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, ESV)
This Psalm is an invitation to give thanks to God – what a timely reminder as Americans all over the world celebrate Thanksgiving Day on 25th?November! We may not be Americans, but we too can celebrate and give thanks to God for all the good things he has done for us!
The psalmist captures God’s character in 2 ways: that God is great and that he is good!
God’s greatness is evident in creation. In verse 3 we are told that God is LORD almighty. He is the Creator of the entire universe and he is also the One who created us – He made us & we belong to him. Note the imagery about sheep and pastures –?we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. If we are his sheep, then he must be our Shepherd! He is indeed! Not any ordinary shepherd but the good Shepherd of John 10, who laid down his life for his sheep!
The second character of God is that he is good. Verse 5 says?that the Lord Is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
This gives us every reason to enter his gates and his courts with praises and thanksgiving every day, not just one day in the year! Let us worship and give thanks to this great & good God. Let us offer our lives as a living sacrifice – offering praises daily at his altar.
Let us be intentional to remember, to recall and recollect the goodness of the LORD in our lives. The more we are intentional, the more we will remember to give thanks!
As we think of the past 11 months in 2021, like 2020, much of it has been associated with the pandemic outcomes – sickness, death, loss of income, fear, uncertainties, and so forth. We are not commanded to give thanks for bad things that have happened to us but we are reminded to give thanks?in?all circumstances?(2 Thes 5:18)! When we look at things around us – it can depress us. God wants us to look at him, not the circumstances! He is great and good – his mercies are everlasting and he is forever faithful! We belong to him. He is our good Shepherd and we are his beloved sheep!
Recall his faithfulness and his steadfast love. He has never changed! He remains the same God yesterday, today and always! Cling on to Him, just as David reminded us –?surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and l shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.?(Psalm 23:6, ESV)
So dear alumni?give thanks to the LORD for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!
