A Song of Gratitude granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly - PDF document

2019-05-21 Psalms Gratitude takes nothing for A Song of Gratitude granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new Our Help to the End wonder, and to praise of the goodness of God. Psalm 103 Thomas Merton Praise & Thanks Psalm 138:1-3 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my for you have exalted your name whole heart; before the gods I sing and your word above everything. your praise; I bow down towards On the day I called, you answered your holy temple and give thanks me, you increased my strength of to your name for your steadfast soul. love and your faithfulness; Psalm 138:1-3 1

2019-05-21 Gratitude Sing Your Praise (v1) » Music as intensive speech » Making melody to God » Give thanks - 3x (v1,2,4 'praise') » "God is inviting us to enjoy Him" » 'Whole heart" - all of one's life (C.S. Lewis) » The importance of gratitude » Rejoice in the person and nature of God The Specifics of Praise The Specifics of Praise a. The qualities of God's name c. God's faithfulness (emet) - (healer, provider, protector, promisekeeper (Exodus 34:6) shepherd) - v2 d. Salvation - 'I called, you b. Praising for his 'steadfast love' answered' (v3) - a focus on God (hesed - grace) meeting my needs As a Result » I offer my testimony of praise (v2) Majesty & Grace » I offer my devotion to God » The Lord is constant in his love & Psalm 138:4-6 goodness therefore I give him my praise 2

2019-05-21 All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord, for they have For though the Lord is high, he heard the words of your mouth. regards the lowly; but the haughty They shall sing of the ways of the he perceives from far away. Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. Psalm 138:4-6 All the Nations (v4-5) God's fidelity to the Poor (v6) » God is worthy of praise from all » The Lord is high but he regards nations not only Israel the lowly » Now and in the future Messianic » The proud of heart are distant age from God » Amidst a world of polytheism » The extraordinary message of (v1) God is the one true God God's value of the poor And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and He has brought down the powerful my spirit rejoices in God my from their thrones, and lifted up Saviour, for he has looked with the lowly; favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all Luke 1:46-48,52 generations will call me blessed;... 3

2019-05-21 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against T rust & Confidence the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your Psalm 138:7-8 right hand delivers me. God's Shepherding & Protection ( v7 ) » Beautiful image of warding off The Lord will fulfil his purpose for and gathering in - left hand and me; your steadfast love, O Lord, right arm endures for ever. Do not forsake » Walking through the shadow of the work of your hands. the valley of death - you are with me. ( Psalm 23) Psalm 138:7-8 God's Direction & Purpose (v8) » I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work » Confidence in God's redemptive among you will bring it to work completion by the day of Jesus » God accomplishes his purposes Christ. (Philippians 1:6) for us » God does not forsake us 4

2019-05-21 A Call to Give Thanks The Psalmists in telling everyone to praise God are doing what all Going Forward people do when they speak of what they care about. (C.S. Lewis) God's Committed to God's Committed to the Poor Completing His Work » God's concern for those the world easily disregards, the lowly, » His work of perfection in us marginalized » 'The foolishness of God' to raise up » Think of our world's refugees, the lowly (1 Corinthians 1:18-25) displaced peoples » We are important in the eyes of the » Forgotten by governments but not most high God by God 5