533_Rejoicing in being the Lord’s possession

Psalm 100 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 few years ago, there was a legal battle in a large city over a small but valuable piece of land. Two parties claimed ownership of it, each producing documents and witnesses to prove their case. The fight dragged on for years, costing both sides millions of dollars, and in the end, the judge ruled in favor of one. Ownership was established—but by then, both parties had already spent so much that the victory seemed hollow.

That courtroom battle symbolizes the greater reality in our world today. Nations fight over borders. Families are torn apart in disputes over inheritance. Even friendships are broken because of claims over property. The same question appears in different forms: Who is the owner? Who has the right to decide?

And behind it is the greater question: Who owns the world itself? Who owns us?

Many of the wealthy and powerful in this world behave as though they own everything. Because they control vast sums of money, or land, or resources, they think they can shape reality to their will. Psalm 100 declares the truth: ownership ultimately belongs, not to them but to God. He made us, and we are His. This realization changes everything—our joy, our worship, our purpose, and our peace.

This short psalm, only five verses long, is among the most joyful in the book. It begins:
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!”

This invitation is not only for Israel, but all the earth. Worship is not limited by geography, ethnicity, or culture. The call to worship is universal: to acknowledge God, to rejoice in Him, to serve Him with gladness. Worship is not a burden or a heavy obligation, but a truly joyful privilege. His worshippers do not come before him grumbling or with long lists of complaints, but rather with songs of praise and thankfulness. Even when we bring our requests, the pattern is: “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

The central declaration of the psalm is:
“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.”

The Lord alone is God. Whether people acknowledge Him or not does not change the fact, just as the Himalayan peaks soar regardless of whether anyone knows about them or not. Their existence is not dependent on our recognition. God exists and reigns, regardless of human denial. In acknowledging him, however, there is blessing, security, and peace.

And this God is our Creator. “It is He who made us.” Our identity is not self-invented; it is bestowed. We are not cosmic accidents or products of blind chance. We are handcrafted by a good God. In a time when people are desperately searching for identity—in careers, in possessions, in relationships, or even in shifting self-definitions—it is essential that we know: I belong to God. I am His deliberate and carefully created person.

But God is not only our Creator but also our Shepherd. “We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.” Sheep are vulnerable creatures; they cannot survive on their own. The shepherd gives his days to making sure they are cared for, fed, protected, and guided. To belong to God means we are never abandoned. We are not orphans wandering through life without direction. We are the sheep of His pasture.

This truth also carries authority. As our Creator and Shepherd, He has the right to direct our lives. Yet he does not oppress us. His commands are not those of a dictator or self-indulgent tyrant feeding himself at our expense. Rather, all he does is for our good. He owns us, not to arouse opposition or resistance but for our joy. For he loves us and all his thoughts towards us are kind.

The psalmist urges: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”

These verses recall the throng of people pressing into the temple court to give thanks to God. Indeed, worship is a fitting tribute to God’s ownership. When we sing, when we pray, when we give thanks, our lips reflect what our whole being says: “I am Yours, O Lord. You are my God, and I belong to You.”

And there is joy in this. The lie that is often spread is that belonging to God means losing our freedom. But the opposite is true. We were created in God’s image. Only as we fulfil that image are we ourselves fulfilled. And our delight in his will is expressed in worshiping him in spirit and in truth, not just with outward actions and words. How miserable are those who are ruled by their own masters. How free and happy are those who bow before God alone, and bow with gladness!

The psalm closes with a resounding reason for praise:
“For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”

God is good – not like the shifting goodness of man that often shifts for convenience or comfort. Many think something is good because it benefits them, even if it harms others. But God’s goodness is kind, impartial, gentle and truthful. Therefore we can rest in him. Romans 8:28 declares grandly, “All things work together for good for those who love God.” All things may not be “for our comfort” but all things work together “for good.”

The steadfast love of God endures forever. Unlike human love, which rises and falls, God’s love endures forever. It is covenant love, unshakable, anchored in His character. He does not stop loving because we fail. His love is not conditional on our performance. It is steady, unbreakable, and eternal.

And He is faithful to every promise He has ever made. In a world where words are easily broken, where contracts are torn up, and where even close friends sometimes fail, God’s promises stand firm. His faithfulness stretches “to all generations.” That means what He promised Abraham, He will fulfill in us. What He spoke centuries ago still stands today. His word is more real than the things we touch and see. That is why we can walk by faith, not by sight—because we trust in the unchanging faithfulness of God.

As we read this psalm today, let us live with joy. The psalm began with gladness, and it ends with steadfast love. To know that God owns us dismisses fear and causes us to rejoice. We belong to the One who made us, shepherds us, loves us, and remains faithful forever.

When anxiety rises, I can remind myself: I am His. When temptation presses, I can remember: I belong to God, not to sin. When discouragement comes, I can rest in this: my Shepherd cares for me, His love endures forever, and His promises cannot fail.

C. S. Lewis once wrote, “There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, ‘Your will be done.’” Only the first kind please God by their faith, as they gladly say to God, “Thy will be done.”

One day, our Shepherd and Owner, our Creator and judge, will return. Then every knee will bow, before the Lord and God of heaven and earth. He will gather us into His presence forever. And on that day, every tongue and every nation will finally acknowledge what Psalm 100 declared long ago: “The Lord, He is God. It is He who made us, and we are His.”

Until then, let us live with gladness. Let us worship joyfully. Let us serve Him, not as duty but as privilege. And let us remember, in the words of Psalm 100, that “the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.”

So, let us be glad—for we are His.