Giving Thanks to the Lord

Psalm 107:1-2

New Living Translation

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
    His faithful love endures forever.

Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!
    Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.

For Encouragement
The path to glory is always through the straits of life. The redeemed must testify to their odious journey, recounting their troubles and difficulties and how they reached their wits’ end, turned to the Lord, and experienced His mighty deliverance.

That is the testimony, which overcomes the enemy and glorifies the Lord in true worship (Rev. 11:10-11; Rm. 12:1-2) and celebrates the loving-kindness and mercy of our Lord. 

In Psalms 107, the Psalmist calls on Israel to do just that. He opens the Psalm with an appeal to the nation to thank the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.

He recounts events in their history that depict the disastrous results of sin on the nation, each following instances of their predicament, their petition to God for deliverance, God’s pardon, and their praises in response. Even when God abandoned them because of their disobedience, His goodness and mercy accompanied them. 

How, then, could Israel hold back their praise? How could He deny God the worship and glory He deserves—and how can we?

I do not know if you and I are different, but if you are, then hold back your praise. However, we both know how we would not be alive today to write and read this message had it not been for the same character and attributes of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Look back on the week, and you will see the trail of our failures stretching so far and fading into oblivion. Our disappointments can fill an eighteen-wheeler truck. Worse than that, we can see the dishonorable issues of our mouths and offensive actions that litter the road we have traversed, and we cover our faces in shame. We cannot believe we said and did any of those things.

Yet, our merciful Savior and Lord does not condemn us. He invites all who have been wearied and burdened by the circumstances of their days to come and find rest in Him (Matthew 11:28). Being a merciful and caring High Priest who has suffered through our pain and sorrow for our sake, He has empathy for our weaknesses. He knows our guilt and tendency to hold back in shame, so Jesus invites us to come boldly to the throne of His grace to receive His mercy and find grace to help in our times of need (Heb. 4:14-16).

How could we hold back our praise and thanksgiving from Him?

So, “Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies” (Psa. 107:2). Give Him thanks for His goodness and mercy! For “His faithful love endures forever” (1).

Have a glorious weekend.