We have a mighty and glorious God who has done great things that cause rejoicing and should bring forth praise from thankful hearts.
Happy Thanksgiving! We have a mighty and glorious God who has done great things that cause rejoicing and should bring forth praise from thankful hearts.
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In Psalm 28, we see some very special blessings from the Lord. These blessings bring forth joy and songs of praise from the heart of God’s people. Let us take a look. “Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.” (Psalm 28:6) The psalmist prayed to God and God heard him. He says that God heard the voice of his supplications. Supplications are not just casual requests. They are earnest requests; they are earnest entreaties. The psalmist cried out to God, and God gave ear to these cries. In response to God’s answers to his cries, the psalmist bursts out in a song of praise. Hear what God did for him! “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” (verse 7) The Lord gave strength to the psalmist. He was a shield to him, a defense and a protector. The heart of the psalmist could trust in Him, and he was assured that God would give him help. Because of all this help and protection and strength from the Lord, the psalmist’s heart was filled with joy. He greatly rejoiced. His praise poured out in song to the Lord. God’s name was lifted up and extolled. Reverence and worship were given to the Lord from a thankful heart. For the people of God, “The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.” (verse 8) The psalmist ends by requesting more deliverance and more blessing from the Lord. He could do so because he had assurance that the Lord would hear his prayer and answer him. This request was for deliverance and blessings and inheritance that last forever. “Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.” (Psalm 28:9) What a great God we serve – ready to hear, strong to deliver, generous to bless, willing to help, mighty so save, and the One who can bestow an everlasting inheritance. Let us praise and thank this mighty and glorious God today! The following verses were written to Israel, but the God of Jacob is our God too, and He has given us an everlasting covenant, written and sealed with the blood of Jesus. Just think of these words and what a great, unfailing God we have!
"7) For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8) In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. 9) For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. 10) For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. 11) O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. 12) And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. 13) And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children." (Isaiah 54:7-13) Thanksgiving is drawing near for people in the USA. During this time, people often make a special effort to think of things for which to be thankful. It is a time of counting our blessings and remembering all that the Lord has done for us. There were feasts of Thanksgiving in the Bible too. Perhaps the most remarkable of these can be found in the book of Nehemiah. How the people rejoiced when the wall around Jerusalem was completed. There was singing and great sacrifices, and feasting, and sending of portions to others. There was so much joy that the noise of their celebration was heard afar off. Everyone got to benefit in some way from the celebration, even those in prison as part of the praise procession stood still right in the prison gate. The account of this is found in chapter twelve and is very exciting to read. Why do we praise God? Why do we give Him thanks? Let us take a look at the Bible and see what it says. Psalm sixty-seven is a beautiful praise psalm to God. No author is given for this psalm. The introduction simply reads, “To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song.” This psalm starts right out at the very beginning asking for the mercy and blessing of God. “God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.” (Psalm 67:1) Verse two tells why these people wanted God to bless them. It says, “That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.” When people see that God has shed His blessings upon His people and shone His face upon them, it reveals something about God to the surrounding nations. They see His care for His own, and they see that He has power to save. The knowledge of God’s power to save, His care for His own, His mercy shown to His own, and His blessings bestowed upon them should bring forth praise from all people. “Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.” (Psalm 67:3) One day the blessings of God will be known over the whole earth. Jesus will reign and the earth will be judged in righteousness. This is something for which we should give thanks and much praise to God. “O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.” (verse four) After describing how God will rule in righteousness, the psalmist again repeats, “Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.” (verse five) When Jesus shall rule and reign in righteousness, and there is singing and joy among the nations, and all the people are bringing praise to God, even more blessings will be poured out. “6) Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. 7) God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.” (verses six and seven) So, let us consider today the ways that God has shown mercy to us and blessed us and saved us. Let us bring forth His praise so that His name is lifted up among the nations, among those who do not know Him. Perhaps He will be pleased to pour out upon us even more of His blessings. Encouraging believers with the hope of the return of Jesus Christ. He is coming soon. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! |
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Hello! My name is Connie, and I live in North Carolina. The Lord has blessed me with wonderful parents, a wonderful sister, and a great church family . The past few years have been difficult in many ways, but God has been with me all the way. Much praise goes to the Lord for His guidance and wisdom in starting this website. I would also like to express my thanks to Valerie who has joyfully and willingly given of her time to help design this website and do much of the technical work. She and her family are faithful servants to the Lord. They also have gone through many trials in the past few years, but they have allowed God to use these trials to make them sweeter and more like His Son Jesus Christ. Rights:
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