CALLED TO BE THANKFUL (2)

“Let us come before His presence with THANKSGIVING; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms” – Psalm 95:2

Believers in Christ are CALLED to be THANKFUL not just for what God gives but for Who He is: “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with THANKSGIVING; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms” (Psa.95: 1-2). This psalm is a Call to be thankful to God. Thanksgiving cannot be divorced from praise. When we are thankful for something, we are acknowledging someone else's deeds or character. When we say “Thank you,” in a sense we are praising; recognizing that someone is or has done something that has a positive effect in our life. We can’t be thankful to no one, and we can't be thankful and not praise.

However, Gratitude to God is essential, not only for the sake of the good things that He bestows; but for the Great God that He is – “the great King above all gods” (v.3). God’s people were inviting one another to the great privilege of worshiping the Lord. Psalm 93 speaks of His Kingship: “The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The Lord is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength. Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved. Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting” (Psa.93: 1-2). God is King over creation: it is His, He made it, and He rules over it all. “The deep places of the earth” are in His hand – under His Authority; and even “the heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land” (vv.4-5). Nothing escapes His Authority!

The author of Psalm 95 invites us to be thankful for God’s Salvation, for His Character, and for His Deeds. In verse one He invites us to sing to the Lord, and “shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.” We are to be thankful for His Salvation. Next is thankfulness for His Character: “For the Lord is the great God, and the great King above all gods” (v.3). The following verses focus on His marvellous deeds, and creation. He created us. He created and sustains everything. He also calls us to thank Him for His identity as our God and our identity as His people.

What a Wonder, that such a Majestic King would pledge Himself to us, making us the sheep of His Hand: “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand” (vv.6-7). Therefore, the worship offered to Him must be both exuberant praise – “sing to the Lord...shout joyfully...with thanksgiving...with psalms” and humble worship – “bow down...kneel” – before His Majesty (vv.2, 6). The whole person, spirit, soul, and body, must offer Thanksgiving!