A Record Of Thanksgiving

Text: I Chronicles 16:1-7

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (10/13/02)

Introduction:   

We Have Been Blessed

READ Psalm 103:1-5

HUMOR – “BAIK” – Boy Am I Konfused”

Make no mistake about it – You are Blessed!!

SONG – Count Your many Blessings

SEE Vs. 4 – “And To Record”

THE RETURN OF THE ARK

The ark had been in the hands of the Philistines since the death of Eli the Priest.

The Philistines captured the ark and became very superstitious about it. They sent it back to Israel on a wagon and left it in the field of Abinadab. It stayed in that area for seventy years.

II Samuel 6

Now David attempted  to do the right thing in the wrong way.

They tried to bring the Ark up to Zion on a new cart.

BTW – There is no replacement for Obedience!!

They played music and praised the Lord as they brought it on its way.

What happened next?

READ & EXPLAIN vs. 6-7

Later on David had a renewed determination to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem, only this time He would do it God’s way.

READ vs.12-19

What a Day!  What Rejoicing!!

I Chronicles 15

This passage communicates the story of these same events only in greater detail.

READ vs.1-3

Significance of the Ark for Israel

In the outer court was the burnt altar and the brazen laver. Sin was dealt with there.

Then there was the Holy Place which contained three articles of furniture, all of which spoke of worship and the person of Christ: the golden lampstand, the golden altar, and the table of showbread.

Then inside the Holy of Holies was the ark and over it the mercy seat. This was where God met with His people. The ark is possibly the best picture of Christ we have in the Old Testament.

It signified the Presence of God among His people.

There was no merit or grace in the actual physical box or its contents. 

(NOTE – The mistake of Israel at Shiloh in I Samuel 4)  Hophni and Phinehas brought the Ark out and they still lost 30,000 men to the Philistines!!

Responsibilities of the Levites

This was the priestly tribe.

They were devoted to the service of the Sanctuary.  They were guardians of the tabernacle.

When Joshua divided the newly conquered land of promise, Levi had no territorial possession.

The Lord God was their inheritance.

David’s Psalm of Praise (Psalm 105 & 96)

“On that day” – What Day?

The greatest day in his life!!!

David had a lot of great days, but this was the spiritual pinnacle.

NOTICE in vs.4 – “And to Record”  Then there is David’s Psalm of written and recorded blessings.

What are we to keep record of?

I. GENERALLY – The Works of God vs.8-9

The works of God fall into several broad categories (Basically 3)

A. Creating

The Bible account is right!!  Six days of 24 hours each.

Psalms 19:1   The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

B. Sustaining

Hebrews 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

C. Sanctifying (To set apart)

God is Holy, only that which is sanctified (Same Word) can come into His presence.

Includes Salvation & Progressive Sanctification of the Believer.

Isaiah 52:10  The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

He has done His Sanctifying work with......

Israel OT

The church NT

How has He accomplished this?  Primarily in the following ways.

1. By Revealing Himself to man.

The angels / Prophets / Word of God

2. By Residing Himself with man.

Hebrews 1:1-2  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

John 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

He is called Immanuel (God With Us!!)

3. By Redeeming man to Himself.

SONG: At Calvary

Mark it down!  -  God created you, He Sustains you, and He set you apart when He died for you!!

II. SPECIFICALLY – His Blessings

The Benefits, and blessings, the grace He bestows on our life daily!!

Another word we could use is mercies.

A. His Common Blessings  See vs.14 – Vs.24-26

Matthew 5:45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

James 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Romans 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

What are these common graces, mercies or blessings?

ANSWER: Everything we enjoy in this life, the bounty of the earth, our health and strength, the little things....

A Baby’s breath / A Lover’s Embrace / The Laughter and Encouragement of Friends

A Sun-Kissed Morning / The Golden Dew of Spring / A Starlit Night / The Harvest Moon

A thirst that is quenched with refreshing H20 / Hunger that is satisfied with a Great Turkey Dinner!!

Etc. Etc......

B. His Special Blessings

Israel were God’s Chosen people.

...and still are!!!

SEE VERSE 13 and VERSE 15-22

Romans 3:1-2  What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

2  Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

Think of it, through Israel we have the Word of God, the Son of God and our Salvation.  “Salvation is of the Jews” John 4

WHAT ABOUT BELIEVERS TODAY?

1 Peter 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

EXPOUND

1). A Chosen Generation  -  Appointed by God (pursued)

2). A Royal Priesthood  -  Access to God

3). A Holy Nation  -  Acceptance with God

4). A Peculiar People – (Set) Apart in God

Conclusion:     (Review)

His Psalm  concludes with a crescendo of Thanksgiving and Praise!!!

READ Vs.27-36