Psalm 100 and the Battle Cry We Forget We Have
A couple of weeks ago, TSA’s K5 students were gearing up to present Psalm 100 for Thanksgiving chapel. At one point, my youngest son, Beau, spent nearly two straight weeks roaming the house repeating the passage out loud. Over and over. And over. I heard Psalm 100 so many times I thought it was following me.
But the more I watched him practice—excited, unpolished, and fully invested—the more something hit me: this is worship in its purest form. Not fancy. Not complicated. Just a heart engaged with the Word of God.
Somewhere along the way, worship tends to get foggy for us. We have preferences, busyness, holiday chaos, and noise layered over something that was meant to be simple. That’s why Psalm 100 is such a gift. In just five verses, it answers all the big questions:
What is worship? How do we do it? And why does it matter?
1. Worship Is a Battle Cry (Yes—Really)
“Make a joyful noise” isn’t about singing on key. The Hebrew word rua means a shout of triumph, the kind of yell an army would release before the battle started because they knew God was with them. That changes things.
Worship isn’t warm-up music. It’s warfare.
It’s declaring out loud:
Jesus is Lord. The tomb is empty. The victory is already won.
If 90,000 to 100,00 fans can shake a stadium on Saturday’s for a football team, what should God’s people be lifting up for the One who created us, saves us, and fights our battles?
2. Worship Looks Like Serving Too
Psalm 100 also says, “Serve the Lord with gladness.” Not grumpiness. Not guilt. Not obligation. Gladness.
God is anti-earning—but He’s not anti-effort.
When we serve because we’ve been loved, not because we’re trying to earn love, serving becomes a blessing instead of a burden. Some of the greatest joy in church comes from believers who jump in, smile big, and remind us that worship isn’t just sung… it’s lived.
3. Worship Is Access You Didn’t Earn
“Come into his presence with singing.”
This was a radical statement for ancient Israel. They couldn’t just walk into God’s presence—only the High Priest, only once a year.
But then Jesus tore the veil from top to bottom. God opened the door Himself.
We walk into worship like children bursting into their father’s office, loud, excited, and fully welcomed. Not because we’ve earned it—because we belong to Him.
4. The Why Behind It All
“For the Lord is good… His love endures… His faithfulness continues.”
This is the foundation. Not our feelings. Not our circumstances. Not our mood.
God’s character is steady even when our lives are anything but.
That’s why worship matters.
That’s why we shout, serve, sing, and give thanks.
And that’s why Psalm 100 isn’t just a nice Thanksgiving reading—
it’s a roadmap for a life of worship.
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