Give Thanks to the LORD
100 A Psalm for giving thanks.
1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
In the psalms, the invitation to praise God and give him thanks is always accompanied with reasons. The call is not just simply to “praise the Lord” or “give thanks to God” but to give thanks and praise to God because of who he is and what he has done, is doing, and will do.
Notice the first word of the last verse of this magnificent psalm of thanksgiving, “For…” Here comes the reasons for making a joyful noise, serving him with gladness, coming into his presence with singing, entering into his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; there are three reasons given: the LORD is good, his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness extends to all generations.
I encourage you to reflect on these words, they are for you as well. The LORD is good; he cannot do but good for you. He even works the things we label as “bad” in our lives for our good; because remember, the LORD is good. He cannot help but work all things together for good to those who love and trust him.
The LORD’s steadfast love endures forever. This is God’s loyal and committed love he has for his people. It is love that again is grounded in his character; God is love. His love for you is based not on your lovableness but solely upon the LORD’s decision to set his love on you; and his kind of love is the kind that hangs in there, it endures, it will outlast you, it will never run out for you.
At the end of the day, our LORD is faithful, true to himself, true to his character, true to his Word. He cannot lie, he will not change his mind, he will remain true and faithful even to people who are not. The LORD is the only true promise-keeper, and he keeps his promises to us promise-breakers.
My friends, these three reasons alone give us enough reasons to fill all the days of our lives with thanksgiving and praise. And we know they are all for us when we look upon God’s son, our Lord Jesus. In him we see the goodness, the gracious love and faithfulness of God in human flesh. His death for you, his resurrection for you, and his ascension and his promised return for you, proclaim together this fact. Reflect on them, confess them, cling onto them, live under them in thankful praise. They will not let you down…God promises.
In the Name of Jesus, Amen
-Pastor Darrin Sheek