Give thanks and praise to The Lord Most High

Introduction

Good morning brothers and sisters, it is good to be with you all today. If you would please go ahead and turn in your bible’s to Psalm 92. In a few moments we will read the scripture out loud together from the screen, but please go ahead and have your bible’s open to there in case you need to read something again as we go along.

While you are doing that, we all know that we are entering a time or season of thanks.

This thanks is of course celebrated in our country by participating in large meals together with your family. When you really think about it, when all we do for thanksgiving is eat a big meal, watch football, and maybe even a parade, something seems conspicuously missing…. Why would it be called “thanksgiving” if we weren’t giving thanks? Maybe we would be better served by calling it, feast-partaking or feast-eating or feast-eating-day? Unfortunately, the most important thing in the thanksgiving holiday season is often overlooked in many families. So, what is it then? This is that we are to and are supposed to be giving thanks to God for the great, the small, the expected, and the unexpected things, and all things He has done in our lives this year. For the Puritans pilgrim’s it was that they had survived a long sea ride and made it a new land where they could worship freely. For us, it may be something different like new jobs, our family doing well, improved health or good health, another year well lived (which is only done in Christ), among many other things. No matter what it is, we all have something to be thankful to God for and makes all things for our good. What I’m saying about thanksgiving that we must do and what our sermon title is today is to “Give thanks and praise to The Lord Most High.” This is what is about.

Scripture

If you would all please rise for the reading of God’s Word today. The words to the scripture will be on the screen, please read along with me as we are reading. When I am done, I will say “this is The Word of The Lord” if you will all please respond with “Thanks be to God.” First, Let’s pray. Father God, we thank you. We thank You for who You are and what You have done through and in us. You are a great and mighty God who deserves all our thanks and praises. Help us to be people who are always doing this. May Your praise be ever and always on our lips that you would be glorified in our words and also in our lives. Father, we ask this day that as we are about to receive your word, that you help us to put all things aside that would keep us from hearing from You. We look expectantly and excitedly towards whatever it is that You are going to show us about Yourself today. Then Father, take whatever that is and refine us with it and help us keep it. Help us keep it not just to keep to ourselves, but to go out and share with others. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and Precious name that I pray, Amen. Psalm 92, A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath. 1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; 2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, 3 to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. 4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. 5 How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep! 6 The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this:7 that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever; 8 but you, O Lord, are on high forever. 9 For behold, your enemies, O Lord, for behold, your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered. 10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me fresh oil. 11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants. 12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, 15 to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. [1] This is the Word of the Lord (thanks be to God). Thank you, please be seated.

Context

We begin today starting a mini-series on Psalms of thanksgiving. I hope everyone had a chance to read over this Psalm this week beforehand. Next week, our Psalm will be Psalm 34, so please go ahead and read over this in your devotion time during this week.

Psalms is an interesting book of the bible. It is unique in it’s form and context. This book itself belongs to the wisdom literature section of the bible, and yes you will find much wisdom in the Psalms, but its application is very different. In fact, the book of Psalms was to the Hebrews, that were the original audience, a book of worship music and poetry. That’s right, many (if not all) of these Psalms would have been songs that were song in the temple or gathering place to worship God. In fact, you might go so far as to say that the bible has it’s own worship or hymn book in it! How cool is that to think about? Here in our own bible is a book of worship music/poetry that we know is 100% theologically accurate and is 100% the inspired Word of God. So, if ever anyone was to ask me, “Pastor, what worship music is always correct and safe to sing?” My response would be, one of the Psalms. In fact, so useful are the Psalms for our worship, that many Christian Churches and entire denominations have made singing a Psalm a regular part of their worship service. Also, over the years famous hymn writers have taken to writing hymns after the Psalms. One famous one on Psalm 92 comes from Isaac Watts (who also wrote famous Hymns such as “Joy to the World” and “When I survey thy wondrous cross”). This Hymn is called “Sweet is the work, my God, my king. It’s first two verses go like this:

Sweet is the work, my God, my King, To praise Thy Name, give thanks and sing, To show Thy love by morning light And talk of all Thy truth at night. Sweet is the day of sacred rest, No mortal cares shall seize my breast. O may my heart in tune be found, Like David’s harp of solemn sound!

Really puts things into perspective, doesn’t it?

Another interesting thing is that the Psalms is a book that we all agree was not written by one author, true many Psalms were written by King David, other known Psalm writers exist, but this Psalms author remains anonymous. Even though the author is unknown, we see from the very beginning of the Psalm, the reason and place the psalm was given and was to be performed. This is of course at the Sabbath day worship time. Now, I know everyone in this room knows what the sabbath is, it is a day of God ordained set apart time for rest and worship to God for mankind, so I won’t get too deep in that. However, I will say that participating in a Sabbath day is something we have a very hard time doing in our culture. I’ll admit it myself; I can find myself not having a sabbath. Sometimes, for weeks or months on end. Unfortunately, when asking around I’m not the only Pastor that has this problem. In fact, this past Sunday I went to a local pastor’s ordination council and questions of Sabbath and rest were of the most frequency and most concern for the council.

Do you know what happens when that happens, not sab bathing? Always something gets off in my mind and always my worship and will to serve God seems to run a little dry. Wonder why this is? Because when we choose to not follow God’s command to rest, as humans are designed to do, we ignore who God is and in turn do not recognize that He has authority and is worthy of praise and worship. When we do not sabbath, take time for rest and worship, we are quietly saying to ourselves and those around us, that we don’t know who God is and we don’t trust Him to provide for us. The Psalmist shows us how and a few reasons to himself why we should praise and worship God, and I challenge you all to hear them and think of others in your life this week. So, with those things in mind, let’s dive deep into this week’s text.

Message

Our first point, God rightly receives thanks and praise

1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; 2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, 3 to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. 4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

The Psalmist begins here by stating a truth, one that is true to us every single day of every single week. This is that it is good to give thanks to the Lord and sing praises to His name. Yes, we do this hear in this place. Here in the church, we openly pray prayers of thanks/appreciation and sing praises to His name. This is right, this is good and this is something that is needed in every church body…. However, it is also something that is needed and required of every believer of The Lord Jesus Christ; We need to give this to Him every morning and every night of our lives forever and ever more. With that in mind, I want to share some words of the Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 1 in it says, “4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” So, what’s the important part here? It’s that through acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we enter into a fellowship with God. This is a fellowship we owe much thanks to Him about.

In fact, God doesn’t owe you or me or anyone else anything. This is something that He gives to us out of love. It’s a gift that we didn’t and don’t and will never deserve. However, God loves us so much that he provided a way. He provided a way through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross to pay for the great sin debt that all have to Him. Yes, everyone every where is a great and horrible sinner, myself included. This sin separates us from God. God, though loving us as His treasured creation did not desire for us (mankind) to be separated from Him for eternity. He provided the sacrifice, paid the cost in full so that we can redeemed and spotless before Him in the day of judgement that is awaiting everyone. Beloved brethren, here this and know this. God loves You and wants you to know Him more. Though we are forgiven of our sin on true conversion, He wants to show you more of Himself. We can’t understand what it is though, with the blinders on our own eyes of the sin we live in. So, find that a repent from it and turn towards the Lord Jesus. To the person not yet a Christian, the same is true for you, God wants you to know Him more and enjoy Him for eternity, but this is only possible through your own trust and faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior to pay for the great debt that you have that separates you from God. Here this all and know this, believe and repent. As you find your faith and as it is made new and deeper, find joy in it! Sing for it! Because it is the most precious and wonderful thing ever!

A second point, God is upon high forever

5 How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep! 6 The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this:7 that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever; 8 but you, O Lord, are on high forever. 9 For behold, your enemies, O Lord, for behold, your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered.

Now, I don’t know about you, but any time I see the word “works” in the Bible, I know that this section needs particular care. I want to share with you what the theologian William Jones said of this example of works here. He says, “The works of which the Psalmist is speaking are not God’s works in creation, but His moral government of the world; those doings by which He brought salvation to His people, and destroyed His and their foes. God’s works in creation are great, and His thoughts which are embodied therein are very deep; but these are not the works of which the Psalmist here speaks. “What kind of worksand thoughts the Psalmist means particularly intimated in verse 7, which should be distinguished from verses 5 and 6 as by inverted commas. It is the works and counsels of God for the deliverance of His people, a deliverance which is secured by the destruction of the wicked, their enemies.”[2]To make that simple, the works referred to here are God’s work of deliverance of His people. Meaning, His perfect and complete work of redemption through Jesus Christ the Righteous.

The Psalmist goes on to speak at how the wicked, those that remain in their sin, can and often do seem flourish on this world. They spring up qucily and sprout like grass, some Bible version may say weeds. As we all know, weeds and grass can grow and grow very quickly, but they are not strong. They will not last forever. As quickly as grass or weeds come up, they are destined to shrivel up quickly when stressed, they are doomed for destruction either by our lawnmowers or by the winters cold. Much better is it put your hope in something other than this world has to offer you. Our true lives go on for eternity (they don’t just end at death), and the only way we get the good side of that is through repentant hearts that have turned towards the eternal God, towards the Lord Jesus and the righteousness therein. Don’t seek for the “good things” of this world. As Matthew said in his Gospel, “19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

The next point, God exalts and anoints the faithful

10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me fresh oil. 11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.

Here the Psalmist hearkens back to what verses 8-9 meant for himself. This is that, “God would surely exalt his horn and anoint him. Here again he wrote with such confidence that he described God’s work as if it had already happened.[3]” This horn, like a wild ox’s shows strength and, the “Fresh oil, in such a context, speaks eloquently of a renewed anointing or consecration, to serve God.[4]” So because God is exalted He will likewise bless His people. Moreover, the righteous will see the complete destruction of the wicked, God anoints his faithful to his service in one way or another. With that in mind, there is one thing that we all are called to do this to fulfill Christ’s great commission that tells to go, to go into the world and make new disciples (new believers) and baptize them in the name of the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. This is a Holy Priesthood that all believers are called into. Peter touched on this in 1st Peter saying, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Brothers and sisters, point yourselves and others toward The Lord Jesus and put aside anything that keeps you from doing so.

Another point, God’s righteousness flourishes those in it

12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, 15 to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. [5]

So, who are the righteous? Well, there is only one true answer to this. Yes, there are many things that claim to be the truth, but they are not so watch out for them. Their deceit is everywhere. No amount of do-gooding will ever do you any good. Trying to keep from doing bad, too bad. The only, the ONLY way to be righteous is by accepting Jesus Christ. Jesus says this himself, that he is THE WAY and THE TRUTH and THE LIFE and no one comes to The Father without Him. So call on him, call on Him in a truthful and lifelong desire. Psalm 145 says, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

Those that do this, those that call on God in truth can rest assured that in the fullness of eternity they will be made to flourish like a large and mighty tree compared to a small piece of grass or a weed such as those who do not have righteousness. Yes, the wicked may seem to flourish while here on earth, but they will not flourish in the courts of God, in heaven. Instead, they are all doomed to the just judgement of Hell that awaits all that have not chosen to accept the truths of God. Back to the righteous though, the Psalmist goes on to even say that even in their old age (essentially when you wouldn’t accept it such as from a dying plant) they still bear much fruit because they know that God is upright and righteous. They know as read about John saying a few weeks ago in 1stJohn 1 that, “that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” Make the Lord the rocking, the building stone, the most important part of any and all parts of your life today.

Conclusion

Beloved, do you hear this and know this? Does your life reflect this statement, that God rightly receives thanks and praise. He should, so what do we need to remove from our lives that keeps us from rightly thanking and praising God? Do we understand that God is upon high forever? That no matter what, he is God and we (or anything else) is not. Trying to go against this is only going to give us trouble. What are we saying is more important to us than God and do we recognize Him for who He really is? Then know that God exalts and anoints the faithful. All believers are called to His service, are you being faithful to that and do you act and think in a way acknowledges that and moves in his anointing? With all of that know and rejoice, sing for joy that God’s righteousness flourishes those in it. We don’t have righteousness on our own, not even a little bit. God has and gives it all through Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on the cross so we because of this great gift that we never deserved and could never earn we need to Give thanks and praise to The Lord Most High! Take anything that keeps you from doing these things and put them aside and take on the Lord Jesus in those places. He can and will and wants you to know Him more and more.

To others in this room. Those that are unbelievers or even unsure believers. Let me speak clearly and plainly to you friend. I tell you this not because I want to mean or hurtful, but because God wants you to know this. God loves you, very very much and desires to have a personal relationship with you. However, because of sin which isn’t just the breaking of God’s laws or rules but is also a condition of our heart (to rebel against God) we are separated from God. This is because sin is unholy and God is Holy. God though, treasuring man and not wanting His creation to not be with Him provided the way to overcome this. This sin, this sin debt is so great and so big that it could never be paid in any way by any human, only God could do this. So, He came down, Jesus Christ the Son and Paid the blood sacrifice to pay this debt on the cross. He paid this sacrifice on the cross to redeem anyone that would call upon Jesus as Lord and savior. We all sin, we all need Jesus. No exceptions, period. So, won’t you accept this free gift of forgiveness today. God is calling you, won’t you answer?

With that, let’s conclude. During our last song together, I will be here if you need to talk, or need prayer, or want to talk more about Jesus. After service we will move into our time of fellowship together for thanksgiving, while we are there, please be sure to tell another person of something you are thankful of God about. I love you all. Let’s pray. Father God. We thank you for this message today. We thank you for who You are and offer you praise Father, praise in the highest. Make our lives, all of our actions, and all our thoughts be acts of praise to You. Refine us in ways that make this true and help us as we go out and share You with others. As we are about to take in a fellowship meal together father, we ask that You bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies and all the hands that have touched it as well. Father, this food is to our bodies, but Your word is to our souls, it’s in these things we ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that we pray, Amen.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, 2016, p. Ps 92:title – 15. [2]Jones, William. “Psalm 88–109.” Psalms 88–150, vol. 2, Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1892, p. 61. [3]Ross, Allen P. “Psalms.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1, Victor Books, 1985, p. 861. [4]Kidner, Derek. Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary. InterVarsity Press, 1975, p. 368. [5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, 2016, p. Ps 92:title – 15.