“It Is Good to Give Thanks to the LORD” A Special Thanksgiving Sunday Message November 18, 2012 Psalm 92:1-15 by Pastor Paul K. Kim

WHY IS IT GOOD TO GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD? It is good because the LORD is good. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! (Psalm 118:1)...the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him (v.15)  God’s goodness can be tasted and seen (Psalm 34:8)  God’s goodness endures forever (Psalm 118:1)  God is always good even when life isn’t.

WHY IS IT GOOD TO GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD? It is good because it brings us joy. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.(v.4)  It is a duty that makes us glad—it is a delightful duty.  Its absence of giving thanks makes us negative, critical, depressive, and unpleasant to be around.  It opens in us a perspective of faith to life.

WHY IS IT GOOD TO GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD? It is good because it keeps us from being stupid and foolish in life. 6 The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this: 7 that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever; 8 but you, O Lord, are on high forever. (vs. 6-8)  It wakes us up from illusions of the world’s way.  It points us to the reality of God’s eternal sovereignty.  It makes us wise in God’s way.

WHY IS IT GOOD TO GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD? It is good because it makes us strong and fruitful in the LORD. 10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me fresh oil. 12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green. (vs. 10,12,14)  It leads us to draw new strength from God.  It leads us to be refreshed by God.  It leads us to be fruitful in God—even in old age.

It is good ethically, for it is the Lord's right; it is good emotionally, for it is pleasant to the heart; it is good practically, for it leads others to render the same homage. Charles H. Spurgeon (1873)

HOW THEN SHOULD WE GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD? 1) By SINGING PRAISES to the LORD, Most High. 1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; 3 to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. (vs.1, 3)  To give thanks = to praise GOD—i.e., God’s name/honor.  To give thanks = to make a joyful noise (i.e., singing/music).  To give thanks = to tell others what God has done.

HOW, THEN, SHOULD WE GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD? 2) By giving thanks to the LORD HABITUALLY. to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, (v.2)  Make it a daily routine/rhythm.  Make it a spontaneous habit—a posture that shows your trust in God.  Make it a weekly delight on the LORD’s day.

How do you approach Sundays? Do you think of it as a day in which you have to go to church, but the duties of which you try to get over as soon as possible so you can spend the rest of the time with your family or get on to other more enjoyable things? Or do you think of it as a precious day given to you by God in which you can learn about him and so praise him? Is Sunday a trial or a treat? Is it a delight or a deadly duty? James Montgomery Boice

HOW, THEN, SHOULD WE GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD? 3) By meditating on GOD’S GREAT WORK FOR US. 4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. 5 How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep! (vs. 4-5)  Recall and give thanks for God’s work in your daily needs.  Recall and give thanks for God’s work in your salvation.  Recall and give thanks for God’s work beyond you—the nature, the world, the sovereign plan in Scripture.

HOW, THEN, SHOULD WE GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD? 4) By declaring GOD’S TRUSTWORTHY CHARACTER. 2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him (vs. 2,15)  Declare how God has been steadfast in his love toward you.  Declare how God has been faithful in all things—good and bad.  Declare how God has been your rock—righteous and trustworthy.

Write 2-4 sentences on your note-card to this question: Looking back 2012, what are you most thankful for concerning you/your family and your church family? Thank You LORD for… OUR COMMUNAL THANKS-GIVING TO GOD