Title: Let's Give Thanks to the Lord
Content Subject: Let's give thanks to the Lord sincerely
Bible: Psalm 138:1-8
We celebrate Thanksgiving Sunday next week. In verse 1, we all thank God, saying, "I will give thanks to you with all my heart, and I will praise you before the gods." Focusing on today's text, I would like to share the grace with the title of "Let's give thanks to the Lord with all our hearts."
First, thank God for answering our supplications.
We know that we should give thanks before God. However, there are times when we don't know how to be thankful. What did King David in today's text do when he gave thanks before Jehovah God? Verse 1 says, “I will give thanks to You with all my heart; I will praise You before the gods.” Here, when King David gave thanks before God, 1) He said he gave thanks with all his heart. The literal translation of "I give thanks to the Lord with all my heart" here is 'I give thanks to you with all my heart'. David did not just thank God in words. It is not only the cows and sheep that are grateful. He thanked God with a whole heart.
2) Thank you for your praise. The text says, “I will praise you before the gods.” Here "before the gods" means "foreign gods". David expressed his gratitude to God with praise. That is, he praised Jehovah God in front of many gods.
3) We must worship and give thanks to the sanctuary. Verse 2 says, "I will worship toward your temple, and give thanks to your name for your kindness and faithfulness, for you have exalted your word above all your names." It is offered in the temple of the Lord. The way we give thanks to God is to give thanks from the heart, which is praise and worship. We also want to become precious saints who can give full thanks to the Lord God.
Second, what are you thankful for?
David gave thanks to God because he had things to thank the Lord God for. Verse 2 says, “I will worship toward your temple, and give thanks to your name for your kindness and faithfulness, for you have exalted your word above all your names.” It is your mercy. It is the two noble attributes of God that are said in the text, "Because of Your lovingkindness and faithfulness." We must become precious saints who give thanks before God, considering that the loving Jehovah God gives us the opportunity to repent.2) Second, the faithfulness of the Lord. David thanked God for his faithfulness. God is faithful. You need to know that the promise you made once does not change and must be fulfilled. We are believers who hold onto the promises of the unchanging Lord and lead a life of faith. 3) I thanked God for answering my prayers. Verse 3 says, “On the day I prayed, you answered me; you encouraged and strengthened my soul.” If you look here, it is said, “On the day of my supplication.” You can see that David prayed before God whenever he had a difficult time.
Third, who is the Lord who receives thanks?
David is talking about who the Lord God he is thankful for is in verse 6 and below.
1) It is Jehovah God who knows us. Verse 6 says, “The Lord, though he is exalted, despises the lowly; he knows the proud from afar.” The phrase "even on high" here means "though the Lord is above all things." Also, "lowly" means "low and insignificant." Therefore, we should be grateful and fulfill the mission God has entrusted to us. 2) It is the LORD who saves with your right hand. Verse 7 says, “Even though I walk in tribulation, you will restore me, you will stretch out your hand from the wrath of my enemies; your right hand will save me.” 3) It is Jehovah God who makes us perfect. Verse 8 says, “The Lord will make perfect all that concerns me; O Lord, Your lovingkindness endures forever; do not forsake the work of Your hands.” Finally, David said, "Do not forsake the work of your hands." At this time, we must become those who give thanks to God without hesitation and overflowing with overflowing thanksgiving on this year's Thanksgiving Sunday. Amen.