Make a Joyful Noise

Summary

Charles Spurgeon expounds Psalm 100, a psalm of thanksgiving that calls all people to worship God with gladness and joyful praise. The exposition emphasizes that worship should be intelligent and cheerful, grounded in recognition of God's goodness, mercy, and eternal faithfulness to His people.

The Nature and History of Psalm 100

• Psalm 100 is the only psalm bearing the precise inscription 'a psalm of praise, or rather of thanksgiving'
• It has been a great favorite with God's people since it was written and is sung regularly in Christian worship
• The singing of this psalm by a vast congregation is described as sublime
• Notable paraphrases include those by Watts and the Scottish version 'All people that on earth do dwell'

The Call to Joyful Worship

• Worship must be offered with gladness and joy, not melancholy or servility of fear
• A cheerful spirit is in keeping with God's nature, His acts, and the gratitude owed for His mercies
• Singing should be a constant form of approach to God as a joyful and devout exercise
• The measured, harmonious praise of a devout congregation is a fit anticipation of heavenly worship

Intelligent Worship and Knowledge of God

• Worship must be intelligent; believers ought to know whom they worship and why
• Knowing God is higher wisdom than knowing oneself
• Only those who practically recognize God's godhead are likely to offer acceptable praise
• God alone is God in the fullest, most absolute, and most exclusive sense

God as Creator and Shepherd

• God made us, not we ourselves; Christians recognize the origin of their being and take no honor to themselves
• Disclaiming honor for ourselves is as necessary a part of true reverence as ascribing glory to the Lord
• Believers are God's people and sheep of His pasture, chosen from all the world and guided by His wisdom
• The bare facts of God's mercies are enough; simple narration of His goodness is the best adoration

The Grounds for Eternal Praise

• The Lord is good, gracious, kind, bountiful, and loving; God is love
• God's mercy is everlasting toward His own people, theirs from all eternity and world without end
• God's truth endures to all generations; He is faithful and will never revoke His covenant or alter His word
• A changeable god would be a terror to the righteous, but resting on God's sure word brings joy

Scripture References

• Psalm 100
• Psalm 98:4
• Psalm 100:1
• Psalm 100:2
• Psalm 100:3
• Psalm 100:4
• Psalm 100:5