Psalms 100 Series - Part 2

​“Serve the LORD with gladness: 
come before his presence with singing.”
                          Psalms 100:2 (KJV)




 
Hi friends,

    How are you this week?  Last week, I started the “Psalms 100 Series”.  I think Psalms 100 is such a beautiful, instructive, inspiring, and joyful psalm.  The joy of it sort of reminds me of the opening scene in “The Sound of Music” where Julie Andrews is seen running in a field near the mountains singing.  She looks as though she is happy and praising God. (Her character enjoyed singing and praising God, even serving God.)

    In Psalms 100:1, we are called to give a joyful noise, to be joyful.  It doesn’t set a time, place, or restriction.  To me, verse two is a reinforcement of verse one.  Yes, we are to be joyful.  We are to be joyful, no matter how we are serving God.

    Sometimes, we tend to do our chores at home or labor at work as if they were drudgery.  We might not enjoy the tasks or we may feel tired and run down. We don’t like it, but we know we should do it.  So, we work, whether at home or at work.  We are just not very happy with it.

    We don’t think about the fact that we are called to do more.  We are called to serve with “gladness.”  We feel that as long as we do the work, we are fine.  Yet, is that really so?  So, are we sinning if we work while being less than glad?  (This is one of the reasons I feel called to write the Faith Blog; because there are so many things that we do that we might not think about that may different than what we are called to do.) 
 
    Let’s talk about serving the Lord for a moment.  You might try to “argue” that working or housework isn’t serving the Lord, so you don’t have to worry about doing it with gladness.  However, is that really true?  What constitutes serving the Lord?  I think that everything we do, 24/7 should be meant to serve the Lord.  He created us.  He gave us life.  We are His and if we are His, everything we do is meant to serve Him.  What do you think?

    What about the second part of Psalms 100:2, “come before his presence with singing”?  Isn’t God with us always?  So, aren’t we “before his presence” always?

    Obviously, I don’t know the definite reasons behind God’s words in the second part of Psalm 100.  However, I do have a couple of thoughts on the subject. 

    First, I wonder if the second part of the verse is a strategy or tip in how to fulfill the first part of the verse. You know, like if you are not having fun and don’t feel the joy in what you are doing, just take yourself out of the actual worldly situation and put yourself in God’s presence.  In being so close and feeling God’s love, you will forget your drudgery and feel like singing out.  In that way, you will be able to do whatever you do with gladness and even sing as you work.

    Second, I wonder if it is a reminder that if you are God’s child, you are serving God in all that you do, so that you are meant to do with gladness and singing.  Again, as we get close to God, love Him, and serve Him, I believe that our hearts will just want to sing.  We won’t be able to help ourselves.  What are your thoughts?
 
Heavenly Father,
    Thank you, O Lord for being our Heavenly Father.  Help us to fulfill the words call of Psalms 100:2.  Help us to love you, to serve you with gladness, and to sing your praises. Melt away our hardness and keep us close to you.  Help us to follow your will for us, serving you with love and with a song in our heart. I ask you this through your Son, Jesus. Amen.
 
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Reflective questions for Psalms 100:2 (KJV):
*What does Psalms 100:2 mean to me?
*What do I think, “come before his presence with singing” means here?
*Do I fulfill the calling of Psalms 100:2?
*What can I do to better fulfill the calling of Psalms 100:2?
*Am I a joyful person?  Why or why not?

Note: If you haven't read Psalms 100 Series - Post 1, you can read it here.
   
Now, it is your turn.
     Please, leave your thoughts and comments.  I look forward to reading your thoughts.  Thank you for being here.  May God bless you and guide you.  If you find value in what I share, please share it with others.  Also, if you haven't already, feel free to sign up below to receive the Faith Blog by DUO Inspirations and other faith content in your inbox.  Thank you.
 

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