Grateful Lesson 3 Series

A. INTRODUCTION

1. Psalm 145: Gratitude for God’s faithfulness (v. 1-7[rbg1.1]).

2. Psalm 81: Gratitude that God didn’t punish (v. 1-7).

3. Psalm 106: Gratitude that God overlooked sin (v. 1-15).

4. Psalm 124: Gratitude for protection (v. 1-8).

5. Psalm 127: Gratitude for your family (v. 1-5).

Gratitude is the least remembered of all virtues,

but is the acid test of character.

B. PSALM 116: GRATITUDE FOR DELIVERANCE

1. Author: many Bible teachers think Hezekiah wrote this Psalm (as well as 120, 121, 123, 125, 128, 129, 130, 132, 134).

2. Why Hezekiah was grateful?

a. Assyria surrounded Jerusalem but the death angel killed 185,000 because Hezekiah prayed (Isa. 37:14-20).

b. God told Hezekiah he would die but he prayed and was given an additional 15 years (Isa. 38:1-22).

3. Psalm 116 describes how earnestly Hezekiah prayed. “I beseech thee, deliver my soul” (116:4). “Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed” (Isa. 38:2).

4. Psalm 116 describes Hezekiah’s desperation. “I was brought low” (116:6). “Listen to me O Lord, and hear! Open your eyes, O Lord and see! Listen to Sennacherib’s words of defiance against the living God” (Isa. 37:17, NLB[rbg2.1]).

5. A Messianic Psalm. Many think this is a prediction of the sufferings, death and triumph of Messiah. “The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of Hell got hold of me, and I found trouble and sorrow” (116:3).

6. The “cup of salvation” in 116:13 was the 3rd cup in the Passover that Christ took at the Last Supper. “I will take the cup of salvation” (v. 13).

C. ANALYSIS OF GRATITUDE

1. A reaction of love (v. 1). “I will love the Lord because . . .” He has heard my prayer so I will call upon Him as long as I live, i.e., every day of my life.

2. Three conditions of the Psalmist (v. 3-4).

a. Grief. “The sorrows of death.”

b. Guilt. “The pains of Hell gat hold upon me.”

c. Pain. “I found trouble and sorrow.”

3. Many will not pray until problems come. “Then I called upon the name of the Lord” (v. 4).

4. Gratitude because the Lord has done two things.

a. The exact opposite “gracious is the Lord” (v. 5).

b. Loving. “Our God is merciful” (v. 5).

5. Hezekiah’s two conditions.

a. Ignorant. “The Lord preserveth the simple” (v. 6).

b. Wiped out. “I was brought low” (v. 6).

6. God’s threefold deliverance.

a. Salvation. “My soul from death” (v. 8).

b. Took away fear. “Mine eyes from tears” (v. 8).

c. Changed circumstances. “My feet from falling” (v. 8).

7. Hezekiah’s response:

a. Promise. “I will walk before the Lord” (v. 9).

b. Repent. “I said in my haste, all men are liars” (v. 11).

Your worship is not received

Until repentance is achieved

c. Fulfill your promise. “I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people” (116:14).

d. Acceptance of human limitation. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (116:15).

e. Public thanksgiving. “I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving” (116:17). This is not an animal sacrifice, but we put our life on the altar. “I beg you by the mercies of God that you give your life to God as a sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1, ELT).

f. Worship at the appropriate place. God’s house is always the place where you must worship Him. “In the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!” (116:19).

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.

To email Dr. Towns - eltowns@liberty.edu.