Sing a joyful noise to the Beloved all peoples of the earth!
Serve Love with a glad heart!
Join hands in the great Dance of Life!
Know that the Beloved of your heart is the Divine Presence!
Love created us, and we belong to the Most High;
We are born to be loving, expressions of the Creator’s Divine Plan.
Open the gates of your heart with gratitude
and enter Love’s court with praise!
Give thanks to the Beloved, bless Love’s holy Name!
For Love is of God, and lives in your heart forever,
with faith, truth, and joy, now and in all that is to come.
Alleluia! Amen!
From Nan C. Merrill’s Psalms for Praying
Reflection:
We belong to God and to each other.
Which is one way of saying that we belong to something greater than ourselves; we belong to Love.
Love calls all of us to live and worship as a community. Doing this is relational work means we must examine all the ways that our community functions. Who are we leaving out of community? Who is being taken advantage of? Who is benefiting?
When we see racism, sexism, classism, or any person or group being marginalized, we must correct our course, because none of us can freely praise God with joy until all of us are free.
Let us open our hearts to Love’s way.
Past reflection links:
Psalm 100 Year A (2022-2023)
Check out other psalm reflections in the links below or find more of my writing published in Presbyterian Outlook or listen to my experiments in podcasting on the Period Pastor Podcast. Follow me @periodpastor
I began writing Psalm reflections during Lent of 2020. Shortly after, we decided to close the church building, work from home, and worship via zoom. Many churches use the Revised Common Lectionary (RLC) that rotates scripture on a three-year cycle (A, B, and C). Starting in Advent 2019, the church decided to worship with the texts from Year D, which is still not circulated as are years A, B, and C. Year D was created with the goal of including scriptures that were left out or not used as frequently as others. While we were using Psalms in year D, most other lectionary followers were using Year A. In Advent of 2020 we rejoined those who use the lectionary in year B. Advent of 2021 year C. When we returned to in person worship, we took the psalm reflections out of the order of worship. I continued to write them for the blog. Advent of 2022 year A. I left church work in July of 2023 but continued the practice of writing psalm reflections. Advent of 2023 year B. Advent of 2024 year C. I finished year C early, so I began work on psalms I missed: Psalm 119, Year D and others not in the lectionary. By the end of 2025, I have written a reflection for each psalm.
Advent of 2025 year A.
I use the Vanderbilt Divinity Library’s resource for lectionary readings and the PCUSA planning calendar to make text selections.
Year A Psalms
1st Sunday in Advent Psalm 122, 2nd Sunday in Advent Psalm 72, 3rd Sunday in Advent Psalm 146, 4th Sunday in Advent Psalm 80, Christmas Psalm 96, Psalm 97, Psalm 98, 1st Sunday after Christmas Psalm 148, 2nd Sunday after Christmas Psalm 147, 1st Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 29, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 40, 3rd Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 27, 4th Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 15, 5th Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 112, Transfiguration Sunday Psalm 2 or Psalm 99.
1st Sunday in Lent Psalm 32, 2nd Sunday in Lent Psalm 121, 3rdSunday in Lent Psalm 95, 4th Sunday in Lent Psalm 23, 5th Sunday in Lent Psalm 130, 6th Sunday in Lent Psalm 118 or Psalm 31.
Easter Psalm 118 or Psalm 114, 2nd Sunday of Easter Psalm 16 or Psalm 111, 3rd Sunday of Easter Psalm 116 or Psalm 34, 4th Sunday of Easter Psalm 23, 5th Sunday of Easter Psalm 31, 6th Sunday of Easter Psalm 66, Ascension of the Lord Psalm 47 or Psalm 93, 7th Sunday of Easter Psalm 68, Pentecost Psalm 104.
1st Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 8, 2nd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 33 or Psalm 50, 3rd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 116 or Psalm 100, 4th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 86 or Psalm 69, 5th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 13 or Psalm 89, 6th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 45 or Psalm 145, 7th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 119 or Psalm 65, 8th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 139 or Psalm 86, 9th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 105 or Psalm 119, 10th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 17 or Psalm 145, 11th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 105 or Psalm 85, 12th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 133 or Psalm 67, 13th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 124 or Psalm 138, 14th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 105 or Psalm 26, 15thSunday after Pentecost Psalm 149 or Psalm 119, 16th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 114 or Psalm 103, 17th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 105 or Psalm 145, 18th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 78 or Psalm 25, 19th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 19 or Psalm 80, 20th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 106 or Psalm 23, 21st Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 99 or Psalm 96, 22nd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 90 or Psalm 1, 23rd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 107 or Psalm 43, 24th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 78 or Psalm 70, 25th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 123 or Psalm 90, 26th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 100 or Psalm 95.
Sources and notes:
“Psalm 100 initiates worship and sets forth a theology of worship.” Mays p. 317
“To serve the LORD is to live in a rule that excludes slavery to human governments and subjection to the power of the “gods”. ” Mays p. 318
“So the call to worship is at the same time a summons to assemble as the realm of the LORD. The assembly can be called religious because its focus is god; but its symbols and rituals come from political life. So the assembly convenes to recognize the locus of the power that rules. By their rituals they point to the power to whom they entrust and submit their lives. Worship means opting for one “power structure” as decisive. It is, therefore, the most significant social action that people can take.” Mays p. 318
“Because worship is the direction of trust and obedience to a power whose will and way make a difference in life, it is always an activity with political consequences. If it makes no difference in the way those who worship set themselves in relation to other powers, it is not worship that Psalm 100 inaugurates.” Mays p. 318
Referring to verse 3, ‘He made us’, “”God” means the one who creates and cares for the congregation, the one upon whom we depend for our existence and life as the people of God.” Mays p. 319
“Worship is joy because, as far as time runs, the future is ruled by the loving-kindness and faithfulness of the LORD.” Mays p. 320
“The two great mottoes of radical monotheism are: “I am the LORD they God; thou shalt have no other gods before me” and “Whatever is, is good.” The second can be said because the source of all things and the power by which they exist is good (H. Richard Niebuhr, pp. 37-38). Psalm 100 is a hymnic expression of these two great mottoes as praise. It creates a worship that knows who God is and why he is praised.” Mays p. 320
“While Psalm 100 is classified as a Hymn of Praise rather than as an enthronement psalm, it is a fitting conclusion to this grouping of psalms in book 4, with numerous parallels to the psalms that precede it.” W p. 38
“The closing words of the psalm are words of confident praise that YHWH is good, which steadfast love and faithfulness to all generations–those living in exile in Babylon, those who returned from the exile and dwelt as vassals of the Persian Empire, and those enduring various “exilic” life situations today.” W p. 38
Take from the quoted “Inclusive Praise Silences Oppression” by Christine Nel on pp. 39-40, “In verse 3, Psalm 100 gives a fourfold rationale for the call to make a “joyful noise”: the Lord is God, the LORD made us, we helton to the Lord, and we are the sheep of the Lord’s pasture. The psalmist confronts the reader of hearer twitch the reality of God’s sovereignty. The affirmation that we were made by and therefore belong to something greater than ourselves challenges any form of authority that might try to impose restrictions of rules concerning how, where, or when someone can praise the Lord based on gender, race, age, or social status. We are not self-made; we are created by God and we belong to God alone. Verse 4 of Psalm 100 issues a collective call to all worshipers to enter into the Lord’s gates and courts, reminding the reader of hearer that praise is a communal act. We are not autonomous individuals; instead we are called to live, work, play and worship in community. In response to the call to worship we must continually ask ourselves who we are leaving behind, whom we are excluding, whom we are ignoring when we enter the gates and the courts. What unwritten rules do we have; what hidden prejudices do we carry; what are the unspoken structures of society that foster exclusion, that undermine people coming together as a whole to praise the creator and sustainer God? As long as racism, sexism, classism, and all forms of marginalization persist, no part of creation can be truly free to “make a joyful noise” to the Lord.” W p. 40
“This psalm offers a summons to praise which seems to be an invitation to enter the temple (v. 1). Because of the reference to his “face” (presence), we are prepared for the reference in verse 2 to the peculiar identity of Israel as God’s people (cf. Ps. 95:7). Even in the Jerusalem temple the election tradition is still recalled. the temple holds together universal and particular religious claims. The summons in verse 4 is followed by a characterization of the one to be worshipped as good, loyal, and faithful. These attributes emerged out of Israel’s faith experience, but now are dealing only in summaries.” Brueggemann, The Message of the Psalms p. 165
Alter, Robert. 2007. The Book of Psalms: A Translation with Commentary New York: W. W. Norton & Company
WBC Allen, Leslie C. 1983. Word Biblical Commentary: Psalms 101-150. Vol. 21. Waco, TX: Word Books, Publisher.
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. 1974. Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible. 8th ed. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Press.
Bourgeault, C. (2006). Chanting the psalms: A practical guide Audio Book. New Seeds.
Brueggemann, Walter. 2007. Praying the Psalms: Engaging Scripture and the Life of the Spirit. 2nd ed. Eugene, OR: Cascade.
Brueggemann, Walter. 2014. From Whom No Secrets Are Hid: Introducing the Psalms. Edited by Brent A. Strawn. 1st ed. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.
Brueggemann, Walter. Davis Hanskins, Editor. 2022. Our Hearts Wait: Worshiping Through Praise and Lament in the Psalms Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville KY.
Brueggemann, Walter. (2002). Spirituality of the psalms. Augsburg Pub. House.
Brueggemann, Walter. (1984). The Message of the Psalms: A Theological Commentary. Minneapolis: Augsburg.
Chilson, Richard, ed. You Shall Not Want: A Spiritual Journey Based on the Psalms. Ave Maria Press, 2009.
Chittister, Joan. (2011). Songs of the heart: reflections on the psalms. John Garratt Publishing.
Cudjoe-Wilkes and Wilkes Cudjoe-Wilkes, G., Wilkes, A. J., & Moss, O. (2022). Psalms for black lives: Reflections for the work of Liberation. Upper Room Books.
WBC Craigie, Peter C. 1983. Psalms 1-50–Word Biblical Commentary. Vol. 19. Waco, TX: Word Books.
Creach, Jerome Frederick Davis. 1998. Psalms: Interpretation Bible Studies. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.
DAFLER, J. (2021). PSOBRIETY: A journey of recovery through the psalms. Louisville, KY: WESTMINSTER JOHN KNOX.
W de Claisse-Walford, Nancy L. WISDOM COMMENTARY: Psalms Bks. 4-5. Edited by Barbara E. Reid. Vol. 22. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2020.
Green, Barbara. 1997. Like a Tree Planted: An Exploration of Psalms and Parables Through Metaphor. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press.
W Hopkins, Denise Dombkowski. WISDOM COMMENTARY: Psalms Bks. 2-3. Edited by Barbara E. Reid. Vol. 21. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2016.
NIB Keck, Leander E. 2015. The New Interpreters Bible Commentary. Vol. 3. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.
Lewis, C. S. (2017). Reflections on the Psalms. Harper One, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers.
Mays, James Luther. 1994. Psalms. Louisville, KY: John Knox Press.
McCann, J. C. (1993). A theological introduction to the book of Psalms: The Psalms as Torah. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.
McCann, J. C., & Howell, J. C. 2001. Preaching the Psalms. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.
Merrill, N. C. (2020). Psalms for praying an invitation to wholeness (10th Anniversary Edition ed.). London, England: Bloomsbury Publishing.
Miller, Patrick D. 1986. Interpreting the Psalms. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press.
Morgan, Michael. 2010. The Psalter for Christian Worship Revised Edition. Westminster John Knox Press.
Schlimm, Matthew Richard. 2018. 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know. Nashville, TN: Abington Press.
Spong, M. (Ed.). (2020). The words of her mouth: Psalms for the struggle. Cleveland, OH: The Pilgrim Press.
WBC Tate, Marvin E. 1990. Word Biblical Commentary: Psalms 51-100. Edited by David Allan. Hubbard and Glenn W. Barker. Vol. 20. Waco, TX: Word.
Weems, Ann. 1995. Psalm of Lament. Westminster John Knox Pres
OTL Weiser, Artur. 1998. Old Testament Library: Psalms. Translated by Herbert Hartwell. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Manchester University Press.
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