Psummer Psalms

This summer we are journeying through the book of Psalms. We are just into week three of our study. The book of Psalms is a beautiful book, one that has blessed, encouraged, and challenged the hearts of believers for centuries! If you don’t regularly read in the book of Psalms, I want to encourage you to start! If you do, then I know you have been incredibly blessed by the way these songs speak to our hearts!

Psalm 100 is entitled “A song for giving thanks" here it is:

“Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness, come before him singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.”

The challenge of this Psalm, I think, can be summed up in two words: choose joy. The Psalmist is telling us to shout Gods praise, to worship him with gladness, and sing with a joyful heart. We are then reminded about who we are, namely we are HIS! We are his sheep, he is good to us, and his unfailing love never ceases! In fact, it will continue to the next generation. In other words, your children and grandchildren. Here’s my question today: what are your children and grandchildren seeing in you and me? Are they witnessing the beauty and joy of men and women who trust in him? I hope so! And I know in my own life, I do not exude this joy nearly enough!

Psalms 93-100 are a group of psalms known as the “Yahweh Malak“ collection. That’s Hebrew for “our God reigns.” The theme is God is in control! He’s awesome! There is no one like him!! In a world where chaos seems to be the norm, his people know he is firmly in charge… and thus, can find joy and confidence in him!

Keep looking to Jesus my friends!

And everyday…. Choose joy!