In his sermon on Psalm 100, Stephen Davey explains how this psalm—uniquely labeled “A Psalm for giving thanks”—teaches believers both how to give thanks to God and why. The psalm opens with three commands describing how to express gratitude: make a joyful noise, lifting thankful voices even when circumstances are dark; serve the Lord with gladness, choosing a grateful attitude as an act of obedience rather than emotion; and come into His presence with singing, remembering that believers have access to the Father because they are held by the hand of His Son. Davey then turns to the reasons for thanksgiving: who God is—the only true God, good, unchanging in His steadfast love, and faithful to every generation—and what God has done—creating each of us intentionally, designing both our strengths and weaknesses, and claiming us as the sheep of His pasture. Gratitude grows when we accept God’s design and depend on His care. Davey concludes with a warning from a parable: discouragement cannot take root in a grateful heart. Because anxiety, pride, bitterness, and materialism cannot coexist with true thankfulness, Psalm 100 calls believers to a supernatural, Spirit-enabled choice—to rejoice, serve gladly, sing boldly, and practice gratitude that shines like light in a dark world.
The Original Thanksgiving Hymn
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