Count Those Blessings
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SONG: Count Your Blessings
SONG: O God, Our Help
Our men’s Bible study at Liberty Spring has been studying a book about anger. The author admits that anger is a part of our lives, but he argues that followers of Jesus are to live in such a way that we’re constantly releasing our anger, rather than holding onto it.
It’s a great book, and we’ve had some hard conversations about it as each person participating has been confronted with the damage we’ve done to ourselves and to others in treating anger as if it’s a positive emotion, something worthy of holding onto.
One of the things the author wrote has really stuck with me. It’s impossible to hold onto anger when we’re focused on gratitude.
I’ve thought about that line a lot in the past few weeks, trying to find a way to disprove it. But do you know what? I can’t find a single thing wrong with that argument.
When we’re angry, we’re focused on whatever way we feel we’ve been wronged by someone else. And every one of us is wronged by someone every week, sometimes intentionally and sometimes unintentionally.
Imagine if we spent all our time being angry about every little supposed slight we’ve experienced. Have you ever known anybody like that? What was it like to be around them?
Let me ask you something else: Have you EVER looked at someone who’s angry about something and thought, “Wow, that person really looks like Jesus right now!”
Of course not. Even though we know Jesus got angry at different points in His ministry, we need to be careful with our OWN anger, because we don’t tend to do anger in a way that still shows love and compassion, the way Jesus did.
But gratitude? We can look a LOT like Jesus when we’re showing gratitude. When we’re showing gratitude, we display the joy that’s supposed to be one of the marks of a Christ-follower’s life.
When we’re showing gratitude, we’re giving God the glory for what He’s done for us. When we’re showing gratitude, we’re acknowledging that the grace of God compels us to give: To give HIM the glory and to give OTHERS the same kind of grace He’s given us.
And one of the neat things about gratitude is that it’s self-reinforcing. If I take the time to count my blessings today, then tomorrow, I’m more likely to remember those blessings, even when someone does something that might otherwise make me angry.
And the more we remember His blessings, the more we WILL remember His blessings. It’s a virtuous circle, as opposed to a vicious circle.
Today, we’re going to read a fun little Psalm that it’s thought the people of ancient Israel sang during their Passover celebrations. Psalm 136 is the last of what are called the Great Hallel psalms.
Hallel is a Hebrew term describing a song of praise to God. It’s the word we get “hallelujah” from. Isn’t that neat?
Now, the thing I like about this Psalm is that it’s meant to be sung in parts, the leader with one line and the congregation with the next. We’re not going to try to sing it today, but I DO want you to participate, and it shouldn’t be hard to do.
Here’s your part: “For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Say it with me: “For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Good!
Now, each time I pause and point to you, that’s what you should say. And while I’m reading my parts, I want you to listen to the psalmist’s memories of God’s goodness to the people of Israel. Listen to the blessings the psalmist counts off for us here.
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
4 To Him who alone does great wonders, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
5 To Him who made the heavens with skill, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
6 To Him who spread out the earth above the waters, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
7 To Him who made the great lights, For His lovingkindness is everlasting:
8 The sun to rule by day, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
9 The moon and stars to rule by night, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Excellent. Let’s stop there for a moment.
The Apostle Paul says in the Book of Romans that God’s creation ITSELF attests to His goodness, His power, and His majesty. And so, it’s entirely appropriate for Him to start with all the wonders of creation that he’s thankful for.
I remember sitting on a beach one night a few years ago, looking up at the stars and thinking about the God who placed each one where He wanted it, the God who spoke their light into existence, the God who knows each of them by name.
I remember being struck with awe over the great wonders of the heavens. And I remember being overwhelmed with gratitude that God has given us things of beauty and wonder and majesty to remind us of Himself.
When is the last time you thanked God for the simple fact that there is beauty in this broken world? Can you imagine what this world would be like without it?
But gratitude should also be about very personal things, because every one of us has personally benefitted from the grace of God.
It was by God’s grace that each one of us woke up this morning. It’s by His grace that we’re fed. It’s by His grace that we’re clothed and housed and cared for.
He has showered blessings on all of us.
SONG: SHOWERS OF BLESSING
Prayer
In the case of the nation of Israel, the personal blessings of God began in earnest when He rescued them from slavery in Egypt.
And, especially since this was a Passover psalm, it was therefore appropriate that the people praise God for bringing them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.
Let’s go back to Psalm 136.
Give thanks to the Lord,
10 To Him who smote the Egyptians in their firstborn, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
11 And brought Israel out from their midst, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
12 With a strong hand and an outstretched arm, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
13 To Him who divided the Red Sea asunder, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
14 And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
15 But He overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
16 To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
17 To Him who smote great kings, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
18 And slew mighty kings, For His lovingkindness is everlasting:
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
20 And Og, king of Bashan, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
21 And gave their land as a heritage, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
22 Even a heritage to Israel His servant, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Let’s stop there for a minute. This is the story of Israel’s salvation. It’s the story of God redeeming them from slavery in Egypt and then giving them a kingdom of their own.
And we’re given the story of Israel in Scripture, in part, as a picture of what takes place when a person repents from sin and turns to Jesus in faith.
We’re redeemed from our bondage to sin. We’re rescued from the spiritual death — the eternal separation from God — that is the fate of all who reject Jesus. We’re brought into the kingdom of God as adopted sons and daughters.
And just as Israel remembered in this Psalm what God had done to save them, we who follow Jesus in faith likewise should remember what Jesus did to secure our salvation.
He GAVE UP the glory that was His in heaven to live among us as a man. He lived a sinless life so we can see what that kind of life looks like.
And He gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sins at the cross so that all who turn to Him in faith can be saved and have eternal life — life the way it was always meant to be in the presence of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And then, on the third day after Jesus’ crucifixion, God raised His son back to life to show that His sacrifice was acceptable and to show that He has the power to do just what He’s promised for all who believe in Jesus.
Now, isn’t all THAT something to be thankful for, something to praise God for? Hallelujah!
When’s the last time you thanked God for your salvation? When’s the last time you thanked Him for the people He used to bring you to faith in Jesus?
Let’s do that right now.
Prayer
SONG: JESUS PAID IT ALL
Give thanks to the Lord,
23 Who remembered us in our low estate, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
24 And has rescued us from our adversaries, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
25 Who gives food to all flesh, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
God is good! How much better for us to fix our eyes upon the goodness of God than on the brokenness of this world.
He deserves our praise. He deserves our thanksgiving. He deserves all honor and glory. To GOD be the glory!
SONG: TO GOD BE THE GLORY
Prayer