Give Thanks for God is Near

Introduction

Good morning please open in your Bibles to Psalm 138 that is Psalm 138. That is on page 521 if you are using one of the Bible’s scattered throughout the chairs. When it comes to holiday sermons I don’t always get the chance to preach on the topic of Thanksgiving. Many times we are working through another series that I am trying to wrap up before Christmas. However, when I do get a chance to preach a sermon just about Thanksgiving I am well… thankful. I believe gratitude is a Christian virtue that is often too overlooked. How much happier we would all be if were just a bit more thankful.

It is hard to be angry when you’re thankful, to be jealous, to be rude, to be harsh, it is difficult to gossip, to be prideful, to be worried etc. when you are being grateful. Yet, we struggle to give thanks in all circumstances like our benediction for the last few months has reminded us: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” We repeat the same verse for so many weeks, because it is our hope that we would memorize these verses without even trying.

You see in order to give thanks in all circumstances we cannot root our thankfulness in our circumstances. Instead, we are to root our thankfulness in the person and character of God. So let’s walk through Psalm 138 this morning and by God’s grace may we leave a thankful people. Read Psalm 138.

He Is Faithful v. 1-3

EX: The psalmist give thanks with his whole person. The heart is all that we are. The reference to gods could be angels (heavenly beings), kings, or false gods. I think it is false gods, but no matter what the point is God is above all. Psalm 115:4–7“Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat.”

ILL: I sing to you because you are better than material wealth, politics, spouse, kids or any other false idol.

EX: Thanks is Actionable in his praise and thanksgiving. Sings, bows down, give thanks to God’s name. Writing the psalm, speaking these things. Not just a disposition but a heart posture that actually bears out in his life in real ways. And then he gives the 2 reasons: Psalm 138:2–3“I…. for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.”

Reason 1- General truth about God. Steadfast love and faithfulness manifested in the exaltation of God’s name and word above all else. Thankfulness starts with what is true about God all the time. God is steadfast and faithful and he will exalt his name and word no matter what. Circumstances don’t dictate thankfulness. God’s character.

ARG: Exalt his own name and word? Is God a Narcissists? Narcissus, what a Greek mythological figure that looked at his own reflection in a pool of water for so long he forgot to eat or sleep and died. Is God self-consumed like Narcissus. Exalting his own name? No. Because is not like Narcissus, our like us. Self-exaltation for us leads to pushes others down. For God, his exaltation leads to the flourishing of all. God’s commitment to exalt himself is good for me and you. Because he really is the best thing.

APP: It is wrong to self exalt because we don’t actually belong in that station. Creates chaos because it is disordered. But God really is the greatest. Sets all things in right order to have on top. The psalmist recognizes this and praises God for God’s part in exalting himself and setting the world in order. Our lives suffer the consequences of disorder when God is not exalted. Thankfulness to God is so important. Sets all things in their proper place.

Reason 2- Is a more personal experience. An experience we know nothing about, the psalmist doesn’t tell us. We could speculate, but that seems unwise. What we know is that the psalmist prayed and God answered him. God didn’t necessarily change his circumstance though… We will get to that at then end of the psalm. v. 7 seems like He didn’t. Instead, he says, “my strength of soul you increased.”

The psalmist is thankful that God, is steadfast in His love and faithful and that is manifested in God’s exaltation in His name and word. And has personally experienced answered prayer. Personally he knows what it is like to have the strength of his soul increased. And that is something to be thankful for!

T/S- He knows God personally and he knows that God will make Himself known throughout all the world.

He is Glorious v. 4-6

Ex: He refers to all of the kings of the world, will give thanks. Is that happening? Has it ever… No, but it will. Psalmist is being prophetic. Revelation 7:9 “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,” Philippians 2:9–11“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” This is a future reality, yet thousands of years ago the psalmist writes with faith that all of the kings shall give thanks! That is a great glory! Glory that transcends the mocking of kings.

Listen to Psalm 2:1–12“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” They long to be “free” for God’s rule, they plot to free themselves… and God laughs! He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

That passage just makes me stick my chest out, that is my God! He is no push over, Kings of earth you better get wise. You better serve the Lord lest you be dashed to pieces! That is glory! The confidence to know that even if earth’s kings plot against… they have no chance. Our God is high and lifted up! No one can touch him.

And yet, though the Lord is high… he regards the lowly. Transcendent and Imminent. Far above kings and yet comes down to eat with sinners. The Messiah of Psalm 2 is the Messiah that was laid in a manager because there was no room in the inn. This is the Spirit of Christmas… the high exalted God of the universe made himself low. God regards the lowly, but the haughty, or the prideful, he is far away from them.

If was ever a reason to kill pride in your life there it is. God is not near the proud. He regards the lowly. This truth must drive thankfulness into us. But only if we know that we are lowly. Only if we see ourselves as we really are. Sinners separated from a Holy God, that are brought near by the death of His Son. Jesus died for you. Do you believe that that is a true and trustworthy statement? Are you thankful for that truth today?