TBO Psalms: Thanksgiving for the Lord's Favor

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 CSB

Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 92 CSB

A psalm. A song for the Sabbath day. It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to your name, Most High, to declare your faithful love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, with a ten-stringed harp and the music of a lyre. For you have made me rejoice, Lord, by what you have done; I will shout for joy because of the works of your hands. How magnificent are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts! A stupid person does not know, a fool does not understand this: though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be eternally destroyed. But you, Lord, are exalted forever. For indeed, Lord, your enemies— indeed, your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered. You have lifted up my horn like that of a wild ox; I have been anointed with the finest oil. My eyes look at my enemies; when evildoers rise against me, my ears hear them. The righteous thrive like a palm tree and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, they thrive in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, healthy and green, to declare, “The Lord is just; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”

Do I have a thankful heart?

A thankful heart is not often come by. The idea of being thankful is both a state of mind and a response. It can be easy to have a response of thankfulness when someone has done something we enjoy, like when they give us gifts or take us out to eat. I feel like an attitude of thankfulness is so much more than just responding to good things that happen. With an attitude of thankfulness we can live a life of worship no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. Unfortunately, thankfulness is often lost. Are our hearts not satisfied in Christ? Are we a generation fixated on self? Self-centered, self-exalting, selfish, every kind of self except self-examining. Could it be that in order to become full of thanks we must first become less of self. My prayer is that as we study our passages tonight we might grow in our thankfulness to God and our selflessness to others.

David and Nabal

The chapter begins with the death of Samuel. Although Samuel anointed David king over Israel he would never live to see him actually sit on the throne. David is still on the run from Saul. His journey brings him to Carmel where he comes across a man named Nabal. Before entering the city David spent time in the pastures with Nabal’s servants. David’s men protected them and ensured they were safe to do what was required of them. When it was time for David to go to Carmel he sent some of his men to the house of Nabal to try and get help in return for how he had protected Nabal’s servants. Nabal was an angry and bitter man but more than that he was stupid. When a man who has killed tens of thousands of Philistines asks for some bread and water you give it to him. David was offended at Nabal’s greed and was ready to take his life.

David often times finds himself surrounded by stupid people

Psalm 92:6–7 CSB

A stupid person does not know, a fool does not understand this: though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be eternally destroyed.

It is stupid to think that our sin will not have consequences. Unfortunately, if I am honest with myself, I spend more time thinking like a dummy than like David.

Nabal was greedy. He refused David’s hospitality but thankfully his wife was a lot smarter than he was. We can all be thankful for intelligent women. When my pride has blinded me to the reality of a situation its nice to have an intelligent woman lovingly tell me I’m being an idiot.

When Nabal’s wife Abigail hears of what Nabal has done she prepared the bread and supplies and met David before he came to the house. Ironically, Nabal’s name means stupid, so when she meets David she takes the blame for the situation and tells David, my husband lives up to the meaning of his name. She humbly asks for forgiveness and mercy. She reminds David that the Lord casts David’s enemies away from him like a rock from a sling, a reminder of how God literally did that in the instance of Goliath, and she asks that her husbands fate be left in the Lord’s care.

David is struck by Abigail’s humility and shows forgiveness and mercy to her. He blesses her and sends her back to her house where greedy Nabal is eating a feast fit for a king. That morning she told him all she did and it says his heart stopped, he became like stone, and ten days later he died. When David heard all that had happened he brought Abigail into his house to be his wife.

A thankful heart leads to generosity

Nabal’s greed (selfish)

Abigails intercession (selfless)

Christ’s intercession (Empties Himself of glory to fill Himself with wrath)

Philippians 2:1–11 NASB95

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

A thankful heart leads to compassion

Nabal’s wickedness

David’s forgiveness and compassion in withholding his justice and bringing Abigail into his house as a bride

Christ’s forgiveness and compassion in taking God’s justice upon Himself and bringing us into His house as a bride

Am I generous to others?

Do I show compassion for the needs of others?

David and Saul

We saw last week that even though he prayed for God to free him from his situation when God delivered Saul into his hands David showed mercy. This week Saul once again finds himself at the mercy of David. While Saul’s army was camped and when everyone had fallen asleep, David found his way to the presence of the king. Abishai, one of David’s men was ready to kill Saul at David’s command. He told David, “I can kill him with one blow and all this suffering will come to an end”. To which David replied, “who can lift their hand against the Lord’s anointed and remain innocent?”. David once again chooses to spare Saul. He instead takes Saul’s spear, probably the one he threw at him multiple times while in the palace, and he called to Saul, showed him the spear, and reminded Saul once again of his mercy. David’s view of this situation is interesting. Even though Saul was in the wrong and that David had been anointed as the rightful king of Israel, David was trusting in God’s timing for it all. He is content in his circumstance because he knows God is working in it all to bring about the promise He has made to David in His own timing. It can be a difficult thing to trust God in His timing. It can be a difficult thing to find contentment in our circumstances. Some of you I’m sure know what it’s like to feel frustrated about your situation. And its natural to want that difficult time to end. To resolve itself and to go back to some sense of normalcy. It’s natural. But what the Lord is teaching us here in this moment of David’s life is that where it might be easy to take a shortcut or to try and force a resolution, the best option is to trust in the Lord. Trust that He is working all things for our good and that we just need to be still. Allow our circumstance to produce inside us a steadfast faith. Worshiping while we wait. Giving thanks to God while we wait.

“When darkness veils His lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace.

In every high and stormy gale,

My Anchor holds within the veil.”

If we can’t think of a reason to worship or be thankful in our current circumstances rest assured there is plenty of reasons He has already given us before the storm hit. And as we remember all God has done for us we begin to sit in anticipation for all He will do, and the thought of that gives cause for thankfulness. Because the work He has begun in us He will bring to completion in the day of Christ Jesus. He will not abandon the work He has already started, and for that I am thankful.

A thankful heart leads to trust and contentment

Am I content in my circumstance?

Am I patiently waiting on the promises of God?

Do I trust that His ways are better than my own?

Taking time to give thanks to God is important. It reminds us of how He cares for us. Could it be that a heart of thankfulness produces within us a sense of peace as well? We look at David and there were extreme times of anxiety and fear. We see his back against the wall and his life in danger. We begin to see how he responds in those situations. He calls out to God in prayer. He reminds himself of all God has done. He trusts the Lord and is brought into a place of peace.

Psalm 92:8–10 CSB

But you, Lord, are exalted forever. For indeed, Lord, your enemies— indeed, your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered. You have lifted up my horn like that of a wild ox; I have been anointed with the finest oil.

A thankful heart leads to peace

Philippians 4:6–7 NASB95

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

A Thankful heart responds to God’s Steadfast Love and Faithfulness

Psalm 92:1–4 NASB95

It is good to give thanks to the Lord And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning And Your faithfulness by night, With the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, With resounding music upon the lyre. For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.

David is moved to worship and thanksgiving by all God has done. A heart of thankfulness is rooted in this. Without Christ as the anchor of our hearts we are drawn to worthless things. We can be Thank-full because He has been Faith-full.

David’s story once again brings him into the presence of his enemies. This time David doesn’t act crazy. He stays with the Philistines and even assists the Philistines in fighting against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. He was given the city of Ziklag where he stayed and lived with the Philistines for almost a year and a half.

It came time when David would have to fight against Israel. The Philistine army made its way to Shunem and Saul and the Israelite army made their way to Gilboa. Now Samuel had been dead for a while and when Saul saw the Philistine army he was afraid and went to a town called Endor to talk to a witch who could summon the ghost of Samuel to talk to Saul. He had to do this because God would not answer his prayers. He had no priest who could consult with God on his behalf and the ways that God had spoken before were silent. And so, Saul turned to witchcraft which was unlawful in Israel and under the Law. Whether this was the real spirit of Samuel or a demonic spirit who can know. Saul recognizes it as Samuel and asks what he should do in regards to the Philistine army.

1 Samuel 28:16–20 CSB

Samuel answered, “Since the Lord has turned away from you and has become your enemy, why are you asking me? The Lord has done exactly what he said through me: The Lord has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David. You did not obey the Lord and did not carry out his burning anger against Amalek; therefore the Lord has done this to you today. The Lord will also hand Israel over to the Philistines along with you. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, and the Lord will hand Israel’s army over to the Philistines.” Immediately, Saul fell flat on the ground. He was terrified by Samuel’s words and was also weak because he had not eaten anything all day and all night.

With no answer Saul returns to the battle field where he joins his army against the Philistines.

If God is not with Saul where is He? He is with David. As 1 Samuel comes you might think David and Saul’s stories would come crashing together in an epic battle for the throne, but that isn’t what happens. Instead it closes with two battles that parallel each other. The two stories show us the difference trusting in the Lord can make in our lives.

David who is ready to fight alongside the Philistines is sent home to Ziklag by the Philistine commanders. He is sent there because the other commanders are worried that he will switch sides and fight with Israel. So he goes home to find Ziklag has been raided by the Amalekites. All the wives, children, and belongings of the people had been stolen and the city burned to the ground. The soldiers are distraught. They were ready to turn on David and blame him for their loss, but David prays to the Lord for guidance, is led to where the Amalekites were, and slaughters them from twilight until evening. David rescues the all the women, children and livestock that had been stolen from Ziklag. He also comes away with a huge plunder that he shares equally among his men, even the ones too tired to fight with him. He even has some extra to send back to the elders in Judah. The Lord was working through David to bring about a massive victory.

On the flip side, Saul is ready to lead his men into battle against the Philistines. Very quickly the Israelite army became overwhelmed and began to flee. The Philistines chased them down and killed Saul’s sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. And after Saul was hit with an arrow he pulled out his sword, fell on it, and died. Thus ending the reign of Israel’s first king.

The story of Saul is a reminder to us of just how dangerous sin is. By not trusting in God Saul blew his life up. With each chapter he pulled further and further away from God until he is left alone on a battlefield with his own sword through his chest. Sin makes it hard to be thankful. Sin makes us entitled. It makes us feel like we are deserving of glory and praise. With sin clouding our vision its hard to remember that only God is worthy of glory and praise. A thankful heart consists of a attitude of thankfulness but their also comes a time when there needs to be a response. A response for all that God has done. A time when we lay our pride down and exalt God for who He is.

Psalm 92:1–5 CSB

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to your name, Most High, to declare your faithful love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, with a ten-stringed harp and the music of a lyre. For you have made me rejoice, Lord, by what you have done; I will shout for joy because of the works of your hands. How magnificent are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts!

We give thanks to God for His magnificent works. We rejoice in all he has done. We understand that His will for our life is not to live one of selfishness but one of selflessness. To put our faith in Christ and what He has done for us on the cross.

A Thankful heart is rooted in God’s Imputed Righteousness

Psalm 92:12–15 CSB

The righteous thrive like a palm tree and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, they thrive in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, healthy and green, to declare, “The Lord is just; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”

In someways I’ve preached this sermon backwards. Before a heart can ever be led by God it has to respond to what He has done. We are not righteous by our own doing. We have proven time and time again to be unfaithful and unrighteous. We are arrogant and greedy like Nabal, we are distrusting and discontent like Saul. We are foreigners of the house of God and enemies to Him like the Philistines, we are broken and have nothing to be thankful for. But God loves us and He sent His Son Jesus to take our place. All the wrath we deserved as enemies of God Jesus takes upon Himself. And in a single moment the greatest gift ever given was offered to us. Jesus takes the death we so desperately deserved and instead gives us His righteousness in return. That is Christ’s imputed righteousness. Where our account read bankrupt it now reads blessed.

2 Corinthians 5:21 CSB

He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

We have been forgiven. We have been made new. Our hearts that were once dead now beat with the blood of salvation and that’s worth saying thank you. Thank you with our thoughts, our words, our actions. Thank you with everything we have. We respond. And as our heart is stirred to love and thankfulness by what Christ has done for us on the cross we respond in faith. His steadfast love and faithfulness poured out on the tree suddenly our hearts are led in thanksgiving to peace, contentment, trust, compassion, generosity, obedience.

Do I have a thankful heart?

Have I responded to the work of Christ?

Am I being led to a life of worship and thankfulness?