Psalms 100:4

Psalm 100 is short — five verses — and has a simple title: "a psalm of thanksgiving". It was sung by those arriving at the temple.

Verse 4 literally describes the route: first the gates, then the courts. The order suggests that gratitude comes before the request, at the arrival, and not as a reaction to what was obtained.

The verbs pile up: enter, give thanks, praise, bless. It is a liturgy of movement, not of contemplation.

The reason appears in the next verse and is the heart of the psalm: "For the Lord is good. His loving kindness endures forever, his faithfulness to all generations." Gratitude rests on God's character, not on the day's circumstances.

It is one of the texts most used at thanksgiving services, family dinners and prayers before meals — and a good exercise for weeks when giving thanks does not come spontaneously.