Sermon Tone Analysis

A hymn writer from yesteryear wrote these words:

Thanks to God for my Redeemer,

Thanks for all Thou dost provide!

Thanks for times now but a mem’ry,

Thanks for Jesus by my side!

Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,

Thanks for dark and stormy fall!

Thanks for tears by now forgotten,

Thanks for peace within my soul!

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,

Thanks for what Thou dost deny!

Thanks for storms that I have weathered,

Thanks for all Thou dost supply!

Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure,

Thanks for comfort in despair!

Thanks for grace that none can measure,

Thanks for love beyond compare!

Thanks for roses by the wayside,

Thanks for thorns their stems contain!

Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,

Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!

Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,

Thanks for heav’nly peace with Thee!

Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,

Thanks through all eternity!

Thanks for thorns their stems contain!

Thanks for home and thanks for fireside,

Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!

Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow,

Thanks for heav’nly peace with Thee!

Thanks for hope in the tomorrow,

Thanks through all eternity!

Please turn with me to , as we continue on our Journey of Thankfulness.

A couple of weeks ago we looked at which found its background information in , towards the end of David’s life and reign over the nation of Israel.

Today’s Psalm finds its background in , before David was crowned king, and while he was fleeing from Saul, who was seeking to kill him, since he understood that David, and not his son Jonathon, would be the next king of Israel.

In an effort to escape Saul, David went into enemy territory, to the city of Gath, which was part of the Philistine kingdom.

He was presented before the king, whose name was Achish, seeking sanctuary from Saul.

But the servants of Achish were leery of David since he had proven himself to be a mighty warrior, especially against the Philistines.

After all, the gain, Goliath, was from Gath!

We read in

Though our Psalm states that this is the background, it is difficult to see this background come through in this song.

As we look at this passage this morning, I believe that the last verse is the focal point of what David was writing:

Thus, the title for our message — THANKS TO GOD FOR MY REDEMPTION.

With all this in mind, let’s read our passage together.

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Look at verse 1.

Since we have been redeemed we should continually bless our Redeemer

To redeem means to release, preserve, deliver by means of a ransom

David was delivered from his enemies, not by his own ingenuity but by faithless, steadfast love of God

Some believe that his feigning madness was directed by the Holy Spirit

Others believe that it was a sinful act, end yet God proved Himself faithful to His covenant despite the sin of David

Whatever the case may be, as a result of the LORD’s deliverance of David, he to bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth

Regardless of our circumstances we should continually praise God:

Regardless of:

our times of despair which may lodge for a very long night

our own health issues

our loved ones health issues

our job situation

our finances

our fear of the unknown

how well the Lions are playing

our Psalm does mention that they are roaring with hunger, after all! (vs.

10)

Regardless of any situation that we might think of or encounter, we should continually offer up the sacrifice of praise to our Redeemer!

Look at verse 2.

Our boast is to be in the LORD and not in ourselves, since our salvation is completely the work of the LORD

Rather than being boastful about ourselves, we should be humble, and join with others who are humble as we celebrate our great redemption through Christ Jesus our Lord

Note next that

Since we have been redeemed we should continually bless our Redeemer, and invite others to join with us in exalting His name

Look at verse 3.

The others we invite, are probably the humble [who] shall hear of [our deliverance} and be glad from verse 2

We are to invite them to magnify the LORD with me, and … exalt His name together

When we magnify the LORD together, not only does it glorify our Lord, but it also bring much benefit to us as well:

Our ability to come together is because of the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ.

Because of our redemption we are able to approach the throne of grace with confidence

We are to draw near to God, not only individually, but in fellowship with other believers

We are to consider how to encourage one another to grow in love and good works

And we can’t do so if we forsake the assembling of ourselves together

Since we have been redeemed we should continually bless our Redeemer, invite others to join with us in exalting His name, and in contemplating His deliverance of us

Look at verses 4.

When David said: I sought the LORD, he is referring to seeking Him in prayer

Notice what David was delivered from: all my fears

This is a bit of a tongue twister, but our personal fears are the primary source of our fears

There a song that I occasionally hear on the Christian radio station that states it so well: “Fear is a liar!”

Wasn’t it FDR who said: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

Think about what David had to fear:

He was anointed by Samuel as the next king of Israel

He was chased out of Israel by the present king

He took refuge in enemy territory

The enemy didn’t trust him

He probably wondered if God’s promise to him would be fulfilled

Was Samuel mistaken?

God delivered David from all his fears

But can God deliver us from all of our fears?

David assures his readers that they too will find deliverance in God — note verse 5

Just as Moses’ face radiated from being in the presence of the LORD, so all those who look to Him will be radiant

This doesn’t mean that our faces will shine like Moses’ did, but they may very well present a picture of peace and confidence in our God

Note verse 6

If this poor man, that is David, himself, can cry out to God in his time of need, so can all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ

Just as David contemplated God’s deliverance of Him from his various enemies, so we too should contemplate Christ deliverance of us from our greatest enemy — sin!

Since we have been redeemed we should continually bless our Redeemer, invite others to join with us in exalting His name and in contemplating His deliverance of us, and considering the personhood of our Redeemer

Notice verse 7.