FHBC Sermon Notes

This is a thanksgiving psalm. A song as the name implies is intended to give thanks to God.

This type of song, often looks back on some event of crisis in which calamity has descended upon us. Yet, these songs see it in the light of our Lord's salvation. The grace of God is the theme of this psalm. When the world is crashing down, for this writer it is the grace of God that gives us hope.

Three dimensions of Thanksgiving

1. Give thanks to God in your present situation.

This act of thankfulness isn't what we do after things have simply worked out. We don't give thanks when things are good, or every once in a while. We must be thankful in all times, and in all things. "I will give thanks with my whole heart..." says the psalmist. Not just part of our heart, the parts that are happy and content.

Some questions...

• When do we give thanks?

Always. All the time. See v. 13-16. Even during times of distress the psalmist cries out in thankfullness.

• How are we go give thanks?

With our whole heart. Like our lifeblood, our whole life flows through our heart. Every part of me flows through it, and so my whole life give praise and thanks to the God! "I will recount all your wonderful deeds!" v. 1 We must not leave out any of the works of Lord, for he is the source of our joy.

 

Are there broken relationships, stress, strife? Then give thanks.

2. Consider the past evidences of God's grace.

All that God has done before us, in us, and for us. God has been immeasurably kind to us. We must not forget. For God has been working through all our life, in fact thigh all our history to intervene on our behalf. To cover us in his immeasurable grace. For if God has shown his goodness in the past in times of stress, he will do it again. This is how faith looks. For unlike the stock market, or even the word of others, God's word and promises are eternally consistent, true, and reliable.

3. Look expectantly to the future promises inspired by God's grace.

In this psalm we hear thankfulness expressed in the midst of crisis. There is more to come. God will be victorious once again. This is the writers anticipation. It will happen again. The psalmist knows this.

Like a looking child calling for daddy to "do it again" ! Let us cry allowed for God is to be praised before, now, and forever.

In fact, for us, we have seen the forever in Christ! The end of this song points to him, our victor, our conquourer, our king and salvation.

Yes, we still wait in hopeful expectations and joy! Amen!

Let the cry of the church with the gospel in hand be, "Come Lord Jesus!"