FOUR GREAT REASONS TO GIVE THANKS TO GOD
Delivered from many years of captivity in foreign land, the people of Israel look back and remember the goodness of God in liberating them. We can always relate on the four great reasons why they should give thanks to God. For Israel, captivity and deliverance is of course historical. But for us it might be spiritual.
Psa 107:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures for ever.
Psa 107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say this-- those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
Psa 107:3 those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.
I – WE WERE LOST AND WASTED BUT THE LORD GAVE US DIRECTION
Psa 107:4 Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle.
Psa 107:5 They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away.
Our humble resolution
Psa 107:6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
The Divine Intervention
Psa 107:7 He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.
The Rightful Reaction
Psa 107:8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men,
Psa 107:9 for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
The prayer of confession
Psa 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
Psa 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
Psa 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.
Psa 51:4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight; That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.
Psa 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
Psa 51:6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
Psa 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psa 51:8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
Psa 51:9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psa 51:11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Psa 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit
II – WE WERE CAPTIVES SINNERS BUT THE LORD GAVE US DELIVERANCE
Psa 107:10 Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains,
The cause of their affliction
Psa 107:11 for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High.
Psa 107:12 So he subjected them to bitter labour; they stumbled, and there was no-one to help.
Our humble resulution
Psa 107:13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
The Divine Intervention
Psa 107:14 He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.
The Rightful Reaction
Psa 107:15 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men,
Psa 107:16 for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.
The history of God’s compassion
Exo 3:7 The LORD said, I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.
Exo 3:8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey-- the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.
Exo 3:9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them.
Exo 3:10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.
III – WE WERE SPIRITUALLY SICK AND DYING BUT THE LORD GAVE US RESTORATION
Psa 107:17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
Psa 107:18 They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death.
Our humble Resolution
Psa 107:19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
The Divine Intervention
Psa 107:20 He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.
The Rightful Reaction
Psa 107:21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.
Psa 107:22 Let them sacrifice thank- offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.
The tears of consolation
Luk 7:38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
Luk 7:48 Then Jesus said to her, Your sins are forgiven.
IV – WE WERE HOPELESS AND PERISHING BUT THE LORD GAVE US SALVATION
Psa 107:23 Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters.
Psa 107:24 They saw the works of the LORD, his wonderful deeds in the deep.
Psa 107:25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves.
Psa 107:26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away.
Psa 107:27 They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits’ end.
The humble resolution
Psa 107:28 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.
The divine intervention
Psa 107:29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.
Psa 107:30 They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.
The Rightful Reaction
Psa 107:31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.
Psa 107:32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders.
The Blessed Conclusion
Psa 34:17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
Psa 34:18 The LORD is close to thebroken-heartedand saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psa 34:19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;
If you have been blessed, encouraged or inspired by this sermon then it’s your turn to be an encouragement too. You can do it by sending email to this contributor at spy2rb@yahoo.com or post comment on the discussion box below.
