The Song of Thanksgiving

Psalm 100

What Are You Thankful For: "For automatic dishwashers because they make it possible for us to get out of the kitchen before the family comes back in for their after-dinner snacks."

"For husbands who attack small repair jobs around the house because they usually make them big enough to call in the professionals."

"For children who put away their things & clean up after themselves. They’re such a joy you hate to see them go home to their own parents."

"For teenagers because they give parents an opportunity to learn a second language."

"For smoke alarms because they let you know when the turkey’s done."

The day before Thanksgiving an elderly man in Toronto called his son in Calgary and said to him, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; 45 years of misery is enough. We’re sick of each other, and so you call your sister in Vancouver and tell her."

Frantic, the son called his sister, who exploded on the phone. "Like heck
they’re getting divorced," she shouted, "I’ll take care of this." She called
immediately, and said to her father, "You are NOT getting divorced. Don’t do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother back, and we’ll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don’t do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?" The man hung up his phone and turned to his wife. "Okay, honey. The kids are coming for Thanksgiving and paying for their flights."

PSALM 100 TEACHES US SOME THINGS ABOUT BEING THANKFUL.

* FIND 3 PRINCIPLES OF THANKSGIVING

lit. "to shout in triumph" or "to applaud."

* As a celebrity or president is cheered at his appearing

-- so we should cheer for our God.

* SPORTS FANS UNDERSTAND

- excitement builds as the fans await the team to take the field.

- When the players appear, the fans shout and cheer.

** THIS IS PRECISELY WHAT THE VERSE IS SPEAKING OF HERE.

— some of you are saying, "But I am reserved in my worship."

- not so reserved away from the church

** A FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLE OF THANKSGIVING IS THAT GOD'S PEOPLE ARE TO SHOUT FOR JOY.

* WHEN WE COME TO CHURCH - WE HAVE GATHERED TO CHEER ON THE

1. WE RISE AND SHOUT TO THE - Captain of the Lord of Host (Josh. 5:14) - Arm of the Lord (Isa. 51:9-10) - Lord Mighty In Battle (Ps. 24:8)

* WHO FIGHTS FOR US AND IS OUR PROTECTOR.

2. WE CHEER ON - Star of David - Bright and Morning Star (Rev. 22:6) - Alpha & Omega (Rev. 1:8) * WHO IS OUR ETERNAL HOPE

3, WE RISE IN THE BLEACHERS TO HONOUR OUR HERO - Rock of our Salvation - Deliverer (Rom. 11:26) - Great Shepherd of the Sheep (Heb. 13:20) - Commander of the People (Isa. 55:4) - Captain of our Salvation - Author and Finisher of our Faith (Heb. 12:2)

* WHO HAS REDEEMED US FROM THE PIT OF HELL AND BROUGHT US INTO HIS MARVELOUS KINGDOM.

4. WE GIVE A STANDING OVATION AND SHOUT THE WORDS OF PRAISE AND ADORATION - Lord God Almighty - King Over All The Earth (Zec. 14:9) - Prince of the Kings of the Earth (Rev. 1:5) - Dayspring on High (Lk. 1:78) - Mighty God (Isa. 9:6) - King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

* WHO RULES OVER US WITH LOVE, AND MAJESTY AND HOLINESS.

* SHOUT TO THE LORD - HALLELUJAH GLORY TO THE LAMB - PRAISE THE LORD

Heb = "to labour as tilling the ground."

- many times we serve complaining - this is not worship

- When we serve with gladness, God receives our service as worship.

* WE ARE TO WORK HARD AT GLAD SERVICE

* WE ARE TO WORK HARD AT WORSHIP

"The invitation to worship here given is not a melancholy one, as though adoration were a funeral solemnity, but a cheery, gladsome exhortation, as though we were bidden to a marriage feast." (Spurgeon)

— our hearts overflow with joyful adoration.

* NOT JUST SINGING - SINGING IN HIS PRESENCE - REJOICING IN OUR GOD

His presence

- worship is not just words - but entering His presence to adore Him.

Happy - Rejoicing

- Part of a heartfelt thanksgiving is to lift our voices in praise and adoration of our Lord. Music was designed by God as an emotional response to Him.

Let those refuse to sing

Who never knew our God;

But children of the heavenly King

May speak their joys abroad. (Isaac Watts)

* Ignorance inhibits thanksgiving. It is impossible to be thankful for blessings that you are not aware of. KNOW GOD TO WORSHIP HIM

* 3 Things We Need To Know In Worship

KNOW = "to distinguish or to recognize."

* We must realize His authority.

* HE AND HE ALONE IS LORD AND GOD.

- People often don’t like to admit that the Lord rules and reigns - or allow God His proper place.

* Thanksgiving & worship require submission to the rule of Almighty God in our lives.

Our world revels in the image of the self-made man. - No such thing.

- Can the painting rise up and chide or correct the painter?

- Can the building deride the architect?

- Can the novel mock the author?

- How then can God's creation rise up and ignore Him?

* ONLY THOSE WHO RECOGNIZE HIS GODHEAD WILL HAVE A HEART TO WORSHIP

- we are the created - He is the creator

His Special People

NOT ONLY DO WE BELONG TO GOD IN CREATION, BUT WE ALSO ARE HIS BY BIRTH. - We are His kindred, His family.

- What a joy to realize that the great fashioner of the universe is our friend, neighbor, and family.

We are His special possession.

* It is our privilege to be guided by His wisdom, tended by His care, and fed by His bounty.

* WHY WOULDN’T WE SHOUT AND THANK HIM

* THERE IS A PROGRESSION TO THANKSGIVING.

Gates = gates of city and gates of Temple

Praise Inhabits the Temple of God.

- like incense that filled the House of God.

- when we come to worship it is not just to receive but Give Thanks and Praise.

* RIGHT TO PRAISE GOD IN PUBLIC WORSHIP

* RIGHT TO PRAISE GOD AND BE THANKFUL IN OUR PUBLIC LIVES.

- Do people know to whom we belong.

- Do our lives reflect thanks and praise to our God

- Do we exude praise and thankfulness to others?

COURTS = wherever we are

- home or in the courts of God.

* PRAISE IS PERSONAL TO YOU

- expression of your heart.

- thankful for who you are and what you’ve done in my life.

* Praise means heartfelt adoration.

It should be heartfelt and moving.

It is not an imitation or just an outward show of emotion.

It comes from deep inside the soul, and merges with the Spirit of God.

Gates — Courts - Presence of God Himself

. * HOW MANY OF GOD'S PEOPLE ACTUALLY ENTER INTO THIS PRIVILEGED PLACE OF THANKSGIVING IN HIS PRESENCE.

This is as private and personal as worship can get. It has no audience or co-worshippers. We are to bless his name.

- This means "to kneel in adoration."

* HE IS THE OBJECT OF OUR PRAISE AND THE CENTER OF OUR THANKSGIVING.

The psalm closes with an impassioned description of our great God.

* AW, FOLKS, ISN’T THE LORD GOOD!

* Those who know Him, know He is good.

- He is our Saviour, our protector and our always-faithful friend.

- Tempted to question His goodness, but we know that all things work for good to those who love God.

Mercy: not giving us what we deserve.

His mercy is perpetual, never-ending. His goodness and mercy are great reasons to give thanks.

* GOD IS A GOD OF HIS WORD.

- What He says He will do. Every promise He made is true.

* WE REST IN THE TRUTH OF HIS WORD

- Bible directs our lives.

- Bible anchor for our lives. - gives direction

- Covenant will be kept.

- Sometimes things look grim and it appears that evil will triumph.

But God’s Word is true and the best is yet to come.

- We may not understand it all now,

" But we’ll understand it all by and by."

In 1741, at the age of 57, George Frideric Handel’s life was in shambles. He was hopelessly in debt and severely depressed.

- A poet by the name of Charles Jenners delivered to Handel a collection of biblical excerpts under the title of "A Sacred Oratorio".

- With little interest, Handel began turning the pages.

- "He was despised and rejected of men", he read, and was touched for he too was despised and rejected.

* Something began to happen to Handel. The words began to reverberate in his soul.

" Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

* Handel began to write and compose. He remained in seclusion for 24 days! Sometimes his food was untouched. At times he would jump and wave his hands, shouting, "Hallelujah! - Hallelujah".

- Later Handel recalled, "I think I did see all heaven before me, and the great God Himself."

* Now over 250 yrs later, every Christmas and Easter, crowds of people sweep into auditoriums all over the world and hear the HALLELUJAH CHORUS.

" King of Kings and Lord of Lord - Hallelujah - Hallelujah."

SHOUT AND MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TO THE LORD.