A Reflection on Ps. 100

Augustine says that “the New Testament lies hidden in the Old, and the Old is unclasped in the New”. This is why we can look at a text such as Psalm 100 and apply it to our faith in the New Testament times in which we live.

1.(vs.1,3) Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth Why? It is He that has made us, we are not ourselves, His people and the sheep of His pasture. Namely, God has visited us and redeemed His people. Augustine, Calvin, Turretin all interpret this text (Vs. 3) to speak of our regeneration and not of our creation. As Paul says, We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.

2.(Vs. 5) For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting. He has promised to save us from our enemies, Because His truth is from generation to generation. To what end? (Vs. 2) that we might, serve the Lord with gladness. God introduced Himself to the Israelites as a Lord (Ex. 20:2), but to Christians as a Father (Matt. 6:9). We have been transformed from being in bondage as servants to the liberty of being sons and daughters. For this reason, let us, serve the Lord with gladness, and come before His presence with a song.

Four things this Psalm teaches us:

1.It teaches all the people of God to praise God cheerfully with a good heart. (Vs.1)

2.We are to do this in private and also in public. Notice in verse 3 that it speaks of community in that the plural “us” is used. Therefore this Psalm has both personal and public implications.

3.Notice the dependence of the people of God upon God himself that this Psalm speaks about. Our dependence upon God is most evident in our helplessness to save ourselves. In regeneration we are completely dependent upon the mercy of God.

4.God is always the same with God and His lovingkindness and faithfulness (Vs. 5). We are prone to wandering in our faithfulness to God and even towards those who are dearest to us in this life. But God is faithful, His mercy is to all generations.

Two quotes on God’s faithfulness:

“Believing prayer takes its stand upon the faithfulness of God.” –D. Edmond Hieben

“Divine faithfulness is a wonderful comfort for those who are loyal. It is a very earnest warning for those who might be inclined to become disloyal.” –William Hendriksen

Soli Deo Gloria, T-