“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy [steadfast love, lovingkindness] is everlasting, and His truth [faithfulness] endures to all generations” (Psalm 100:4-5).
Scripture often enjoins us to give thanks often to God (Ephesians 5:4, 20; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 1:12; 3:15-17; 4:2). Indeed, failure to give thanks to God reflects a godless attitude (Luke 10:11-19; Romans 1:21).
Psalm 100 gives us many reasons to praise and thank our Lord: He is God, he made us, we are his people, we are his flock, and by implication, he is our Good Shepherd (3; Psalm 23:1).
Even more, he is good – essentially, ontologically, unchangingly good. And his goodness expresses itself in steadfast love and faithfulness, or truth. Like all the psalms, this one points to Christ, who is our Good Shepherd (John 10:11; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25), and who embodies, personifies, and brings to us God’s love [grace] and truth (John 1:14).
For your prayers (Pick two or three): Please ask God to
Give us hearts of gratitude, especially at this season, for his grace and truth to us in Christ.
Enable me to make good progress on the story on Williams for the BDCC, the book review, notes on Hebrews, and perhaps a monthly prayer letter.
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for HE is good! For His mercy [steadfast love] endures forever!” (Psalm 136:1).
Yours in his unfailing love,
Wright