A Thanksgiving Classic

Larry C. Brincefield

larkayb@earthlink.net

Title: A Thanksgiving Classic—Psalm 100

Text: Psalm 100

Introduction

There is an old Hebrew legend that the harp of David at midnight . . .

when the wind swept across the strings;

would give forth beautiful music.

A writer commenting on the legend, says,

“the poetry of that tradition is condensed in the Psalms

and that the Psalms contain the whole music of the heart of the man

as though swept by the hand of God, our Maker.”

This is a beautiful concept—

the Hand of God, our Maker—

sweeping across our lives—

making beautiful music in the form of praise.”

The Psalms are filled with praise and thanksgiving.

I did a word search for any form of the word thank (thanksgiving, thankfulness, etc) in the Bible.

I found that the Bible contains 150 occurrences of the word "thank" and its forms.

Psalms contains 36 occurrences of these words; or 25%

I also did a word search in the Bible for the word, “praise” and its forms.

I found that it occurred 420 times in the Bible.

I then searched just the book of Psalms and the word “praise” appeared 223 times.

In other words, 53% of the praises in the Bible will be found in Psalms.

Wouldn’t it be fun to look at all of them?

Tonight, I just want to look at Psalm 100.

Psalm 100 is called a Psalm for giving thanks in the little subheading under the chapter listing.

Psalm 100 doesn’t a single negative thought in the entire psalm.

One writer called it a classic.

There are classic cars,

there is classic coke,

I believe Wendy’s has or had a Classic hamburger.

Well, Psalm 100 is a Classic Thanksgiving Psalm.

It is for this reason that I would like for us to study this Psalm this evening.

Read Text: Psalm 100:1-5

Body

1. First, verse 1 says, "Make a Joyful Noise unto the Lord, all ye lands”. The NIV says, "“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.”

This is a call to praise to the Lord.

It is not for Israel alone,

but it is for all the earth.

Praise is not limited,

it is for all people.

In 1930, the American Association for the Advancement of Atheism raised a public protest at the custom of the American President proclaiming Thanksgiving as a National Day of Giving Thanks to God.

This organization felt that since there were so many jobless in our country,

and since the fields were without rain,

there was no cause for giving thanks.

The Pilgrims were thankful, even in the face of great adversity.

Remember Job? He had lost everything and do you remember what he said, “May the name of the Lord be praised”.

Many times, we overlook that there are many things to praise God for, in any situation.

When John Wesley was a student and before he became a Christian,

he was teasing a janitor at Oxford University.

This janitor was a godly man, but was also very poor.

John Wesley, noticing his shabby clothing, said, “Go home and change your coat.”

The janitor replied, “This is the only coat I have in the world and I thank God for it.”

Next, Wesley suggested that he go home and eat his supper.

The janitor said, “I have nothing but a glass of water, and I thank God for it.”

John Wesley continued, “It’s very late and I think you will get locked out, and then what will you have to thank God for?”

The janitor replied, “I will thank god I have dry stones to lie on.”

Wesley said, “Sam, Sam, you thank God when you have nothing to wear, nothing to eat, and nothing to lie on; what else do you have to thank Him for?”

Sam said, “I thank Him that He has given me life, and a heart to love Him, and a desire to serve Him.”

There are things to praise God for in any situation:

We can thank God for the air we breathe. Psalm 150:6 says, "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD"

We can thank God for the sun that lights our world.

We can thank Him for His love and mercy and forgiveness.

The Psalmist says: “Shout for Joy”!

2. Next, Verse 2 says, "Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.”

This tells us that the highest form of praise is service.

Certainly our work and our service is easier and better quality and more productive

when we do it with cheerfulness and a good attitude.

Thomas Carlyle said, “Give me a man who sings at his work”.

The concept of service throughout the Bible is abundant.

We are called to be servants.

There are some people who buck against the yoke.