Psalms for Thanksgiving & Praise
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Introduction
R.C. Sproul tells a story of a theology professor who would attend the sermons of his former students. One of those former students was poised to preach, and in walked this professor. Within 2 or 3 minutes of his sermon, the professor stood up and left the auditorium. Of course, this frazzled the young preacher.
He later tracked down the professor to ask what it was he had done so wrong. How was it that his preaching was so off, that the professor left so abruptly? To which the professor replied, “I attend to see whether or not my students are ‘big God preachers.’ It didn’t take me long to realize that you are a ‘big God preacher.’”
The professor was spot on. The only preacher worth his salt, is a “big God preacher.” One who portrays God as the Bible does. God is holy, other, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient. Nothing happens except by Him and through His will. This is God.
And as He is, we who claim to be His people, should be enthralled by Him.
But you know, as well as I do…that there are many who claim to KNOW God....who are not at all overwhelmed by who He is and all He has done.
Their knowledge of God doesn’t drive them to worship on Sunday
Their knowledge of God hasn’t made any lasting changes in their life
God isn’t what produces the greatest levels of joy in their lives.
In fact, listen long enough, and you’ll hear that they view God as a being much like we are…just maybe a little larger.
Not a god slightly larger than us....but God
But for God’s people, it should be true that we cannot even tell our own story, without a primary focus upon THE God of the Bible. Not “the man upstairs,” but GOD.
And we see that in the Psalm we’re coming to consider..... Turn there with me please.
As we’ve been saying, Psalms is both the prayer book and the song book of the people of God.
It provides to us the vocabulary to approach God in different settings and different circumstances.
In this Psalm, we have a Psalm of thanksgiving and praise. A Psalm which praises God for WHO He is…and thanks God for WHAT He has done.
Israel is reminded in this psalm, that based on WHO He is and WHAT He has done…God deserves to be praised.
And that is our focus this morning as well as we consider this psalm.
To Know God, is to Praise God. It is impossible to truly know, truly experience God....in His nature and actions, and not respond in acknowledging His worthiness to be worshipped.
This Psalm traces Israel’s story, and God’s actions throughout their story. And one line is repeated 26 times, as it recounts God’s loyal, covenant keeping love for His people. And we can see, how it includes us as well through the work of Christ.
Hear God’s Word as I read:
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever;
17 to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever.
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.
As Israel was gathering for worship of God, this psalm would be used in this way. The priest would read the verse, then the gathered assembly would respond with the line: “For His steadfast love endures forever.”
“Steadfast love,” is our english way of interpreting the Hebrew word, “Hesed.”
Hesed refers to loyalty and faithfulness. When used in reference to people, it refers to fulfilling the call to love our neighbor as ourselves.
When used of God, it refers to His loyal, steadfast love that is His nature and character, that gives assurance to His people that He WILL come through on His covenant promises.
The Psalmist teaches Israel, that it is God’s steadfast, covenant-keeping love, that drives all of God’s actions....and sets Him apart as the only God worthy of our thanksgiving and praise.
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to Yahweh. Initially here NOT because of what He has done…but entirely because of WHO He is
He is good. God is the very standard of goodness. “Can God do ________ and still be good?” That’s an ignorant question. God IS good…therefore ALL He does is good.
He is good....because His steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;
Hebrew way of expressing the superlative: Most High God; Most High Lord
Because....His steadfast love endures forever.
God is God…and there is no other
4 to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;
This, if you will is the banner that flies high above this Psalm: GOD IS THE GOD; THEREFORE HE’S WORTHY TO BE PRAISED.
And under that banner, the psalmist details WHO God is and WHAT God has done, driven by His covenant love…that merits the thanksgiving of His people
We could divide those details up into 4 main points that describe God....that will leave us with this truth: To truly know God, is to praise God.
1. God is Creator
1. God is Creator
Verse 4
Verse 4
God alone does large miraculous acts. This sets Him in a class all alone. Miraculous acts such as
God alone does large miraculous acts. This sets Him in a class all alone. Miraculous acts such as
Verses 5-9
Verses 5-9
By His wisdom, He made the heavens
By His wisdom, He made the heavens
Spread out the earth
Spread out the earth
Made the sun, moon, and the stars
Made the sun, moon, and the stars
This Psalm joins with many other portions of Scripture in teaching us that in creation…God has revealed Himself
This Psalm joins with many other portions of Scripture in teaching us that in creation…God has revealed Himself
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
But here in , it is not His power or glory that is “clearly perceived,” but His “loyal, covenant love.”
Verse 5, “made the heavens, for His steadfast love....”
Verse 6, “Spread out the earth above the waters, for His steadfast love....”
This passage mirrors the creation account in Genesis 1, and connects the reason for it to the STEADFAST LOVE of God.
So, how is it, that God’s LOVE, is the driving motivating factor, for His creative purposes?
In at least 3 ways:
God’s steadfast love is made manifest in creation, by creating a people to pour out His love upon
He had no need for an object to love. He is sufficient in Himself, living in an eternal loving relationship between Father, Son, and Spirit.
Yet out of the overflow of that love, He creates.
God’s steadfast love is made manifest in creation, by His ongoing providential care of ALL people…including those who are not His
25 he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.
God’s steadfast love is made manifest in creation, by creation being the stage upon which He will work to save a people for His own glory
“Creation thus becomes this grand stage upon which God will work and act on behalf of His people.” ~Brad Wheeler
“God will have a people in the world which belongs to Him alone and serves Him; for this He has created the world and preserves it with its inhabitants.” Peter Lange
God will have a people in the world which belongs to Him alone and serves Him; for this He has created the world and preserves it with its inhabitants.
Give thanks to God, He has created all things; from that which can be seen by the telescope, to that which can only be seen by the microscope....He has created it all. So give Him thanks, because His steadfast love endures forever.
Apply
Kenneth Copelands and the Creflo Dollars say, “we have the power to create with our tongues.” The Bible says that God alone has this ability. And we should be thankful, that the only being who is able to create by speaking things into existence, is also full of steadfast love.
In our fallen state, we are often trapped in an endless pursuit of earthly power, earthly wisdom, and even earthly love.
This comes about in our careers, in our educational pursuits, and in our relationships. Yet one glance at creation should remind us of God. And in remembering God, we should instead seek the power of God, as it is contained in the gospel. The wisdom of God, that we find in the Gospel, or in His Word. And the love of God, clearly manifest to us in Christ Jesus.
Even as a church body, we must always remember to not seek the power and wisdom of this world…but seek the power and wisdom of the one and only God, who is the Creator
AND TO KNOW HIM, MEANS WE WILL INDEED PRAISE HIM!
God is the Creator…secondly
2. God is Redeemer
2. God is Redeemer
Israel is pointed back to a time in their past when they were in captivity in Egypt. They are reminded that it was not them who freed themselves, but they were freed by a powerful Deliverer and Redeemer
36:10
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever;
Drawing a reference to the plagues brought against Egypt. Notice, it is connected to His steadfast love
God’s steadfast love for His people, is seen in the judging of other people for their sinfulness
11 and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever;
Psalm 136:11-12
Israel is set free from Egyptian bondage by the outstretched arm of God Himself; God divides the Red Sea and allows Israel to cross on dry ground; God causes the waters to come back together drowning Pharoah and his host (his army) in the Red Sea.
Why did God did all this? What was the root cause? “His steadfast love endures forever.”
13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.
14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.
This was God’s promise. Throughout those years leading up to captivity…throughout the years of captivity…there are a massive amount of people making a massive amount of real life decisions that should effect the outcome of time and history. But superintending above the decisions of man, is the Sovereign hand of God.
When THE time came…Moses led them out with great possessions. God’s mighty miracle working power that created the world, was used to liberate His people from the oppression of slavery…based upon His loyal commited to love that fulfills the promises He has made.
Apply
Fast forward a few thousand years.
It is because of His steadfast love, that in the proper time, He redeemed you from the oppression of your:
Alcoholism; drug addiction; lustful relationship; selfish heart
Ultimately, the you…who you are by nature
And let me pause here to say this
God is love. God’s steadfast love, His loyal love…does indeed endure forever, and through any and all things that would oppose it
God’s steadfast love is not based upon the object being loved, but upon the eternal unchanging character of He Himself
But…His steadfast, redeeming, saving love…is ONLY for His people
Who are His people? Those who trust in Jesus for salvation
In , Jesus teaches the crowd who His family are, more so than His earthly mother and brothers at the time.
35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
31 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him.
32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.”
33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”
34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!
35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
Ultimately, that which marks you as a child of God, is faith. Trust in the promises of God He has issued in the person and work of Christ.
Promises that begin by describing our condition as being bound to an enemy that we cannot be free from. That our Liberator has come and with His mighty outstretched arm, He has defeated our captors. Jesus came to earth, lived perfectly in our place…died receiving the punishment we deserve, and was raised by God on the 3rd day.
And for everyone, not physically born into the family, as was the case for the Israelites; but spiritually born into the family, we can look back to that event 2,000 years ago, just like the Israelites could have looked back to their freedom from Egypt while singing this song…and we can say, “THERE....my God delivered me.”
And if you’re not a believer…if you have not surrendered the entirety of your life to Christ, why wait another second?
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Run to Jesus, turn away from your sins, trust in Him for salvation, and He will change you and give you the power to live for Him.
God is the Creator; God is the Redeemer; Thirdly...
3. God is the Victor
3. God is the Victor
It was not only in Egypt, that Israel could see, God was the one winning their battles for them
Psalm 136:16-20
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever;
17 to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever;
So…because of His steadfast love, He led Israel through the wilderness
Miraculously providing for them the entire time
He struck down kings far too great for the nation of Israel to conquer on their own
It was God who was their Victor, the whole time
21 and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever.
God took the land from the ones currently occupying it, and gave it to the Israelites. Why? Because His loyal love endures forever.
God had promised that land to Abraham’s descendents. Now it was time to inherit it.
Again, a million things going on in the years between the promise and the fulfillment. Many times it didn’t seem possible. Many times Israel failed in the wilderness, and even an entire generation was judged and died off in the wilderness, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb....but there was NEVER a moment, God’s promise had any chance of not being fulfilled.
Because He is God....and His steadfast love endures forever.
Apply
You and I this morning, can draw strength from that. For we live in the “already-not yet” eschatological position. Meaning that, Christ has come and accomplished salvation, and He now reigns upon the throne, but His kingdom is not yet fully realized.
In this Psalm, Israel is reflecting upon the reality of God’s fulfilled promises to provide the inheritance.
From it, they can know, that His promises for their future will also be a reality. You and I, can do the same.
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:
The gift of the Holy Spirit, to us who believe, is the down payment from God of our inheritance that is to come, which will be to the praise of His glory.
What about if my enemies are too strong?
Sihon and Og were no match for God…His promises were fulfilled
Your besetting sin, Satan himself, and no other foe is a match for God who has determined to make us part of His family, and provide for us a rich inheritance in Christ Jesus
Al Mohler said: “For the Christian, the future is secured by the sure and certain fulfillment of God’s promises and the comprehensive realization of Christ’s reign over all powers in heaven and on the earth.”
Isn’t that what our Bibles teach us?
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
What about enemies that may try to stop that future glory?
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We don’t fight our spiritual battles FOR victory…we fight our spiritual battles FROM victory.
Dear child of God, remember WHO your Victor is.
And to know God, is to praise Him.
God is the Creator; the Redeemer; the Victor of His people because His steadfast love endures forever....finally.....
4. God is Unchanging
4. God is Unchanging
Israel’s past experience with God, the Psalmist said, is also their present experience with God
We can not only look forward and no He will move this way in the future. We can look around and realize, He’s working in our lives this way NOW.
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever;
Notice now the personal pronoun.
“He brought Israel out. He led Israel...”
Now…He remembered us in our low estate. Our lowliness; our depression.
Some say this points to the reality that this Psalm is after their exile. After Israel failed to live up to the covenant Law, and God sent them into exile, and that God remembered them in that state.
Others say it’s generally speaking of God continuing to remember them historically, after the last events listed. And “present” enough to be in the Psalmist’s lifetime
Regardless, both are true
Because His steadfast love endures forever, God remembered Israel…us…in our low estate
24 and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 136:24
They still have enemies, but God is still their Redeemer and their Victor. God is still their Champion.
And God is still the Provider of not only His people…but all food, clothing and shelter people enjoy is because of the benevolent love of God
Centuries had gone by, and God was still the Creator, Redeemer, Victor, Provider, Protector, of His chosen people....that reality had not changed, because God cannot change.
6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
There is no changing in God. He is not physical material, therefore there is no shadow. He never changes, therefore there is no variation due to change.
The same attributes ascribed to God in the OT, are given to Him in the New…also to Jesus, and to the Holy Spirit. So that the Triune God is active in creation, in our redemption, and in the victory He wins on our behalf, for His glory.
Apply
So that even today, God cares for us His children
He provides us with daily bread.
How often do you think about the fact, that it is God who has provided your food?
When you go to take a bite of that taco, or that steak, is it with a thankful heart to the God of heaven for all that He has provided? (Not a prayer to bless the food…but a thankful heart when receiving the food)
How full is our heart this morning with gratitude to God, whose steadfast love endures forever, for this place of worship He has provided?
The same God who fed all flesh in Israel’s day as they were singing this Psalm…feeds you.
And just as He rescued them from their foes, He rescues us. He is rescuing us. He is freeing us.
He has rescued us. He is rescuing us. He will rescue us.
A mighty Fortress is our God,
A Bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
2
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord of hosts His Name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
You see, when we look back to consider what God HAS done…it is only a reminder of what He is STILL doing…and what He WILL continue to do.
Because His steadfast love, endures…FOREVER!
The question that then arises is, “What about when OUR love doesn’t endure? What about when we fail Him?”
Jeremiah was lamenting over Israel’s sinfulness. Israel had failed God and had been judged by God. Yet, he writes:
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
Even in the midst of our sin, we can go to God, trusting in His steadfast love that doesn’t end.
Because the never-changing God…remembers us in our low estate, even if our low estate is due to our own sinfulness and His chastening hand.
Conclusion
This is the story of the people of Israel. This is our history then as well, since we are now the people of God.
And a reflection upon this God, will lead those who KNOW God…to praise Him. For He is, as the professor said, a “Big God,” and He is worthy to be praised.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Truly…to KNOW God…is to PRAISE God
If you have no desire to give thanks to God; if there’s no desire to gather with God’s people to worship; no desire to live your life for His glory and not your own; no desire to offer thanks from your mouths to Him for WHO He is and WHAT He’s done....it’s probable you don’t know Him.
Or perhaps…you’ve lost sight of Him, as your vision has been clouded by this world.
See Him today…as He is generally revealed in creation. See Him today…as He is especially revealed in His Word.
And take the vocabulary the Psalms give you…and offer thanksgiving and praise to the God of heaven, for His steadfast love endures forever.
I thought it would be good to close with the antiphonal repetition that the Israelites used to do. So I’ll read the first line, and every time the repeated line appears…we’ll read it as a congregation.
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever;
17 to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever.
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Prayer
God, may your Word be written upon our hearts. May we truly know you. May we truly give you thanks, because your loyal love endures forever.