Psalms 100:5

It may seem strange, yet it is beautiful: the worshiper's thankful approach comes in the fourth place, which speaks of the practical life. Life itself will now be praise. And the psalm ends with the record of Jehovah's ways. Those ways are the theme of the praise itself: "for Jehovah is good: His loving-kindness is for ever; and His truth endures from generation to generation."

Of first importance is the fact of who He is, which always precedes what He has done. To begin with, He is good, in contrast to all others, for "there is none who does good, no, not one" (Rom. 3:12). It is God's very nature to be good. So everything He does is good, even when it means dreadful judgment for the ungodly.

"Good." Yes, how good of Him to take up their cause once more! "Mercy everlasting." Age has made no difference to it. It has not grown out of date, even though for centuries their public prayers and praises may have seemed unanswered. "His truth [or, faithfulness] too endures to all generations." Not one prophetic word will fail to come true.

Because they knew God's loving-kindness endures for ever, they knew the nation would come into blessing at last. God's faithfulness lasts just as long as His mercy. So mercy brings them into their final blessing, but faithfulness must first bring them through the great tribulation on the way. God shows mercy because of man's need and His own love. God acts in faithfulness because of man's sin and His own holiness.

In Psalm 100 Israel brings the nations into the temple, so that they may rejoice together with Israel, His people. It is a most lovely psalm: Israel blessed, and at last recognizing grace. Grace made them His people and claimed them as His own. Their hearts are now thankful. They no longer strive in rebellious strength or complain in proud weakness. So they can own and declare the mercy that has set them in a grace they know well. As witnesses of that grace, and in its spirit, they bring others into their blessings.

His mercy is everlasting — that is always the key-note of Israel's song — His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures. One day it will be a wonderful moment for the earth, when the whole world sings that psalm as it should be sung, in one great chorus.

How much better for us to be content that we are "His people and the sheep of His pasture!" This is an honor we do not deserve, yet God has given it to us. Since this is so, He invites us to "enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise" (v. 4). In His presence we truly learn that "the Lord is good; and His mercy is everlasting." And that mercy does not clash with His truth, which endures to all generations. We have every reason to praise Him without stopping!