:1: Ps 100 This psalm calls all nations to come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord and acknowledge his goodness to Israel.”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 100 (introduction): It is with good reason that many sing this psalm very frequently in their religious assemblies, for it is very proper both to express and to excite pious and devout affections towards God in our approach to him in holy ordinances; and, if our hearts go along with the words, we shall make melody in it to the Lord. The Jews say it was penned to be sung with their thank-offerings; perhaps it was; but we say that as there is nothing in it peculiar to their economy so its beginning with a call to all lands to praise God plainly extends it to the gospel-ch”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 100:1: Here, I. The exhortations to praise are very importunate. The psalm does indeed answer to the title, A psalm of praise; it begins with that call which of late we have several times met with (Psa 100:1), Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all you lands, or all the earth, all the inhabitants of the earth. When all nations shall be discipled, and the gospel preached to every creature, then this summons will be fully answered to. But, if we take the foregoing psalm to be (as we have opened it) a call to the Jewish church to rejoice in the administration of God's king”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM C.(7) (part 1): 1. Ye heard the Psalm, brethren, while it was being chanted: it is short, and not obscure: as if I had given you an assurance, that ye should not fear fatigue . ... 2. The title of this Psalm is, "A Psalm of confession." The verses are few, but big with great subjects; may the seed bring forth within your hearts, the barn be prepared for the Lord's harvest. 3. "Jubilate," therefore, "unto the Lord, all ye lands" (ver. 1). This Psalm giveth this exhortation to us, that we jubilate unto the Lord. Nor doth it, as it were, exhor”