Psalm 100 - Entering God’s Gates - Aneel Aranha

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

This psalm contains the famous line, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." This is an invitation to enter into God's presence with hearts full of gratitude and praise. It has a more profound significance than we might imagine, so let us explore it by breaking it up. 

The psalmist invites us to "enter God's gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise." In the Old Testament, the temple was the place where God's presence dwelt among his people. Today, through Jesus Christ, we have direct access to the Father (Hebrews 10:19-22). Our hearts become the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16), and we can approach God at any time and in any place.

The psalmist then says we must give "thanksgiving and praise." Thanksgiving and praise are not mere rituals but powerful keys that unlock the door to intimacy with God. When we enter his presence with a grateful heart, it draws us closer to him. And as we praise him with sincerity and passion, our hearts align with his, and we experience his love and joy in a deeper way.

Then, the psalmist encourages us to "give thanks to him." Gratitude is essential to our worship because it reminds us of God's goodness in our lives. When we reflect on how much we are blessed, how God provides for our needs, and how faithful he is to his promises, we cannot help but be grateful. The apostle James puts it beautifully when he says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17).

Finally, the psalmist urges us to "praise his name." Praise is the expression of our love and adoration for God. When we praise his name, we declare his greatness, majesty, and worthiness. Praise is not just a formality; it is an overflow of our hearts, expressing our delight in who God is. When we praise God, we magnify him and become more aware of his presence in our lives.

These are good reasons to spend our lives giving thanksgiving and praise to our wonderful God, so Praise the Lord!

And God bless you.