Psalm 100 – Serve the Lord
In Psalm 100 – serve the Lord, we are called to worship the Lord with gladness. What is the connection between service and worship?
Psalm 100
Psalm 100 is listed simply as a Psalm for Thanksgiving. It begins with a call to worship (NASB translation):
“Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with jubilation; Come before Him with rejoicing.” (1-2)
Followed by a reason to worship:
“Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” (3)
It concludes with what we are to do, and why.
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courtyards with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting and His faithfulness is to all generations.” (4-5)
Serve and Worship
Other translations of this psalm use worship instead of serve in verse 2. They are seen as interchangeable. To worship is to serve, and to serve the Lord is a form of worship.
“Service as worship is a profound biblical concept that intertwines the acts of serving others with the worship of God. This principle is deeply rooted in Scripture, where service is not merely an obligation but an expression of devotion and reverence to the Lord. The Bible presents service as an integral part of the believer’s life, reflecting the character of Christ and fulfilling the commandments of love.” Topical Bible: Service as Worship
We are called to serve the Lord with gladness.
“The service of God is a source of the highest joy that man knows.” Psalms 100:2 – Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary – StudyLight.org
One commentator states: “This passage reminds us of the importance of worship in the life of a believer. It serves as a call to action, inviting us to actively engage in joyful praise and service to God. The act of worship not only honors God but also strengthens our own faith and deepens our relationship with Him. It is through worship that we focus our hearts and minds on God, aligning ourselves with His will and seeking His presence in our lives.” Psalms 100 Explained – Verse by Verse Commentary – God’s Blessing
Psalm 100 – Serve the Lord
And so, our whole life is to be one of service and worship. We are to turn our life over to our God so that our every action, every thought, our whole being, serves God. This can’t help but be expressed through worship. When we help the poor, the widow or orphan, or the alien, we are worshiping our God who commands us to have a special care for these people. We worship our God by doing God’s will. That is the worship that our God requires, worship that expresses itself in service.
How are you serving the Lord today?
(For another take on this psalm, see Psalm 100: Make a Joyful Noise and Give Thanks! – Patricia M Robertson)
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
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