Joyful Worship

(Psalm 100:1-2)

Mike Johnson

Psalm 100 is thought to have been written by David and is about worship.  Speculation is that the Jews used it as a call to worship and as a hymn in their public praise.  From verses 1-2, we learn that joy should be associated with our worship.  It admonishes, “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!  Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing.”  Consider these two verses closer.

The first part of verse 1 says, “Make a joyful shout to the Lord,” and then it says, “Serve the Lord with gladness” (2a). The word translated “shout” (“noise” KJV) involves a “glad shout” or a “shout of triumph,” such as might be associated with battle.  From this, we learn we are to worship God, not just with thought but also with joyful utterance and gladness. Many passages associate joy with worship. Ps 95:1, identifying the basis of our joy, says, “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.” Psalm 27:6 reveals, “And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.” (Note also Ps. 16:11, 43:4.)

It is essential to understand that joy in the context of worship involves respectfulness.  Joy and respectfulness are not mutually exclusive attitudes; a person can be joyful in worship and respectful at the same time. Psalm 2:11 shows both are necessary. It says, “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” We must understand what it means to be in God’s presence (2b). We joyfully worship God, but we also realize the seriousness of our worship.

Today, we should view worship as a happy occasion. David points out in Psalm 122:1, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” Assembling for worship is a great privilege, as we know we are worshiping a loving God who has given us the opportunity for eternal life. In Psalm 51:12, David spoke of the “joy” of his salvation.

Do we joyfully anticipate worship; do we joyfully worship God when we assemble; do others detect joy in our worship?  If not, there is a problem.  We should come before our Lord with joy and gladness!