Thanksgiving Day Series

BIG IDEA:

KEEP YOUR HEART TENDER FOR PRAISING THE LORD JOYFULLY

AND WORSHIPPING THE LORD HUMBLY

(some major points and commentary from John Cobb)

I. (:1-5) PRAISE THE LORD JOYFULLY

A. (:1-2) Call to Praise the Lord Joyfully

1. "Let us" -- Corporate emphasis; not enough to praise the Lord on your own

2. Emphasis on Attitude = Joy, Thanksgiving

3. "To" the rock of our salvation

not just about Him

safe place of refuge -- look at all the times the Lord delivered Israel

4. Privilege of coming before His presence

Application: The Lord is worthy of our best praise; we need to spend time daily with Him; we need to be excited in our corporate worship

B. (:3-5) Reason: -- The Greatness of God

1. As compared to other little gods like the idols worshipped by the other nations

cf. 1 Samuel 5:2ff Dagon no match for the King above all gods

2. As compared to any of the wonders or powers of Nature

- the depths of the earth

- the peaks of the mountains

- the sea

cf. Jonah 1:9ff the Lord able to quiet the sea and cause the panicked pagan sailors to worship Him

- the dry land

II. (:6-7A) WORSHIP THE LORD HUMBLY

A. (:6a) Call to Worship the Lord Humbly (worship; bow down; kneel)

B. (:6b-7a) Reasons:

1. The Lord created us -- every life is a gift from God; He has a plan for each one of us;

Who are we to criticize our Maker

2. He cares for us daily as a shepherd takes care of the sheep

protecting us

feeding us

III. (:7b-11) WARNING: KEEP YOUR HEART TENDER

A. By Listening to the Lord daily

B. By not hardening your heart through unbelief and bitterness

Historical Re minder -- don’t repeat the national disaster of Meribah

Complaining: Is the Lord still with us? He doesn’t seem to be taking care of us

C. By remembering the Lord’s gracious provision in the past instead of testing the Lord

D. By not getting the Lord angry at you

God hated that generation with contempt -- "loathed"

they erred in their heart

they do not know God’s ways

E. By Focusing on the Goal = entering the promised Rest

* * * * * * * * * *

DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1) We are to praise the Rock who saves us. How does the image of a rock help your understanding of being saved and the assurance of your salvation?

2) Everything and everyone belongs to God and is under his care. What can you learn from God’s shepherding stewardship of you, that you can apply in your stewardship responsibilities within the family He’s placed you?

3) When God tells you to listen to what He says, what is it He is really telling you to do?

4) Can you be stubborn in heart but still pleasing to God and helpful to others?

Download the entire Psalms commentary in pdf format

(including notes on each psalm from other commentators)

from:

http://www.bibleoutlines.com