In this three part series, we are exploring the nature of worship and the proper attitudes that should be present when we do so. In the first installment, we discussed several of those mindsets that are characteristic of true worship. (read it here: http://www.marketfaith.org/2025/03/worship-attitudes-and-gratitudes-part-1-tal-davis/) We looked at Isaiah’s vision of heaven in Isaiah chapter six as a model of worship in heaven itself. In that chapter is recorded the prophet’s vision of the Lord’s heavenly throne room where he saw angels proclaiming the glory of God.
We explained how Isaiah immediately was overcome with awe in the presence of the holy Lord. This made him (1) realize his own sinfulness and his need, (2) to admit it to himself and to the Lord. He then was granted symbolic forgiveness of his sins which lead him to express (3) an attitude of gratitude for God’s grace. We showed that those same qualities should characterize our worship now.
In the second part we looked at several results of that worship experience in Isaiah’s life. (Read it here: https://www.marketfaith.org/2025/03/worship-attitudes-and-gratitudes-part-2-tal-davis/) After confessing his sins and receiving God’s forgiveness, it put him in the proper state of mind to hear the word of God. This made him readily available to the Lord. He was a willing servant for whatever God had for him to do. He then responded positively to the commission the Lord gave him to proclaim His word to the people.
In this Part Three we are going to focus more on the attitude of gratitude in our worship and spiritual lives. A key ingredient in all Christian worship is giving thanks to the Lord for his blessings. In this installment we will examine several specific ways we can express our thanksgiving to God. We will use the familiar Psalm 100 as our guideline. If you are anywhere close to my age, as a child you may have learned or memorized this Psalm (probably from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible). In this article we will use the New American Standard Bible (NASB) with the KJV in parenthesis.
Let’s start with verse 1:
Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. (NASB)
(Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. KJV)
Obviously one important way we express our gratitude to God is with our voices. The KJV says, “Make a joyful noise”, and that’s what most of us do when we try to sing. But the NASB translates it better with “Shout joyfully!” This does not mean in some frenzied way.
A couple of decades ago there was a sort of fad among some Christian groups. It was called “holy laughter.” People would fall on the floor in worship services in uncontrollable fits of laughter. I am not sure what exactly they thought was happening to them, but it seemed to me to be mass hysteria. I don’t know if it is still being widely practiced now.
Nonetheless, we should worship through the spoken word with praise and joy. One positive trend in evangelical churches over the past fifty years has been the movement toward contemporary praise music in worship. Music that uplifts the spirit and allows worshippers to raises their voices is a good thing.
Years ago my wife and I attended a church that had a rather large deaf ministry. It was so wonderful to watch the deaf folks singing and praising God in their own sign language. You could tell that though they were audibly silent, they were nonetheless very loud!
Ever notice when you feel joy you sing. Music is a great gift of God. It’s a universal language. It’s a natural and great way to express feelings. That’s why love is the most common subject of popular songs. Elvis sang “Love me Tender” and the Beatles did “All you need is Love.” And remember in the old movies, a guy and girl would be walking on the beach when suddenly the guy would break out in a love song (backed up by full orchestra).
Music is also one best ways to teach. Ever notice how you remember words of songs? You will be riding down the road listening to the radio and a song will come on that you haven’t heard in decades. But you can sing every word right along.
Songs are perhaps the best way to worship God. Hymns and praise songs are sung to God. That is why we do them, not just to fill the time. Again, the attitude is most important. Awhile back I pastored a small congregation in north Georgia. Though it was not a big group, on Sunday mornings the worship services were filled with authentic joy and music from the choir and the people.
Verse 2:
Serve the Lord with jubilation; Come before Him with rejoicing. (NASB)
(Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. KJV)
Another key way that we show our gratitude in worship is through our joyful service and joy in His presence. The NASB says to serve the Lord with “jubilation.” That’s an old word we don’t use much any more. The KJV, and ironically most other modern translations, render it (Hebrew: simchah) as “gladness.”
In any case, we are to serve rejoicing in the Lord. How? With “jubilation” or “gladness!” Do you ever think of your work as a form of prayer or worship? Yes, the way we perform our duties in our occupations demonstrates our commitment to the Lord. As the Apostle Paul told the Colossians:
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. (Colossians 3:23-24 NASB)
Remember attitudes count and motives matter. As Christians we need to know that people are watching us, and how we do our duties says a lot about how we worship our Lord. We don’t want to be like the man who griped all the time about his job, with a scowled face. Finally he was asked by a co-worker, “Why do you stay here?” “Because,” he answered, “I love my work!”
Verse two also states we should come into the presence of the Lord with rejoicing. One might ask, “What does it mean to come into His presence? Aren’t we always in God’s presence?” Yes, but there are special moments when we put other things aside to focus our thoughts and prayers toward Him. Worship services and personal Bible study are such times. They should be joyful experiences. As we indicated above, joyous music enhances our worship when it is done in the proper context. Music for music’s sake is not worship. Music should lift the soul and the lyrics should speak to God.
Verse 3:
Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. (NASB)
(Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. KJV)
Another essential element in showing gratitude to God and being able to worship Him is to know exactly who He is. We must recognize that He alone is the One True Creator. We are His workmanship and He has made us for Himself. We did not make ourselves. This flies in the face of the secular naturalistic worldview that says we are nothing more than highly evolved animals, the result of random evolution. We are created in the image of God and have a purpose for lives. We are to live as His sheep in His pasture, depending on Him for everything.
Verse 4:
Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courtyards with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. (NASB)
(Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. KJV)
In this verse the psalmist admonished his readers to “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courtyards with praise.” Gates and courtyards refer to the holy Temple. That was the of place of assembled worship. He says the attitudes of gratitude and praise should characterize their assembly. They are also told to “bless His name.”
The application for Christians is obvious. We are expected to gather together regularly to worship the Lord. There is no such thing as an isolated Christian. We are to be the “Body of Christ.” In a body, each part has an important function which none can do alone. Regular corporate worship is a vital ingredient in the life of the body. And everyone needs to participate.
Now we must concede that not everyone likes to worship the same way. Culture and personal tastes work to form people’s preferences for worship styles. Some people like old fashion gospel music. Some people enjoy contemporary Christian rock. Others prefer classic hymns. The style of worship is far less important than the content of worship.
Verse 5:
For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting And His faithfulness is to all generations. (NASB)
(For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. KJV)
The psalmist concludes by extolling several basic qualities of Lord’s character. He states first simply that “the Lord is good.” Then he proclaims that His forgiving mercy has no limitations of time or extent. Finally, he says “His faithfulness” (emuwnah) extends to all future generations. The KJV, and some other translations, render that Hebrew term as “his truth endureth.” Either translation is accurate. It emphasizes God’s enduring firmness, security, and fidelity that transcends generations.
In conclusion, our attitudes are critical to the quality of our worship. First we must know the one we worship. That is found through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When we come to accept Him as Lord and Savior, then we know our sins are forgiven and have new life in Him. In that case worship comes naturally. And how will we do so? “With Thanksgiving!”
© 2025 Tal Davis