Summer in the Psalms: Psalm 100
Overview
Praise is a discipline that helps us refocus our attention on the things that are important. As we talked about at our last table talks, developing the habit of praising God, not just for what He will do, but for what He has done and who He is, is one of the biggest game changers for our faith. We need to remember that praise is a physical action as well. The Psalmist writes a number of times about how “my mouth will sing/shout your praises.” So today we will look at a few Psalms that show us and command us to praise in a way that extends beyond our thoughts.
Read
Psalm 40:1-3 NLT
1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
3 He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Psalm 100 NLT
1 Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
Psalm 145:1-2, 17-21 NLT
1I will exalt you, my God and King,
and praise your name forever and ever.
2I will praise you every day;
yes, I will praise you forever.
17 The Lord is righteous in everything he does;
he is filled with kindness.
18 The Lord is close to all who call on him,
yes, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He grants the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cries for help and rescues them.
20 The Lord protects all those who love him,
but he destroys the wicked.
21 I will praise the Lord,
and may everyone on earth bless his holy name
forever and ever.
Discuss
What are some characteristics that you think are worthy of praise? (Not just God)
When was the last time you vocally praised someone before they did something that benefited you?
Why do you think physical, out-loud, praise is so important to our faith?
Why do you think it can be so difficult to offer praise before we see the outcome, despite having evidence of God’s faithfulness?
Even though these Psalms are similar, they each call out a different aspect of God. Which verse or verses resonate with you in your current season?
What is something you can praise God for today, this past week, or this coming week?
Call to Action
Lean into your friends and family to pursue praise in the face of all things. Don’t let your praise this week be an internal dialogue. Speak it out, sing it out, message friends and family, and make it public. It is important to not let the work God is doing in your life stay silently in your life. We praise that all might see the glory and splendor of our Lord.
