Psalm 103:1-22         THE BELIEVER’S SONG OF THANKSGIVING

Intro: Ill. A national day of thanksgiving is a wonderful thing. Ill. The child of God has a myriad of reasons for giving thanks every day. This Psalm explores several of those reasons.

      This Psalm was written by David. It was probably written when he was a older man. It contains the language of a man who has experienced the serious consequences of sin and the awesome forgiveness and pardon of Almighty God.

      Spurgeon said of this Psalm, “As in the lofty Alps some peaks rise above all others, so among even the inspired Psalms there are heights of son which overtop the rest. This 103^rd Psalm as ever seemed to us to be the Monte Rosa of the divine chain of mountaintops of praise.”

      Let’s spend a little time in this “mountaintop of praise” as I preach about The Believer’s Song Of Thanksgiving.

 

  I.  v. 1                     THE REQUEST FOR THANKSGIVING

·         David seeks to stir up his inner man to praise the Lord. Perhaps he is in a spiritual slump. Perhaps his praise isn’t as vocal or as frequent as it should be. So, he challenges his “soul” to “bless the Lord”.

·         The word “bless” means “to kneel before another in praise and adoration.” It is a call for the soul to give adoration, praise and worship to a worthy God.

·         We are living in a day when there truly is a drought of praise among the people of God. (Ill. How it used to be in America!)

·         We would do well to stir up our own souls to praise the Lord!

 

 II.  v. 2                 THE REQUIREMENT OF THANKSGIVING

·         David warns his soul of the dangers of “forgetting” the “benefits” of the Lord in his life. The word “benefits” has the idea of “dealings”. It is also the same root word that gives us the word “camel”.

·         The word “forget” refers to “a lapse of memory that can cause one to wander”. When we forget what we have in Jesus and who we are in Jesus, there is the danger that might wander away from Him. Praise keeps us tender, clean and close!

·         Ill. Thankfulness is not an option, it is a command – 1 Thes. 5:18; Eph. 5:20; Heb. 13:5. (Ill. Are you keeping the commandment?)

·         Praise is beneficial! 1.) Brings peace of heart, Phil. 4:6-7; 2.) Brings peace of mind, Phil. 4:6-8; 3.) Brings contentment, Phil. 4:10-13.

·         Can you remember how God has dealt with your soul?

 

III.  v. 3-22               THE REASONS FOR THANKSGIVING

Ill. David identifies eight spiritual reasons that should stimulate our hearts to offer God thanksgiving and praise, not just in November, but on every day of the year.

·         v. 3a – God’s Forgiveness – In Him, all sin is gone! (1 John 1:7; Col. 2:13-14; Eph. 1:7)

·         v. 3b – God’s Healing – In Him, the soul is made whole! (Psa. 107:1-22)

·         v. 4a – God’s Redemption – In Him, we stand redeemed! (Rev. 5:9; Gal. 4:5; 1 Pet. 1:18-19)

·         v. 4b – God’s Grace – In Him, we have received, grace, mercy, compassion, salvation and eternal blessings, Ill. v. 8-18! (Ill. How these verses reveal the great truths of God’s sovereign grace and salvation in our lives!)

·         v. 5 – God’s Peace – In Him, we have been given spiritual satisfaction, and sufficient strength for the journey. (2 Cor. 12:9; Isa. 41:10; Phil. 4:13; Col. 1:11)

·         v. 6 – God’s Intercession – In Him, we have One Who pleads our case! (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:2)

·         v. 7 – God’s Revelation – In Him, we can know Him, fellowship with Him and follow Him! (Ill. He has revealed Himself in His Word – Heb. 1:1-2; Gen. 1:1; and in His Son – John 1:1, 14, 18; 14:6, 9)

·         v. 19 – God’s Sovereignty – In Him, we can rest in His control of all things! (Rom. 8:28; Psa. 37:23; Job 23:10)

 

Conc: As David closes this Psalm, he calls on all of creation to join him in his praise of the Lord. Angels, saints, servants and sinners, along with all of creation, are called upon to offer God the praise, glory and adoration He deserves.

      Ill. We have only scratched the surface of His blessings! Think of your family, your church, your Bible, your material blessings, your health, you food, your air, your home, your water, your clothing, your friends, etc. your blessings are enormous! Ill. Our thanksgiving and our praise ought to be in direct proportion to our blessings. Are they?

      Ill. This would be a great time for God’s people to stir up the inner man and call on our soul to “bless the Lord”. It would be a great time to take a spiritual inventory and thank Him for everything He has done for us in Jesus!