Give thanks to the Lord!

The aim of the devotional study is to reflect on the year (or recent season), recognize God’s goodness and render him the thanks and praise due to him.

Scripture

Psalm 100:1-5

1  Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!

2  Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

3  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.

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

5  For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Observations

Note the outline: A call to worship (verse 1-2) | Worship God for Who He is (verse 3) | A call to worship (verse 4) | Worship God for what He is like (verse 5)

1. What is the mood of the psalmist? (note the adverbs or descriptive words in verses 1 and 2)
2. What is the key theme or call of this Psalm? (verse 4)
3. To whom does this call go out? (verse 1)
   • Why could this universal invitation be considered strange?
   • Why does the Psalmist think it is appropriate that this call to thanksgiving and praise is appropriate for “all the earth”? (hint: consider verse 3)
   • Considering the pastoral parable in verse 3, for what would “all the earth” give thanks to God? (hint: what does a shepherd do for sheep? compare Psalm 23)
4. Can you identify seven ways given in this Psalm of how God should be worshipped?
5. We should praise God for who he is:
   • Who does this Psalm say God is? (identify five… verses 1 and 3)
   • What does this Psalm say God’s character is like? (verse 5)

Personal Reflection

1. Thanksgiving benefits the believer: how does the discipline of stopping to think of and thank God for what he has done impact a person?

Application

1. In which ways have you recently experienced the Good Shepherd’s

• guidance,
• protection, and
• provision?

2. Are there other ways in which you have experienced the Lord’s faithful, loving goodness during this year?
3. Take time to respond with appropriate worship
   • joyful thanksgiving: declaring what God has done for you
   • prayer of praise: declaring who God is to you
   • worship God with other believers.