Psalm 138 and Giving Thanks to the Lord

Thanksgiving is nearly upon us, that annual holiday when we pause and give thanks for all God has done.

The book of Psalms is a great resource to help us verbalize our gratitude to the Lord. There are many songs there that give thanks to God in various situations and circumstances. In fact, there is an entire genre of psalms, called “thanksgiving psalms.” These psalms were crafted in response to God answering a lament. In essence, when the psalmist cried out to the Lord for help, and he responded, the psalmist then responded with thanksgiving.

Psalm 138 is one such psalm. In it, David responded in thanksgiving to the Lord for rescuing him from his enemies. We don’t know the exact lament this psalm is in response to because he writes of it in general terms. But we can tell it was a circumstance in which he feared for his life. Because this psalms is so general, it makes it easy for us to apply it to our own life and circumstances. Psalm 138 helps us worship and give thanks to the Lord for his goodness to us.

James Boice once wrote that “worship is acknowledging God as the great God he truly is and praising him for it. In other words, worship has to do with confessing God’s attributes…it also has to do with thanking God for what he has done.” In reading Psalm 138, we find a number of reasons to give thanks to God for who he is and what he has done.

Reasons to Give Thanks

1. God’s character and his ways: “I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word” (vv. 1-2). David begins the psalm right away with praising God. He identifies two central characteristics of God: love and faithfulness. This reminds us of numerous passage throughout Scripture that speak of God’s steadfast love (hesed) and faithfulness. In Exodus 34, when the Lord passed in front of Moses, he described himself as “abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” God is a covenant making and keeping God. He sets his love upon us and nothing can move it. He is faithful to keep his promises to his people. His name, I am, the one he gave to Moses, is exalted above all names. His word is life and truth. These are all covenantal reasons to give thanks to our great God.

2. God answers prayer: “On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased” (v.3). This is where the psalm gets personal. God heard David’s lament and he answered him. He strengthened him when his soul was weak and in despair. This prompts us to remember all the times the Lord has met us in our own pits of sorrow; when we thought the sun would never rise again, the Lord provided the grace we needed to endure and brought us through to the other side. May we never cease to give thanks to the Lord who answers our cries for help.

3. God will be exalted: “All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD” (vv.4-5). Here David looks to a future time when all the rulers of the earth will acknowledge that God alone is King above all. Because of Christ, the King of Kings, we too can look forward to the day when “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).

4. God sees the humble: “For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar” (v.6). We do not serve a God who is distant from his people; rather, we serve a God who has come near. In the Old Testament, the Lord dwelt among the people in a tabernacle. In the New Testament, God sent his Son, wrapped in human flesh, to live among us. Jesus came not to those who have no need of a Savior—not to the haughty—but he came to the lowly, those who are sick and in need of healing.

5. God rescues and redeems: “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me” (v. 7). David knew much trouble in his life and many of his psalms reflect that. Life in this fallen world is filled with trouble. We can rejoice and give thanks that we worship a God who rescues and redeems. He not only intervenes in our day to day troubles, but he also rescued us from our very worst fear: eternity apart from God. He sent his Son to redeem us from sin and bring us back to himself. Praise the Lord for his salvation!

6. God completes his work in us: “The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands” (v.8). God made promises to David, not the least of which was that his dynasty would continue on. In our own lives, we too can rejoice that God fulfills all his purposes for us. He will make us like Christ. He will finish the work he began in us. He will persevere us to the end. “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

Take the time to read Psalm 138 and give thanks to our great God today.

Always Give Thanks

It’s the month of Thanksgiving. Walk into any store and you’ll see all things in varying shades of orange, brown, and red. Turkeys, gourds, and colorful leaves decorate every establishment. Our children will dress up as Pilgrims and Native Americans and act out the first Thanksgiving at Plymouth. When we gather around the table on fourth Thursday, we’ll share with loved ones the blessings we’ve received this year and give thanks to God for all He has done.

Thanks in All Things

Celebrating God’s goodness and the bounty of His provisions once a year is a wonderful tradition. The Psalms remind us over and over that it is good to give thanks to the Lord. But as believers, we know that giving thanks isn’t a yearly event. Rather, the Bible calls us to give thanks each day and not just for the blessings God has given, but as Paul wrote, “in all things.” “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).

Indeed, it is easy to offer praise and thanksgiving when the harvest is plenty but what about when there is no harvest? What about when we’ve lost our job, when we’ve lost a loved one, when our dreams have been shattered, when we’ve been rejected and abused, when sin grips us hard, and when we feel lost and all alone?...to read the rest of this post, visit The Christward Collective, my writing home for today.

The Soil in Which Thanksgiving Grows

It’s the season of all things brown and orange, of pumpkin spiced confections, and of stuffed turkeys (or turkey with dressing, depending on where you live) . It's the time of year when we gather with friends and family to feast on the season’s harvest and celebrate all that we have been given.

Throughout the month of November, our social media feeds will be filled with friend’s lists of things for which they are thankful. And for good reason; there is much to be thankful for: our lives, our health, the food we eat, our families, jobs, and so much more. Giving thanks is a good thing and something we ought to do. 

Gratitude and thanksgiving is something that both Christians and non-Christians alike both encourage. Even popular magazines this month will talk about ways to be more thankful. The question is, what makes gratitude different between believers and non-believers? Is there any difference? And can it be more than just a passing fad for the month of November?

These are all things I wonder about, this time of year especially. And here is my conclusion: like seeds that fall on poor soil, gratitude won't take root and produce on just any ground.

Gratitude and thanksgiving grows and thrives in the soil of humility.

The One Who Gave Thanks

“And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:12-19)

In Jesus’ day, the Samaritans were despised by the Jews. It was a hatred that went all the way back to the time when Israel split into two kingdoms and Assyria conquered the northern kingdom. John 4 described this animosity when the woman at the well said to Jesus, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink? (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans)" (4:9).

Because of this history, the Jews did not talk to or associate with Samaritans. In the case of the ten lepers, it is not only striking that Jesus healed the Samaritan leper, but also that the leper returned to give Jesus thanks. The Samaritan's gratitude is all the more compelling given the fact that none of the other lepers returned in gratitude. Perhaps he knew more the other nine that he did not deserve Jesus’ healing. He knew well his standing before the Jews and knew that Jesus could have just healed the nine and left him out of it. In humility, the healed leper returned to give Jesus praise and thanksgiving. Jesus responded, “Your faith has made you well.” Not only was he healed and saved on the outside, but his soul found healing and salvation as well.

The Soil in Which Thanksgiving Grows

When a non-believer makes a gratitude list, it's not about all the things they are thankful that God has done for them. Rather, it's more like "these are the things I am happy about in my life" kind of list. In thinking about all the good things they have in their life, they feel a boost of happiness. That's because experts say that having a grateful attitude is good for us. Looking at all the blessings we have in our life makes us realize that things aren't as bad as we think. It changes our perspective, reduces stress, and transforms our mood. For many in our society, giving thanks is simply a feel good exercise to greater self-fulfillment and has nothing to do with God at all. 

For believers in Christ, giving thanks looks very different. It's not about self-fulfillment and it's purpose isn't to make us feel better. There's a different reason for our thanksgiving altogether. Our thanksgiving is directed to someone, to the God who made us. And it is in response to who he is and what he has done. 

A believer's gratitude comes from a humble heart that acknowledges we are but dust. God created us and breathed in us the breath of life. He sustains us each day. We are completely dependent upon him and can do nothing apart from him (John 15:5). Everything we have is a gift of his grace. As Peter said in Acts, "nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything" (17:25).

A humble heart knows its position before the God of the universe and bows in reverence, awe, wonder, and gratitude. Such a heart knows that it is unworthy and undeserving of God’s grace. In reference to this story of the ten lepers, the Gospel Transformation Bible says, “Our worshipful response—or lack thereof—reflects the depth of our understanding of God’s mercy and goodness. The first and greatest response to the gospel of grace is thankful worship.” (p.1387). When we know the holiness of God, the wisdom of God, the power of God, and the rich grace of God, we realize how amazing it is that we are able to stand in his presence and receive his gift of salvation.

It is in this fertile soil of humility where thanksgiving grows and thrives. Any other soil that denies God’s holiness, wisdom, power, and sovereignty will only speak words of thanksgiving but without deep roots, it will not thrive or last. Like the nine other lepers, it will gladly take the good gifts God bestows but won't truly honor and thank him for who he is and what he has done. 

In the soil of humility, thanksgiving grows even in the darkest of nights and in the fiercest climates where suffering and trials bear down hard. This is why Paul could say that we are to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thess. 5:18). This is where much of the world’s efforts at thanksgiving and gratitude breaks down. It’s easy to give thanks when the harvest is plenty. But to continue to give thanks in the midst of trial reveals the type of soil in which thanksgiving resides. The soil of humility will produce thanksgiving in all seasons--in sunshine and rain, in plenty or in want.

The soil itself is something for which we must give thanks for it is not a soil we can produce on our own. It too is a gift of God's generous grace. So this Thanksgiving, and every day of the year, let us give thanks with a grateful heart, knowing that like the Samaritan leper, we are not worthy. And like the Samaritan leper, may we be filled with the same wonder and amazement that God would choose to extend his kindness toward us.