Les Psaumes 100:2 Midrash : Midrash Tanchuma & Midrash Tehillim

The Holy One, blessed be He, said: In this world My creatures opposed Me, and therefore they were divided into seventy languages because of the evil inclination, but in the world-to-come they will all be of one accord, calling upon My name and serving Me, as it is said: For then will I turn to the peoples one pure language that they may call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent (Zeph. 3:9). And He will remove the oppression of idolatrous nations from Israel, and they shall serve Him with gladness, as it is said: Serve the Lord with gladness (Ps. 100:2). However, the nations of the world will serve Him, as is appropriate for them, with trepidation. For example, when a son serves his father, he does so in gladness, saying to himself: If I should commit an error in my father’s presence, he will not be angry with me, for he loves me. Hence he serves him with gladness. However, when a stranger serves a master, he does so with trepidation, saying to himself: If I should commit an error in his presence, he will become angry with me. Therefore, he serves him with trepidation.

Thus, it is written concerning the nations: Why are all the nations in an uproar? And why do the people mutter in vain? (Ps. 2:1). This entire psalm alludes to the nations. For at the conclusion of this psalm, it is written: Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Do homage in purity, etc. (ibid., vv. 11–12). David said to them: Take heed, lest you deviate from the right path, and He be angry, and ye perish in the way (Ps. 2:12), for He might become angry with you, even over a trivial matter. In reference to Israel, however, it is written: Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with thanksgiving (Ps. 100:2). This psalm was undoubtedly said with reference to Israel, for David composed it in thanksgiving, as it is written: A psalm of thanksgiving (ibid., v. 1).

"To the conductor, a song of praise. Shout to God, all the earth, sing the glory of His name. This is what is written in Zephaniah 3:9: 'For then I will convert the nations to a clear language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord.' And what is His service? Prayer, as Moses says in Deuteronomy 11:13: 'And it shall come to pass if you will diligently listen to My commandments.' And what is meant by serving Him in this world? It is prayer, as it says in Psalms 100:2: 'Serve the Lord with gladness.' And it says in Psalms 95:1: 'Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord; let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.' And likewise, Darius says to Daniel in Daniel 6:21: 'Your God whom you serve continually.' And what is meant by 'serve continually'? It is prayer, as it says in Daniel 6:11: 'He prayed three times a day.' Let us say to God: 'How awesome are Your deeds.' And as Isaiah says, just as they said to Him at the sea in Exodus 15:11: 'Who is like You, O Lord, among the heavenly powers?' So too, in Isaiah 25:1, it says, 'O Lord, You are my God, I will exalt You; I will praise Your name.' And now I say to you, 'How awesome are Your deeds,' as Isaiah says in Isaiah 66:23: 'And it shall be, that from new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before Me.' And it says in Psalms 86:9: 'All the nations that You have made shall come and bow down before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name.' And not just the nations, but all the earth will bow down to You, because there is no sovereignty over flesh and blood. And the sons of Korah say in Psalms 47:2: 'Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. For the Lord Most High is awesome, a great King over all the earth.' At that time, as it says in Zechariah 14:9, 'And the Lord shall be King over all the earth; in that day shall the Lord be one and His name one.'"