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February 28, 2010 The worthiness of God of our thanks Psalm 136 Scripture reading: Deuteronomy 32, Romans 5:1-11 In 1636 German Pastor Martin Rinkart wrote the hymn "Now thank we all our God". Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices; Who from our mothers' arms has blessed us on our way With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today. Pastor Rinkart served in the walled town of Eilenburg during the horrors of the Thirty Years War of 1618-1648. Eilenburg became an overcrowded refuge for the surrounding area. Because of overcrowding and all that goes with that, the fugitives suffered from epidemic and famine. At the beginning of 1637, the year of the Great Pestilence, there were four ministers in Eilenburg. But one abandoned his post for healthier areas and could not be persuaded to return. Pastor Rinkhart officiated at the funerals of the other two. The only pastor left, he often conducted services for as many as 40 to 50 persons a day-some 4,480 in all. In May of that year, his own wife died. Yet living in a world dominated by death, Pastor Rinkart wrote the following prayer as a blessing for his children to use at meals: Now thank we all our God With hearts and hands and voices; Who wondrous things hath done, In whom this world rejoices. Who, from our mother's arms, Hath led us on our way, With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today. We have a lot to thank God for. The Bible calls us to worship and thank God regardless of the circumstances. As our little history lesson reminds us, thanksgiving has nothing to do with the outward circumstances of life. Thanksgiving has to do with God and who He is and what He has done for us in Christ. Today we are going to look at Psalm 136. Psalm 136 is a Psalm of thanks and praise that was used in corporate worship in the Temple. It is thought that it was a staple song of the Temple singers. At it's core, Psalm 136 is a Psalm that of thanksgiving; and yet it's more for over and over again it makes the point that all of the good things that we have from God prove His love us-- a love that many deny. The point of God loving us with an enduring love is made 26 times. READ TEXT --invite congregation to respond with "His love endures forever" (see slide) POINTS OF THE TEXT I. God alone is worthy of praise and thanks v.1-4 Who should we thank for all that we have? Verses 1-4 answers the question. The Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth is the one whom we should praise. We live in a world that proclaims that their are many gods and many ways to get to Heaven. The Bible refutes this time and time again-- proclaiming that their is one true God and one way to Heaven (through faith in Jesus Christ alone). See John 14:6, Acts 4:12, I Samuel 2:2, 2 Samuel 7:22, Deuteronomy 4:35;39, I Kings 8:60, Isaiah 44:8; 45:6, 18, 22 Mark 12:32, Joel 2:27, Isaiah 46:9 The point of the text: There is one true God- the Maker of Heaven and Earth, the one who alone does great wonders. Worship Him. II. We have much to thank God for As it says in James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" 1. Thank God for the amazing world He has made v.5-9 Psalm 19:1-4 says; "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. 2. Thank God for his redeeming work v. 10-15 In view in v.10-15 is God redeeming Israel from her bondage in Egypt. What we have in view as Christians is God's redeeming us from our sin and death and Hell-- accomplished on the cross by Christ, his death and His resurrection. Romans 5:8 says; "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." None of us deserve to be forgiven of our sins. We all deserve to go to Hell for our 1000's of acts of rebellion against God. Yet, as the ultimate demonstration of God's love for a rebellious race, we have been given the opportunity to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. 3. Thank God His leading, help, protection, and provision v.16-20 Yesterday there was a massive earthquake in Chile. One person who lived on the 19th floor of an apartment building spoke of an elevator car that plunged from the 6th floor into the basement. This person said "Thank goodness no one was in the car". Thank goodness? How about thank God! In view in v.16-20 is God's leading of the Israelites through the wilderness (providing food for them, giving them victory over enemies who were more powerful than them) 4. Thank God for His faithfulness to His promises v.21-22 God keeps His promises. God's perfect track record, as recorded in the Scriptures is what encourages us to keep on going as Christians. In Genesis 12 God promised Abraham land, seed, and blessing. The land in mind is part of the land the Israelites occupy. God kept His promises in settling the Israelites in the Promised Land. In 2 Corinthians 1:20 it says; "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ." 5. Thank God for his ongoing grace that sees us restored after falling into sin v.23-24 It's an incredible thing to be restored after having sinned. God does it all the time. Note the story of Peter who denied Christ 3 times. In view is the time that the Israelites spent in captivity (because of her persistent sin and rebellion)--- and yet God kept His word and brought them home Note: When we fall into sin we are to confess it, seek God's forgiveness, make amends, and thank God that we who are Christians have one who speaks in our defense when we do sin. As I John 2:1 says; "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." 6. Thank God for your daily bread v.25 To God we are to pray for our daily bread (Matthew 6:11) WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE THANK GOD FOR? III. All of the things that we are to thank God for are proof of His love, mercy, favour, and grace The repeated refrain of Psalm 136 speaks to this. People like to debate if God is loving, merciful, kind, or gracious; and yet, all that we have, including the last breath that we took, proves it. Some thoughts on God's favour, grace, mercy, lovingkindness (which is the meaning of "hesed") God's grace and mercy, which we are to celebrate, is undeserved, it is unmerited, we have no claim upon it. We deserve judgment and yet the Bible tells us that God is rich in mercy and grace, takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked and is pleased when people humble themselves, confess their sins and put their faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. The enduring love/favour/grace of God is incredibly encouraging -it is a comfort to us as we grow old, knowing that God will not abandon us. Isaiah 46:4 says; "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." -it is a comfort to us when we sin (for he does not cast His children aside. We are kept by His love and the work of Christ) -it is a comfort to those who come to God for forgiveness -for his enduring lovingkindness means that the offer of salvation and forgiveness is for today- regardless of how old one may be or what they have done CONCLUSION The ultimate expression of God's love and mercy is Christ-- who while we were yet sinners, died for us. Romans 5:8 Another verse that makes the point This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 Application In you are not a follower of Christ, turn to Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and reconciliation with God while you can. Do not spurn his love or mercy any longer. To do so is folly and will respond in your judged eternally. Rather, as we are told in Acts 16:31, which speaks of the jailor calling out to Peter and Paul "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? To which they replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." |