The Attitude of Gratitude

November 25, 2021

Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face evermore! Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth  (1 Chronicles 16:8-12).

This song of the shepherd king is repeated in Psalm 105:1-5. His song of praise to the Lord is one of many that exalts the Lord God for who He is and for all He has done for His people. His song reminds us of several blessings He bestows upon us, even in times of trouble and distress.

First, the Lord is the author of all that we enjoy in life, even life itself, abundant life, and eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore we ought to give thanks to Him. And in giving thanks to Him we should call upon His name, rather we should call Him by His name. When you think of the names of God in Scripture you will realize how great and loving and compassionate He is toward us: Jehovah-Nissi - God is My Refuge (Exodus 17:11,16); Jehovah-Jireh - God Will Provide (Genesis 22:13-14; Psalm 23:1); Jehovah-Rapha - God Heals (Exodus 15:26); Jehovah-Shalom - God Our Peace and Prosperity (Judges 6:24; Isaiah 9:6); Jehovah-Raah - God Our Way and Shepherd (Psalm 23:1); Jehovah-Tsidkenu - God Our Righteousness (Psalm 23:3; Jeremiah 23:6); Jehovah-Shammah - God Is Ever Present (Ezekiel 48:35); just to name a few. For all of these descriptions of God and more we should praise Him.

Then, sing to Him, sing psalms to Him. Songs are expressions of the heart, mind, and spirit. They reflect what we believe to be true. David said to sing ‘psalms’ to the Lord. The Apostle Paul wrote (Colossians 3:16), Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Is he being redundant? No. ‘Psalms’ are songs the Hebrew people sang to the Lord from their own experiences (Psalms; 1 Chronicles 16:8-36; Deuteronomy 32:1-43). ‘Hymns’ are songs the early Christians sang to the Lord from their own experiences (Luke 1:46-56,67-79; 2:25-35). Both of these can inspire and teach us in our own worship of the Lord. ‘Spiritual songs’ are the extemporaneous songs we sing to the Lord as the Holy Spirit moves in us to lift up His name in praise and worship.

Finally, glory in His name. To ‘glory’ is to praise. The meaning here is that as we give thanks, as we call Him by His name, as we tell others what He has done for us, as we sing to Him in worship, we should do all of these to His praise, honoring Him as the one true and living God who has loved us with an infinite love and saved us with His eternal salvation.

“Father, may You be honored and glorified in our meetings together this Thanksgiving day. May all who gather with us rejoice that You are among us through the Holy Spirit. And may we rehearse all the wonderful things You have permitted to be ours. Through Jesus Christ I ask, Amen.”

Pastor

Share this with your friends