David Bahn – Reflections

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
²     Serve the LORD with gladness!
    Come into his presence with singing!

³ Know that the LORD, he is God!
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name!

⁵ For the LORD is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

A friend of mine put it this way:

If you were in a very bad car accident and a neighbor came to your aid. He called an ambulance. He stayed with you until you were safely gotten out of your car. He stayed with your car while you were being taken to the hospital. He got your valuables from the car, kept them safe, and brought them to you at the hospital. And when it was all over, do you think it would be better if you sent him a card, or went to his house to thank him in person?

My friend obviously thought the better choice was to go in person to thank your neighbor. His point, however, was about more than just thanking a neighbor for his kindness. He was making the point of going to God’s house to thank him for all his benefits and gifts. The King of the Universe has come to our rescue. He taught us the truth about ourselves and God, about life and death, about love and salvation. Then he died in our place to provide a pathway to eternal joy, life, and salvation. Jesus has redeemed us. Shall we send him a card? Voice a brief prayer of thanks? Give him a nod of the head for all these things? Or shall we go to his house, entering his courts with thanksgiving and his gates with praise?

This psalm is a reminder that we turn to God with our whole being, and go to his house, and offer our joyful noises of worship and praise. God also calls us to bring an offering when we come to worship:  “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and come into His courts!” (Psalm 96:8). Offerings are not just for God. The cattle on a thousand hills, the gold and silver all belong to him (cf. Psalm 50:10-12; Haggai 2:8).

We don’t go to God’s house for his sake. We go for our sake. We go to be reminded of our need for mercy and forgiveness. We go to receive his blessings of word and sacrament. We go to encourage our sister or brother in Christ. We go to let the world know that there is someOne of ultimate value who deserves our worship and praise.

The Psalmist says, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!” Then he adds, “Give thanks to him; bless his name!” Our worship is not an exercise in mere thankfulness. It is a practice of honoring our Redeemer and Lord. It is a matter of blessing Yahweh. It is a matter of coming in to God’s presence. 

God is everywhere. But he has promised specifically to be present where two or three are gathered in his name. He is delighted to receive us when we come. When we show up, we hear him gladly say, “Come on in!”