Introduction
Last week, we began considering the relationship between praise and thanks and how we are called in this Psalm to verbalize or express our gratitude. That expression should include some discussion of God’s attributes and the affect that he has on us, on creation, and even on his enemies.
This week, we are going to look at the next stanza of Psalm 66 in order to understand what gratitude expects or requires. In many ways, gratitude expects a witness or a testimony.
Let’s consider verses 1-7, then we’ll focus on verses 5-7. In fact lets read this aloud together.
Psalm 66:1–7 ESV
Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah
Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him,
who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations— let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah
Let’s pray
?Verses 5-7 seem to communicate that
When God’s people testify to what God has done, others are invited to witness and respond.
?So, as we seek to apply this today, I think it’s important that we invite others to hear of God’s works - in our lives and in the world, so that they can respond. So, right at the outset, the we get to…
Invite others… (5a)
There is a story of pastor who took a Sunday off to play a round of golf. Everybody needs a day off from time to time. For this pastor, he had an amazing round of golf that day. He even hit a hole in one. Unfortunately, he felt so guilty about missing a Sunday that he couldn’t invite anyone to share in his joy. So his story is told in anonymity.
There are many times when it’s easy to invite people to witness or observe something that’s happened in our lives. Obviously for this pastor, he was a bit conflicted, but for others, there are a variety of reasons we want to invite people in. Maybe it’s a big life event like a birthday party or a wedding or an anniversary. Maybe it’s something smaller - like a good meal or a new outfit. Maybe it’s a milestone like a fitness goal or a completed project. We even like to include things about our kids - sporting events, new grades in school, final year photos and more. Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms make inviting others into these events in our lives easy. For those who aren’t on social media or, like me, don’t post on social media very often, the invitation to come and see takes a more conversational approach - maybe it’s over a meal or on a trip together or at community group or time of fellowship or even simply at the mail box with a neighbor. These times of sharing become an invitation.
Think about this, what is an invitation? Why do we invite people into something? We want them to enjoy the event in our lives. We want them to celebrate with us. We want them to get some sort of benefit from whatever has happened in our lives.
But how often do our invitations include an invitation to come and see what God has done? How often does God’s work in our lives cross our lips, especially to those outside of the household of faith?
The Psalmist reminds us:
Psalm 66:5 (ESV)
Come and see what God has done: …
?The Psalmist is modeling an invitation. I think it’s important that we invite others into our lives and the important events. This Psalm provides us an example that we should also invite others…
...to hear of God’s works… (5b-7a)
Let’s look again at this Psalm.
Psalm 66:5–7 (ESV)
…He is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him, who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations…
The Psalmist begins by talking about…
God’s General Works
“He is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man”. Some people refer to this as “common grace.” These are the good things that we receive from God, simply because He is good and gracious. One theological resource defined common grace as:
Lexham Survey of Theology (The Spirit and Common Grace)
God’s general favor by which he restrains sin and its consequences, maintains human life and culture, and bestows a variety of gifts and blessings to all people indiscriminately.
Joel Beeke and Paul Smalley define common grace as
“the good gifts that God gives to both the righteous and the wicked, even those who will never repent.”
So one of our jobs is to help people to see God’s awesome works. In many ways those awesome works are plain to see!
Psalm 19:1 reminds us…
Psalm 19:1 ESV
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
and even the apostle Paul discussed the general works of God that are evident for everyone to see…
Romans 1:19–20 ESV
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
So when we invite people to come and see the general works of God, we point their attention to his handiwork - in the universe, in the world, in our lives.
I’m often struck by the way that God has ordered his creation. Think about sunrises and sunsets.
Several years ago, I was on an evangelistic team in Philadelphia. We were giving what was called “chalk talks.” In these talks, we would prepare a series of paintings that were partially completed. One was typically a sort of game - some mathematic puzzle designed to get people’s attention, then we would tell a bible story with the other one. On the night before I was to present, I remember taking a great deal of time to paint a sunset as a background to the story that I was to tell the next day. I took time to fade the colors from light to dark. It was a painstaking process (that frankly was unnecessary), but it was fun.
When I look at the sunrises and sunsets that God paints on the canvas of the sky, I’m often amazed - everyone is different. Every moment the visage changes. There are times when I want to capture a moment on my phone, but can’t get the right perspective, so I just enjoy it.
But think about creation too. Look at the variety of animals, the colors of birds, the peculiarity of some mammals, the uniqueness of the sea life - God designed and ordained all of that - for our enjoyment and his.
And then, if we look at each other - go ahead, look at each other. We have a lot of things in common. We are humans. We have similar attributes - eyes, noses, ears, hands, feet, hair (some more than others). We are all created in the image of God. And yet look at how unique we all are. Different colors of hair, eyes. Varying amounts of melanin. Unique interests, gifts, abilities, talents. We are all the same and yet all uniquely and wonderfully made. Those are some of those general things that God did in the world and in us.
When we invite people to look at that, we invite them to see how “awesome God’s deeds” are toward all humanity, in all of the world. Those are his general works. But then, the Psalmist shifts to…
God’s Specific Works
As we discussed last week, the Psalmist here is looking specifically back to a couple of events in Israel’s history - the crossing of the Red Sea and the Crossing of the Jordan - noting God’s powerful and profound work in those instances.
At the Red Sea, God pushed the waters in such a way that they formed a wall on either side of the Israelites and then dried out the bottom of the sea miraculously, so the Israelites could cross on dry ground. You can read more about that in Exodus 14. Incidentally, there have been some recent discoveries in the middle east - people have found artifacts and geological formations that likely reveal where the Israelites crossed and where Mount Sinai was. One of these days, I’d love for us to bring a team of people to Saudi to do some ministry with the Bass family and then see some of these sites!
In the other event, God miraculously stopped up the Jordan river in flood stage so that the people of Israel could cross into the promised land. You can read about that in Joshua 3.
Kids, ask your parents if you can read one or both of those together later today and look at God’s special works in the lives of the Israelites.
For the people of Israel, these events became markers in Israelite history. They became the subjects of songs and memorials for prophets to remind people of God’s good works. They became the subjects of discipling conversations around dinner tables.
As Psalm 145 reminds us…
Psalm 145:4–5 ESV
One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
But what are those specific markers in our lives?
As I have been thinking about those events in Israel’s history, they reminded me about baptism and its significance in our lives. They both involved water. They both involved an utter dependence upon God’s grace and provision. There is a sense in which they both mark a transition from death to life, from wandering to promise, from hopelessness to hope.
Do you remember when you were baptized?
I do.
I especially remember the months leading up to that day. I had become a Christian 7 years earlier, but I had never made the step of baptism. My parents, wisely, wanted to wait until I fully understood what it meant to be a follower of Christ. So, over the course of several weeks or a couple of months, I had a palpable wrestling with the Holy Spirit. For me, baptism became not only a means whereby I went public with my faith, but also where I fully surrendered to let my life be marked by His! At that time our family was attending Forcey Memorial Church - an independent, Bible church in Silver Spring. Because it was a larger church, they had a baptism class that I attended with Pastor Small. He discussed what baptism was and what it wasn’t. He helped all of us to prepare a testimony - sharing our story of God’s salvation. So, I went through the class. On the appointed Sunday, I shared the story of how I was brought up in church and realized that going to church did not make me a Christian, but rather trusting in Jesus Christ and what he did on the cross saved me from the eternal punishment of my sin. I shared how I was ready to go public with my faith and was willing to serve the Kingdom of God in whatever way God wanted me to. Upon my public profession of faith, the Pastor affirmed my salvation. He put my head under the water and brought me up signifying death to my old life and resurrection to my new life in Christ. While I believe that salvation had actually happened several years earlier, getting baptized became a marker for me to remember and one everyone else there to see - it was an invitation to thank and praise God for his provision, His salvation. God had saved me through Jesus Christ! In that moment, I invited others in to see the specific, awesome works that God did in my life, in my salvation! By telling you, I have now invited your to see one of God’s specific works in my life!
But God doesn’t just stop there, He continues to work in our lives. Time and time again, we get to testify specifically to how God is working - answering prayer, providing strength, providing hope, instructing, sustaining.
In the passage we are considering, did you notice that the Psalmist said... “there did we rejoice in him.” In both of those instances the people of Israel marked those encounters. One was in a song, the other was with a pile of stones called an Ebenezer or a Cairn.
How often are we journaling or marking or sharing when God has answered prayer or worked miraculously or made Himself known in a real and tangible way?
How often are we declaring those good, specific acts of God?
How often do you and I share God’s saving work in our lives with our family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, classmates?
Speaking from my own experience - not enough.
Kids, students, teenagers - in addition to asking your parents to read from Exodus and Joshua, let me encourage you to ask them to tell you how they became a Christian. Ask them to tell you their testimony.
For those who are parents, even if they don’t ask, share what God did in you to bring you to salvation. Share how God has worked in your life - answering prayer, guiding, leading, sustaining - in the easy and the difficult times.
Whether you are a parent or not, if you are a follower of Christ - share your story with someone this week! Invite them to join in the joy of your salvation, in the joy of God’s work in you!
You see, in all if this, when we invite people to hear of God’s works, we essentially prompt them to respond.
…and respond (7b)
The Psalmist concludes with these words:
Psalm 66:7 (ESV)
…let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah
It seems like the rebellious here are those who refuse to recognize God’s work in the world. They refuse to recognize God’s reign (He keeps watch on the nations). They refuse to see their sin for what it is and refuse to repent.
What is the opposite of exalt?
It’s to humble oneself, or to demonstrate humility.
When we humble ourselves to God’s word, His will, and His ways, then we ultimately will repent of our sin, turn and trust in Him and then will begin to live a life that is pleasing to Him. We will live in the assurance of knowing that eternity is secure. We will live with the intention of making a difference in the world around us.
Just as the Israelites rejoiced after crossing the Red Sea and the Jordan River, so too, we should long for others to rejoice in the salvation that Jesus has secured. I want you to respond! I want you to be saved, so that you can enjoy eternal life, so that you can enjoy an abundant life, so that you can live eternally!
Brothers and sisters in Christ, do we see the eternal destiny of those who don’t know Christ? Do we long for their salvation? May we, may I, repent of our short-sightedness!
If you’re not yet a follower of Christ, I pray that you would respond! Prior to the crossing of the Red Sea, God gave Pharoah and the people of Egypt ample opportunities to respond - and they refused - until it was too late.
For you and me, we need to understand that Jesus came and lived a perfect life and then died a death as a substitution for the death that you and I deserve. We only need to repent and believe to be saved. Getting baptized becomes a public profession of that faith. Salvation changes our outlook on the world now - it changes our perspective and purpose. Salvation also changes our eternal home! Life does not end at physical death. In many ways, life truly begins! Will you repent, believe, and be baptized and then, in gratitude, witness to the work of God in your life?
?Beloved - we should invite others in to hear of God’s work in our lives so that they can respond! - who will we witness to week?
If you’ve not yet responded to Jesus’ loving call for salvation, then come! If you don’t understand it - then ask someone around you or let’s have a conversation this week!
If you’ve not yet responded to the God’s call to go public with your faith, then take the next step toward baptism. I have several copies of a book entitled “Preparing for Baptism” and another book entitled “Going Public.” We may not be big enough to have a formal class like I did growing up, but it would be an honor to walk through this with you or children and students - to have your parents walk through this with you.
In every part of life, let us invite others to hear of God’s works so that they can respond.
Let’s pray.
?Questions for Reflection and Discussion
?1. What’s the nicest thing anyone ever did for you?
2. Why does God allow us to experience hardship?
3. What did the psalm writer tell God’s people to remember? Why? (66:5–7)
4. How does your memory of God’s blessings in the past encourage you to praise and trust Him today?
5. What kinds of things prevent Christians from sharing their faith with others?
6. What advice is given to those who are tempted to rebel against the Lord? (66:7)
7. What does this psalm encourage you to do?
?Sources:
Beeke, Joel R., and Paul M. Smalley. Reformed Systematic Theology: Spirit and Salvation. Vol. 3. Reformed Systematic Theology. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021.
Doornbos, Gayle. “The Spirit and Common Grace.” In Lexham Survey of Theology, edited by Mark Ward, Jessica Parks, Brannon Ellis, and Todd Hains. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2018.
Mallard, Paul. The Grace of Gratitude. Great Britain: 10 of Those, 2021.
Platt, David, Matt Mason, and Jim Shaddix. Exalting Jesus in Psalms 51-100. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2020.
Ross, Allen P. “Psalms.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor
Wiersbe, Warren W. Be Worshipful. 1st ed. “Be” Commentary Series. Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries, 2004. Books, 1985.
Wilcock, Michael. The Message of Psalms 1-72. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001.
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