Steven A. Bush - November 20, 2022
Oh Give Thanks to the LORD!
Psalm 107:1, 8-9 says: "Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! ...Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things." (ESV) Psalm 107 is a congregational call to worship and give thanks. It's addressed to those sorely impacted by the Babylonian invasion, i.e. exiles. Some were refugees who'd fled to desert places. Others were POW's hauled off by their captors. But now the exiles have been returned home. This psalm's rightfully a call to thanksgiving. Even in the midst of trials, thanksgiving is in order. That's because God is a good God, ever worthy of our praise and thanksgiving. Believers down through time have chosen to give thanks in times of hardship because they hold in their hearts the promise of better days to come. The famous hymn writer, Isaac Watts wrote of this glorious future: "How astonishing will be the glory and the joy of that day when all the saints shall join together in one common song of gratitude and love, and of everlasting thankfulness to this Redeemer! With that unknown delight, and inexpressible satisfaction, shall all that are saved from the ruins of sin and hell address the Lamb that was slain, and rejoice in His presence!" Amen and Amen!
Scripture References: Psalms 107:1-9