MUSING – April 02 2018
ENTER BEYOND THE GATES AND COURTYARD
Psalms 100
Shout happily to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD cheerfully. Come into his presence with a joyful song. Realize that the LORD alone is God. He made us, and we are his. We are his people and the sheep in his care. Enter his gates with a song of thanksgiving. Come into his courtyards with a song of praise. Give thanks to him; praise his name. The LORD is good. His mercy endures forever. His faithfulness endures throughout every generation.
The psalmist rejoices that he may freely enter the temple’s gate and courtyard. What a blessing that is. However, in the time of his writing, only a very few were allowed behind the. Only the high priest was permitted to stand before the mercy seat, the throne of God.
But that all changed because of Jesus’ sacrifice. At his death “the curtain in the temple was split in two from top to bottom.”* That which serrated us from God’s presence was removed. We now “(Jesus) a chief priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he didn’t sin. So we can go confidently to the throne of God’s kindness to receive mercy and find kindness,**
Now we have a new and better reason to burst for in praise and songs of gladness.
For what do you praise God this day? What is your song of gladness?
*Matthew 27:50-51
**Hebrews 4:14-16
© 2018 Thomas E. Williams
Musings 