Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing. 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. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100
Christ is in this psalm. From first to last, He is present. Walk with me for a moment and let’s reflect on our Savior. The psalm calls us to “know that the Lord, he is God.” Jesus says, in Matthew 11:27, ““All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” John 8:19 says, “So they were saying to Him, ‘Where is Your Father?’ Jesus answered, ‘You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.’” In John 14:7, Jesus says, ““If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” We cannot know God except through Jesus Christ. “No one comes to the Father, but through me.” (John 14:6)
The call to know God as Creator extends beyond creation in general. We are to know that God has made a people for Himself. He has created and recreated a people for his special possession. More than mere re-creation, we are being conformed to the image of the One for whom we are re-created. Therefore, the Good Shepherd tends His flock with immeasurable care and love, ensuring that none are lost.
He brings His beloved into His gates, into His courts, and into His very presence. We are brought into His house. Just as Jesus said that He goes to prepare a place for us. He said, ““If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” If we are brought into the house of God and into His very presence, we are brought in by Jesus. We are called to be with Him. We are to dwell with Him. Just as “the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us,” so we will be conformed to His glory, and will dwell with Him forever. (Psalm 23:6)
No one wanders haphazardly into the presence of the thrice holy God. Each and every soul that comes into His presence comes according to God’s grace and purpose. No one can enter into the majestic presence of God if they are still clothed in their old garments. Every soul that comes before the face of God comes clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. No one has the power and strength to climb the mountain of God. Every soul that comes to Him comes by the love and power of the King of Glory.
What we did not know, the Son of God has given us eyes to see and ears to hear. He has revealed the faithfulness and mercy of God. What we were not and never could be on our own, He has re-created us to be. He has given us His name. Where we could never go, Jesus has caused us to enter. Once far off, the blood of Christ has brought us near. Is it any wonder that we enter in with shouts of celebration and joyful singing?