Bless the Lord, O My Soul

Thanksgiving Communion Sermon:

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

A psalm of David. Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name.

Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things He does for me.

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.

INTRODUCTION

In just a few short days we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day. It is a shame that we have only one day set aside each year to give thanks to God as a nation.

We should have some time set aside each day, to give our praise to Him who has blessed us so richly.

I was shopping in one of the local grocery stores couple weeks and noticed that Thanksgiving has all but been overlooked.

Christmas, because of its great commercial power, was already being pushed in the stores.

Now as soon as the big push to buy costumes and candy is over, out comes the commercialization of Christmas. We are bombarded with Santa Claus and snowmen.

But as God's people it is fitting that we should focus our thoughts, not only now but often, upon the goodness of God and offer our gratitude to Him for who He is and for all He has done for us.

If you have your Bibles turn to , the passage we read before our prayer.

Someone has called this Psalms David's "Hallelujah Chorus."

Someone has called this David's "Hallelujah Chorus." Notice that in our text he addresses his soul. He is reminding himself, as he praises the Lord, of all that God has done, but in the context we see that he is using a grammatical device here and is instructing his own soul. This is important to a proper interpretation of this passage.

Notice that in our text he addresses his soul. He is reminding himself, as he praises the Lord, of all that God has done, but in the context we see that he using this to instructed his own soul.

This is important to a proper interpretation of this passage.

1. Praise the Lord and count your blessings.

A psalm of David. Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name.

Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things He does for me.

It is a prayer of nothing but praise to God. There is no supplication, no request, no petition or plea in this prayer. It is pure praise to God.

It is a prayer of nothing but praise to God. There is no supplication, no request, no petition or plea in this prayer. It is pure unadulterated praise to God. David was awestruck with God's blessings. We are not told the circumstances in which David received this Psalm, but it is not difficult to imagine how it happened. Looking at his life, counting his blessings instead of complaining about his burdens, it dawned upon David just how much God had done for him. He realized how good God had been and how undeserving he was of all these blessings. Springing up from the depths of his heart and gushing out onto his parchment came this prayer of praise, this benediction expressing his gratitude toward the Lord.

David was awestruck with God's blessings. We are not told the circumstances in which David received this Psalm, but it is not difficult to imagine how it happened.

Looking at his life, counting his blessings instead of complaining about his burdens, it dawned upon David just how much God had done for him.

He realized how good God had been and how undeserving he was of all these blessings.

David praised the Lord with his song, If you ever have a problem praising the Lord

I can see David, full of emotion, passionate in all that he did, praising God with all his heart, He'd have a difficult time in some of our churches today.

I can see David, full of emotion, passionate in all that he did, praising God with all his heart, He'd have a difficult time in some of our churches today. He believed in putting his all into it. This ancient Hebrew King was also an accomplished musician, a man who sang with feeling and with conviction. This was a joyous song of praise to the Lord.

He believed in putting his all into it. This ancient Hebrew King was also an accomplished musician, a man who sang with feeling and with conviction. This was a joyous song of praise to the Lord.

These words were not dry and stale when David sang them. They were full of life and energy. They were part of his worship. You'll recall that David was accustomed to dancing when he worshiped God.

To the chief Musician, A Song or Psalm. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:

Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.

David was serious about praising the Lord. It wasn't something he only did at the temple during religious ceremonies.

It was part of his everyday experience. He was grateful to the Lord and he could not help but praise him.

, , and many, many others are songs of praise to the Lord.

David was serious about praising the Lord. It wasn't something he only did at the temple during religious ceremonies. It was part of his everyday experience. He was grateful to the Lord and he could not help but praise him.

Now, David was singing the ancient Hebrew version of "Count your blessings."

Now, David was singing the ancient Hebrew version of "Count your blessings."

2. Life in relationship with God is whole and healthy

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

One of the names of the devil is the accuser of the brethren. In Job we see him going before God to accuse Job.

We have every reason to believe that he goes before God even now to accuse us. He says, "Look at what he said. Look at what she did.

One of the names of the devil is the accuser of the brethren. In Job we see him going before God to accuse Job. We have every reason to believe that he goes before God even now to accuse us. He says, "Look at what he said. Look at what she did. These people of yours are sinners. How can they say they really love you and continue to act like they do?" He does not have to lie about us when he comes before the Lord, for God would not permit it. No, there are enough faults in all of our lives that he simply has to point out the obvious.

These people of yours are sinners. How can they say they really love you and continue to act like they do?"

He does not have to lie about us when he comes before the Lord, for God would not permit it. No, there are enough faults in all of our lives that he simply has to point out the truth.

The Bible calls him the adversary, the enemy. But we also have an Advocate. We have one who goes to the Father on our behalf. We have Jesus Christ the righteous. When the old devil accuses us, our Advocate, Jesus, raises His nail-pierced hand and says, "Just a minute. We see no stain of sin on that one or on that one or on that one, because they are mine. I have bought them with a price and their sins, though they were like scarlet, have been washed white as snow. They belong to me.

But we have an Advocate. We have one who goes to the Father on our behalf. We have Jesus Christ the righteous. When the old devil accuses us, our Advocate, Jesus, raises His nail-pierced hand and says, "Just a minute.

We see no stain of sin on that one or on that one or on that one, because they are mine. I have bought them with a price and their sins, though they were like scarlet, have been washed white as snow. They belong to me.

As David writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he understands that God forgives our sins. But he also sees believers as people who have been made whole because of their relationship with God.

Verse 3b - who heals all your diseases - remember that he is addressing his soul. So what kind of healing is he speaking of here?

Many take this to mean physical healing. I affirm that God heals physically.

Look at verse 3. (read verse)

One of the names of the devil is the accuser of the brethren. In Job we see him going before God to accuse Job. We have every reason to believe that he goes before God even now to accuse us. He says, "Look at what he said. Look at what she did. These people of yours are sinners. How can they say they really love you and continue to act like they do?" He does not have to lie about us when he comes before the Lord, for God would not permit it. No, there are enough faults in all of our lives that he simply has to point out the obvious.

The Bible calls him the adversary, the enemy. But we also have an Advocate. We have one who goes to the Father on our behalf. We have Jesus Christ the righteous. When the old devil accuses us, our Advocate, Jesus, raises His nail-pierced hand and says, "Just a minute. We see no stain of sin on that one or on that one or on that one, because they are mine. I have bought them with a price and their sins, though they were like scarlet, have been washed white as snow. They belong to me.

While healing is a sermon in itself, and it would be correct to say that God is the great physician to whom we can take all of our physical needs and petitions. He made us and has the power to save us.

As David writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he understands that God forgives our sins. But he also sees believers as people who have been made whole because of their relationship with God.

Verse 3b - who heals all your diseases - remember that he is addressing his soul. So what kind of healing is he speaking of here?

Many take this to mean physical healing. I affirm that God heals physically. While healing is a sermon in itself, suffice to say that God is the great physician to whom we can take all of our physical needs and petitions. He made us and has the power to save us.

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

But it is more than just physical healing we cannot simply assign to it any meaning we would like.

: "Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray over him after anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will salve the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."

But physical healing is not the kind spoken of here. If we are to do justice to the interpretation of this passage, we cannot simply assign to it any meaning we would like. We must understand it in its proper grammatical context. He is talking to his soul, telling it that God heals all the diseases of the soul, sin being chief among them. Does the soul have diseases? Indeed it does. Fear, doubt, depression, anger, lust, hate jealously, pride, greed . . . the list goes on and on. These soul diseases can all be traced back to our fallen nature and the effects of sin. But God can give permanent healing to the soul.

God heals all the diseases of the soul, sin being chief among them. Does the soul have diseases? Indeed it does. Fear, doubt, depression, anger, lust, hate jealously, pride, greed . . . the list goes on and on.

These soul diseases can all be traced back to our fallen nature and the effects of sin. But God can give permanent healing to the soul.

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

3. Life in relationship with God is meaningful

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Look at verse 4. This verse could simply be said this way, "He keeps your life from going to waste."

Look at verse 4. Because He forgives our sins, because He gives us relationship, because He heals our souls diseases, then we see that life is meaningful.

This verse can be rendered, "He keeps your life from going to waste."

How many people waste the years of their lives on things that, in the long run, really don't count? They spend their days in pursuit of the temporal passing things, and wake up one day, empty, tired and feeling like there is no use going on.

In fact, they end up feeling betrayed because the things they worked so hard to obtain failed to bring them the satisfaction for which they longed.

The world does not offer any hope for meaningful living. Money, material, power, position, things, won't do it.

God gives His people purpose in living. He gives us meaning. He keeps our lives from going to waste.

God gives His people purpose in living. He gives us meaning. He keeps our lives from going to waste. Our lives are lived with eternal purpose. All lives not lived in Christ are only a shell of what they are intended to be. This is one of the benefits of knowing God, our lives count; they are not lived in vain. They have eternal significance. This is one of the things David is praising the Lord for.

Our lives are lived with eternal purpose. All lives not lived in Christ are only a shell of what they are intended to be.

This is one of the benefits of knowing God, our lives count; they are not lived in vain. They have eternal significance. This is one of the things David is praising the Lord for.

Here are six practical suggestions to consider as you praise the Lord.

He gives us satisfaction in our old age. Remember he is speaking to his soul, he is saying that one of the benefits of being God's people is that when we are old we will not have to look back upon our lives with regret. Regardless of your age, or of how many years you have walked upon the earth, God will give you satisfaction.

Here are six practical suggestions to consider as you praise the Lord.

1. Be aware - Forget not his benefits.

2, Be honest - Don't be a phony. Don't put on an act. Phony Christians turn people off.

3. Be grateful - There is nothing that encourages praise like gratitude. Have a thankful heart.

4. Be vocal - Tell someone. Sing His praises. Bless someone with a testimony.

5. Be natural - Praise God in a way that is natural for you.

6. Be consistent - Make it part of your everyday experience.

How do you praise him? With your life. But we must be careful not to fall into the rut the Israelites fell into - saying one thing and doing another.

  "The Lord said: Because these people approach Me with their mouths to honor Me with lip-service - yet their hearts are far from Me, and their worship consists of man-made rules learned by rote."

David said I will praise Him with all that is within me. That means, praise Him with my attitudes, my actions, my family, my finances, my words and my work, my religion and my relationships, my voice and my vocation, my church and my children, my hobbies and my habits, I will praise Him not only in word but also in deed. I will praise Him with everything that is within me.

When was the last time you stopped to consider all His benefits? Do you enjoy those benefits? Have you ever experienced forgiveness? Are you living a meaningful life, a satisfied life? Does your soul have diseases that need to be healed? Are you living with an eternal purpose?