"A PSALM OF"
Intro. The Ark of the Covenant has been placed in the Tabernacle that David hasprepared for it in Jerusalem with great celebration. The crowds have headed for home rejoicing. A new day has dawned for Israel, as they once again acknowledge God as Lord over the nation. David has reinstated the priesthood and appointed the priest to sing and others to play instruments before the Lord continually. David now delivers a new Psalm that he had composed for them to sing. This is the Psalm of David.
I. "GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD."
A. One of the first things that my mother taught me as a child was to say thank you whenever someone gave me something.
1. She said that it was good manners.
2. That it was proper.
B. We have so much to be thankful for.
1. I am thankful for the drug problem that I had as a child.
a. My mother drug me to Sunday School every Sunday.
b. She drug me to church every Sunday night.
c. She drug me to prayer meeting every Wednesday night.
d. She drug me to daily vacation Bible School ever summer.
e. She drug me to the wood shed whenever I disobeyed.
f. I am still under the effects of those drugs to the present day.
2. I can remember, as a child, singing in church, "Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings see what God has done, Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done."
a. One of the greatest blessings of my life is the Godly mother God gave to me and my Godly wife who is the mother of my children.
C. We remember the story from the New Testament where 10 lepers came to Jesus to be cleansed of their leprosy. He commanded them to go show themselves to the priest which was the first step that a leper had to take in order to return to society. On their way to the priest they suddenly realized that they had been cleansed, and one of ten returned to Jesus to give thanks. Jesus asked him, "Were there not ten who were not cleansed? where are the nine?"
1. I wonder how often we are not a part of the nine.
2. We daily receive so many blessings from the Lord and after a while we begin to take them for granted.
D. We are told in
Romans 1, that one of the reasons that the wrath of God will be poured out on the earth is, "Neither were they thankful."
1. Too often like king Belshazzar, we are prone to praise the gods of gold and silver, and the God in whom we depend for our very breath, we do not glorify.
E. God had just done wonderful things for David and the people. The place of worship has been established in Jerusalem, the Ark of the Covenant has has been placed in the tabernacle. The priesthood has been established, the great congregation of the people have returned home rejoicing, now David orders them to "Give thanks to the Lord."
II. "CALL UPON HIS NAME."
A. In the 116th Psalm, David asks a very thought provoking question. "What shall I render to the Lord for all of His benefits unto me?"
1. As I pondered this question, I realized that there was nothing that I could give to the Lord that He really needs.
a. Everything that I possess came from Him in the first place.
b. Anything that He might need He could create.
c. I came to the conclusion that He needs nothing from me.
2. So the question became, "What can I give to God that He wants?"
a. He wants my love. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all your heart, strength and mind."
b. "One thing is needful O my Father, one thing is needful O my Lord, That I sit at Your feet, and pour out my heart, this thing is needful O my God."
c. He wants my worship.
1. Man was created with the need to worship.
a. Look how he worships the stars in Hollywood, and the stars in the world of athletics.
b. We watch them as they go into an absolute frenzy in their worship.
c. Yet strangely enough we so often seem reluctant to worship God.
2. The Bible tells us the story of how Martha was seeking to give to Jesus some food. She was busy in the kitchen.
3. Her sister Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus worshipping.
4. When Martha complained to Jesus and asked Him to send Mary in to help her, Jesus said that Mary had chosen the better part.
a. He wants me to call upon Him.
1. David answered his own question by saying that he would take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
2. How the Lord loves for us to commune with Him.
B. How long has it been since you have called upon His name?
III. MAKE KNOWN HIS DEEDS AMONG THE PEOPLE. WITNESS TO OTHERS.
A. One of the strongest and most irrefutable testimonies that you can give is the testimony of the work of God in your life.
1. This is also one of the easiest things to share.
2. Some people do not know how to witness, they think that they must present the whole plan of salvation to a person. That might seem like a impossible task for you.
3. Just share with others your own personal testimony.
a. What Jesus means to you.
b. What Jesus has done in your life.
4. Some of you have remarkable testimonies of what you once were and what you are now.
5. Many of you like me do not have such a powerful testimony of a transformed life, but I have a great testimony of the work of God in my life, the many times He has healed my body. He has answered my prayers. He has fill me with His Holy Spirit.
6. People need to know what God has done for you, so that they can be encouraged as to what God can do for them.
IV. SING UNTO HIM, SING PSALMS UNTO HIM, TALK OF ALL HIS WONDROUS WORKS.
A. Christianity is one of the few religions that expresses their praise and love for God by singing songs in the major keys.
1. Paul wrote to the Ephesians,
EPH 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
a. When I am alone in the car I love to sing songs to the Lord.
b. Sometimes I will whistle a chorus.
2. To the Colossians Paul wrote:
COL 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
B. Talk of all His wondrous works.
1. Malachi wrote:
MAL 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD eves droped, and heard [it], and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name.
MAL 3:17 And they shall be Mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels.
2. You that speak often to each other of the Lord, He treasures you. You are His jewels.
3. Paul prayed that the Ephesian believers might know the exceeding riches of His inheritance in the Saints.
4. Or just how much God treasures you.
5. In Exodus God said to the people:
EXO 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth [is] Mine:
6. Have you ever noticed how your ear is tuned to your name?
a. You can be in a crowded room where many people are talking, and suddenly you hear your name mentioned, and immediately your ears perk up, for you want to know what they are saying about you.
b. Malachi tells us that it is somewhat that way with God. When we talk about Him to each other, He listens in on the conversation, He wants to know what you are saying about Him.
V. "SEEK THE LORD AND HIS STRENGTH."
A. I am to seek the strength of the Lord.
1. In another Psalm, David wrote, "The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid.
B. I am to seek Him with a rejoicing heart.
C. I am to seek Him continually.
VI. THIS PSALM EXHORTS US TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.
A. To give thanks unto the Lord.
B. Call upon His name.
C. Make known His deeds among the people.
D. To Sing unto Him.
E. To seek Him.
Verse-Reference
Square — [Jhn 1:1 KJV]
Abbreviate Books
Use SBL Abbrev.
