GIVING THANKS UNTO THE LORD

Psalm 107:1-8; Text verse: Vs. 1

 

INTRODUCTION: Thanksgiving Day is a day of many traditional views and values. Everyone has something of which they can be thankful for. Some may not express it; nevertheless, the fact still exists. In today’s society Thanksgiving is always synonymous with turkey, dressing, pumpkin pie, football, and family reunions. Those are okay and I enjoy that tradition as well as anyone, but there is more to be thankful for.

 

Most encyclopedias do not refer to God when defining Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was established because the early Christians saw a need to be thankful for the blessings of God.

 

Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November to be designated as Thanksgiving. It was later changed to the 4th Thursday.

 

Everyone can be thankful for something. Your economic status shouldn’t prevent you from being thankful. All of us can think of something for which to be thankful. So, in this season of thanksgiving, allow the Psalmist to list some reasons for being thankful.

 

Follow along with me in Psalm 107. The opening verse says, “O give thanks unto the Lord.” Then he tells us why we should give thanks.

 

1. FOR HE IS GOOD Vs. 1.

There has never been anything but good come from God.

 

1. How Can Mortality Measure Goodness Of Immortality? Man can’t.
2. Man doesn’t declare God good. God makes that declaration.
3. You and I will always judge goodness from the influence of the flesh or the world. If we have benefited from a certain thing or experience, we will say it is good.

 

The Bible says, (Ps. 33:5) “He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD."

 

It also says, (Ps. 34:8) “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him."

 

1. What Are Some Things the Goodness Of God Does?

 

1. It endures. (Ps. 52:1) “.... the goodness of God endureth continually.”

 

You will never be without the goodness of God.

 

2. It leads to repentance. (Rom 2:4) “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"

 

Every person here should go home following this service and get alone somewhere and do nothing but just say, “Thank you, Lord, for your goodness to my family and me.

 

1. What Is the Result Of A Generation Or Generations Not Being Thankful For The “Goodness Of God?”
2. Lawlessness.
3. No Restraint.
4. Self-proclamation.

(Prov. 30:11)  "There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother."

(Prov. 30:12)  "There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness."

(Prov 30:13)  "There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up."

(Prov 30:14)  "There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men."

 

1. FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER Vs. 1

 

1. To Whom Does His Mercy Endure Forever. Vs. 2, (Psa 107:2)  "Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;"

 

When you need mercy, it is always there. We should thank Him for it.

 

1. Boundless Mercy. (Psa 108:4)  "For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds."

 

This says that His mercy is “out of this world”. It reaches into the clouds. That includes outer space, even into heaven. His mercy has no boundary.

 

1. Preserving Mercy. (Lam 3:22) “It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not."

 

If it wasn’t for His mercy His wrath would consume all of us this very moment. We’re preserved by His mercy.

 

1. Penitent Mercy. (Joel 2:13) “And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil."

 

People used to rend their garments as a sign of repentance.

 

1. Pardoning Mercy. (Micah 7:18) “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy."
2. Pardon. “To absolve from the penalty for a fault or crime: To forgive.” “To remove or cancel.”
3. Parole. “To release from prison according to good behavior.”

 

Let me ask you this, “Aren’t you glad that God pardons sin rather than paroles the sinner?  Supposing you and I were on parole with God. Our freedom would be considered upon our ability not to sin anymore, or even to control our sinfulness. That is what governs parole. We’d be in a pickle, wouldn’t we?

 

Let’s give thanks to Him because He has pardoned us and not paroled us. (Psa 103:12) “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

 

When is something removed what happens to it? It is gone.

 

1. Saving Mercy. (Titus 3:5) “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"

 

I thank God for this verse. What was it that allowed God to show His love toward us?  His mercy.

 

Have you ever stopped to think of having no mercy? You have heard the phrase, “No mercy.” You had better be thankful for mercy.

 

Examine with me the word “mercy” a little further.

His mercy allows His grace to provide salvation for the sinner.

Salvation: What is it? It’s not just fire insurance. It is more than an escape from hell. It is more than absolving our trespasses against God. Salvation enables us to be conformed to the image of His Son.  (See Rom. 8:28-30.)

 

III. THE REDEEMED ARE TO GIVE THANKS Vs. 2.

 

1. Redeemed From The Hand Of The Enemy.
2. Who’s the enemy? Satan. He no longer has us in his clutches. He no longer determines our destination. Satan no longer can control our lives. Why? Because we have been redeemed from his hand.
3. We have been given a citizenship in heaven.

 

(John 14:2)  "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

 

(Heb 11:10)  "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

 

1. He Has Gathered The Redeemed From The Four Corners Of The Earth. (Psa 107:3) “And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south."
2. There is no place that His hand cannot reach to save a lost soul.
3. There is no country or continent from which He will not redeem.

 

All people are to give thanks.

 

1. How do you give thanks as a redeemed person?
2. By the way you live.
3. By your witness.
4. By what you do for God. If you don’t do much for God, then you are not giving much thanks.
5. By your private life.

 

How often do you give thanks for the fact that He redeemed you?

 

6. THE DOWN AND OUT SHOULD GIVE THANKS Vs. 4-6.

 

1. (Psa 107:4)  "They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in."

 

You talk about a wilderness; we are in a never ending wilderness today. The Bible and the morality has been shoved so far back in a corner in most societies that there is no picture of God anywhere.

 

The true disciple of Christ has no city to dwell in. We are a people without a country. It seems that no one cares for the things of God anymore. We are alone - stranded for a time.

 

1. Those That Are Hungry And Thirsty.

(Rev 22:17)  "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

 

If you are hungry and thirsty today, it is a hunger and a thirst for God.

 

1. God Has The Time And The Answer For Every Crisis In Our Lives. (Psa 107:6)  "Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses."

 

Don’t allow a certain financial condition, illness, a job situation, or an individual attitude prevent you from being thankful.

 

Maybe you are having a hard time; maybe life does look bleak now.

 

God is still in charge.

He is still on the throne.

He has not stepped down from control.

He is faithful and just. Give Him thanks, and praise for all things.

 

If you are not observant, you could allow a Thanksgiving Dinner to determine whether you give thanks or not.

 

(Eph 5:20) “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;"

 

This week when you and your family or friends sit down to the Thanksgiving Dinner table, be sure to stop and give thanks to the One who has made it all possible.

Why?

 

Because He is Good. Because His Mercy Endures Forever. Because He Came To Save You. Because You Are Saved.