Annual Thanksgiving Day: The Believers song of Thanksgiving

THE BELIEVER’S SONG OF THANKSGIVING

Scripture Reading : Psalm 103:1-22  
Date: 24, December 2017.
series: Thanksgiving Day

Let us rise to our feet read together Psalm 103

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

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

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

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

6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.

       Introduction:

Ill. An annual day of thanksgiving is a wonderful thing. Ill. The child of God has a myriad of reasons for giving thanks every day. This Psalm explores several of those reasons.

      This Psalm was written by David. It was probably written when he was a older man. It contains the language of a man who has experienced the serious consequences of sin and the awesome forgiveness and pardon of Almighty God.

      Spurgeon said of this Psalm, “As in the lofty Alps some peaks rise above all others, so among even the inspired Psalms there are heights of son which overtop the rest. This 103^rd Psalm as ever seemed to us to be the Monte Rosa of the divine chain of mountaintops of praise.”

Sermon      

Let’s spend a little time in this “mountaintop of praise” as I preach about The Believer’s Song Of Thanksgiving.

  I.  v. 1 THE REQUEST FOR THANKSGIVING

·         David seeks to stir up his inner man to praise the Lord. Perhaps he is in a spiritual slump. Perhaps his praise isn't as vocal or as frequent as it should be. So, he challenges his “soul” to “bless the Lord”.

·         The word “bless” means “to kneel before another in praise and adoration.” It is a call for the soul to give adoration, praise and worship to a worthy God.

·         We are living in a day when there truly is a drought of praise among the people of God. (Ill. How it used to be in America!)

·         We would do well to stir up our own souls to praise the Lord!

 II.  v. 2 THE REQUIREMENT OF THANKSGIVING

·         David warns his soul of the dangers of “forgetting” the “benefits” of the Lord in his life. The word “benefits” has the idea of “dealings”. It is also the same root word that gives us the word “camel”.

·         The word “forget” refers to “a lapse of memory that can cause one to wander”. When we forget what we have in Jesus and who we are in Jesus, there is the danger that might wander away from Him. Praise keeps us tender, clean and close!

·         Ill. Thankfulness is not an option, it is a command – 1 Thes. 5:18; Eph. 5:20; Heb. 13:5. (Ill. Are you keeping the commandment?)

·         Praise is beneficial! 

1.) Brings peace of heart, Phil. 4:6-7; 
2.) Brings peace of mind, Phil. 4:6-8; 
3.)Brings contentment, Phil. 4:10-13.

·         Can you remember how God has dealt with your soul?

III.  v. 3-22 THE REASONS FOR THANKSGIVING

Ill. David identifies eight spiritual reasons that should stimulate our hearts to offer God thanksgiving and praise, not just in November, but on every day of the year.

·         v. 3a – God’s Forgiveness – In Him, all sin is gone! (1 John 1:7; Col. 2:13-14; Eph. 1:7)

·         v. 3b – God’s Healing – In Him, the soul is made whole! (Psa. 107:1-22)

·         v. 4a – God’s Redemption – In Him, we stand redeemed! (Rev. 5:9; Gal. 4:5; 1 Pet. 1:18-19)

·         v. 4b – God’s Grace – In Him, we have received, grace, mercy, compassion, salvation and eternal blessings, Ill. v. 8-18! (Ill. How these verses reveal the great truths of God’s sovereign grace and salvation in our lives!)

·         v. 5 – God’s Peace – In Him, we have been given spiritual satisfaction, and sufficient strength for the journey. (2 Cor. 12:9; Isa. 41:10; Phil. 4:13; Col. 1:11)

·         v. 6 – God’s Intercession – In Him, we have One Who pleads our case! (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:2)

·         v. 7 – God’s Revelation – In Him, we can know Him, fellowship with Him and follow Him! (Ill. He has revealed Himself in His Word – Heb. 1:1-2; Gen. 1:1; and in His Son – John 1:1, 14, 18; 14:6, 9)

·         v. 19 – God’s Sovereignty – In Him, we can rest in His control of all things! (Rom. 8:28; Psa. 37:23; Job 23:10)

Invitation And Final Challenge

 As David closes this Psalm, he calls on all of creation to join him in his praise of the Lord. Angels, saints, servants and sinners, along with all of creation, are called upon to offer God the praise, glory and adoration He deserves.

      Ill. We have only scratched the surface of His blessings! Think of your family, your church, your Bible, your material blessings, your health, you food, your air, your home, your water, your clothing, your friends, etc. your blessings are enormous! Ill. Our thanksgiving and our praise ought to be in direct proportion to our blessings. Are they?

      Ill. This would be a great time for God’s people to stir up the inner man and call on our soul to “bless the Lord”. It would be a great time to take a spiritual inventory and thank Him for everything He has done for us in Jesus!