Psalm 100:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

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

NASB: 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.

CSB: Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we are his -- his people, the sheep of his pasture.

NLT: Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Here, the psalmist stresses God's sovereignty and ownership of His people. These words summon all people (Psalm 100:1) to know by experience that the LORD God is their Creator and Shepherd (Psalm 23:1).

A declaration that God created us flies in the face of worldviews and religions which claim humanity was an accident, or the result of some defect in the universe. Genesis 1:27 states: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Although Adam and Eve disconnected with God by sinning and plunged the entire human race into sin and condemnation, individuals can reconnect with God through faith in Jesus Christ. He taught that He is the way—the only way—to God (John 14:6).

By creative right, God owns humanity, but by redemption He holds a special ownership of believers. This verse uses the imagery of a shepherd: a guiding protector who cares for those being protected. King David acknowledged the Lord as his shepherd, and said, "He makes me lie down in green pastures" (Psalm 23:2). Our Shepherd provides for us daily, protects us, and gives us peace.

The 100th Psalm opens with an invitation to the whole earth to joyfully praise the Lord, serve Him, and worship Him in song. The Lord is described as the Creator of the people as well as their Shepherd. The psalmist summons everyone to enter the temple with thanksgiving and praise. He describes the Lord as good, having love that is steadfast forever and faithfulness that stretches from generation to generation.

This is the closing psalm in a section called "royal psalms." These are Psalms 93 and 95—100. These songs proclaim God's sovereignty, His universal goodness, the duty of the nations to submit to Him, and the obligation of believers to praise Him. Psalm 150 parallels this psalm by inviting everyone and everything to praise the Lord.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.