SERMON: CHOOSING TO BE GRATEFUL

 

Naylor Community Christian Church

Naylor, Georgia 

I.  Introduction

            -- turn in Bibles to Romans 1:18-23

 

Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

 

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

 

            -- in my office, I have two coworkers who both had babies over the last year – and listening to them talk to each other about their babies and their experiences with them, it seems like there is one thing they both agree on – babies complain a lot

            -- we all know that – when things aren’t good for a baby – when they’re hungry or tired or have a wet diaper – when they get too cold or too hot – when their needs or their wants are not getting met the way they think they should, they cry – that’s how babies complain – it’s how babies say, “I’m not happy with this – something is wrong in my life, and I am going to complain until it gets better”

            -- this is normal for a baby – they can’t take care of themselves – they can’t do anything on their own to improve their situations or meet their needs – and so, they cry and complain until their parents or someone else does something to take care of their problems

            -- but in listening to these two young parents talk about their shared experiences with their babies, it occurred to me that I have the same thing going on at work, too – except my complainers are not babies – they’re adults

 

            -- I spend a good amount of time every day listening to people complain – they complain about their work -- this project is stupid – why are we doing this – why do we have to tell the boss the same thing over and over

            -- they complain about their work conditions – my internet is too slow – my email is not working – my office is too cold – the lights are too bright – someone heated up fish in the microwave again

            -- and they complain about each other – this person keeps talking too much – this person won’t return my calls – this person isn’t doing their part – my boss doesn’t listen to me

            -- it just goes on and on and on

 

– a couple of months ago, I called a meeting because we had a project that wasn’t getting done – it required two people from two different offices to work together to make sure their data was correct and that we were ready for an audit – so, I brought them in – showed them the discrepancies in the data – and told them they needed to get together and get this corrected and I gave them two weeks to get it done

            -- fifteen minutes after the meeting, I had one of them come to my office, close the door, and complain about the other person for thirty minutes – about how they were the problem and they’re the reason everything is wrong

            -- they left – and it wasn’t a few minutes later, the other person came to my office, closed the door, and complained about the first guy – for thirty minutes, they pointed out why they were the problem and weren’t doing their job correctly

 

            -- and I bring this up – not to complain – but to make a point – we have turned into a people who are acting like babies and who spend all our time complaining and murmuring and grumbling about everything in life

            -- I’m not telling you anything that you don’t know – everyone in here uses some type of social media or follows the news – and you see it every single day – post after post after post filled with negativity and grumbling and complaining – it is rare to see any good news or to hear anyone say anything good anymore

            -- and we experience it when talk to each other, too -- Research shows that most people complain once a minute during a typical conversation¹

            -- does that describe you? – I think it certainly describes me – I’m just as guilty of this as my coworkers are and my friends on social media – this has gotten out of hand – and I think it’s time for us to take a hard look at ourselves and see if we, too, aren’t people who are living like this – because the Bible tells us that this is not the way we should be

 

– I wanted to read this passage from Romans to get us started this morning to just point out how God feels about people who are negative and complain and never are grateful in their lives

            -- in this passage where Paul is talking about sinful humanity – about the godless and wicked people in this world who have rejected God and the word of God – he makes a point here about their attitude towards life and towards the things they have in their lives

            -- look at verse 21 again

 

Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

 

– out of all their sins – out of all their wicked behavior – Paul points out a particular one that was a big problem – although they knew God, they didn’t glorify Him or give thanks to Him

            -- instead, the implication here is that they did the opposite – they ignored God – they ignored His blessings – and complained about their lot in life – and that led to futile thinking and darkened, foolish hearts

 

            -- when you spend all your time complaining, it affects who you are and how you think and what you do – science agrees with the Bible on this

            -- I don’t want to spend a lot of time on this, but I do want to point out what scientists and psychologists and social workers are saying about the negative effects of complaining and what happens to us when we absorb so much negativity in our lives

-- research says that complaining affects our health – people who complain and who have a negative outlook on life are more likely to suffer sickness and death than those who are optimists – it affects our mental and emotional health – it makes us negative and cynical people – and research from Stanford University shows that the habit of complaining can also affect the physical structure of your brain – complaining shrinks the hippocampus and causes changes in your brain similar to those we see in people with Alzheimer’s Disease

-- and if that’s not enough to be worried about, studies have shown that complaining rewires the synapses in our brains – it literally rewires our brains to make future complaining more likely – over time, we find out it’s easier to be negative all the time rather than to be positive, regardless of what’s happening around us¹

– complaining becomes our default behavior – it becomes who we are – and that affects us physically – emotionally – behaviorally – and spiritually

 

-- so, what can we do about it? – first, we need to realize that gratitude is not a reaction – it’s a decision – it’s something that we choose to do – all of us can become people of thanksgiving and gratitude by choice and through the power of the Holy Spirit within us

-- and, over time, we will learn how to give God the thanks and glory He deserves – whether we are experiencing blessings in our lives or whether we are in the midst of a storm

-- to become truly grateful and thankful people, we need to learn the Four As of Gratitude:  Appreciation – Approval – Admiration – and Attention

-- and to help you learn them and see how to apply them in your lives, I want us to turn over to Exodus 15 and look at how the Israelites expressed all four of them in their response to God following their deliverance from Egypt

 

II.  Scripture Lesson (Exodus 15:1-22)

-- if you would, please turn over to Exodus 15:1, and we’ll start there

-- while you’re turning over there, let me briefly give you the context and background of this passage – Exodus 15 occurs immediately after the parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of the Egyptian army by God

-- this comes after God has sent Moses to Egypt to free His people – and Moses and Aaron had appeared before Pharaoh and his court multiple times telling them what God had commanded – that Pharaoh was to let the Israelites go – to free them from their captivity and slavery – but, as you know, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he refused, even after suffering through the 10 plagues that God sent

-- it was after the last plague – the death of the firstborn throughout the land – that Pharaoh initially relented and let the Israelites leave and begin their journey to the Promised Land – but he changed his mind and sent his army after them – with armed men and warriors in chariots too numerous to count

-- they pinned the Israelites against the shore of the Red Sea – and with no way out – with no hope for survival – they cried out to God – and He parted the Red Sea – allowing the Israelites to walk across on dry land – when the Egyptians tried to follow, the sea crashed over them – drowning the army and destroying the chariots at the bottom of the sea

-- Exodus 15 is the story of the nation of Israel standing on the distant shore of the Red Sea – watching as the water has covered the dry land once again and as the army of Egypt has been destroyed – and realizing that they were indeed saved from the hand of Pharoah

 

-- so, look now at verse 1, and let’s start our journey towards understanding thanksgiving and gratitude there

-- Exodus 15:1-2

 

Exodus 15:1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:

 

“I will sing to the Lord,

    for he is highly exalted.

Both horse and driver

    he has hurled into the sea.

 

2 “The Lord is my strength and my defense;

    he has become my salvation.

He is my God, and I will praise him,

    my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

 

            -- here we see the first A of Gratitude – Appreciation

            -- Moses and the Israelites all join together in a spontaneous song inspired through the Holy Spirit, giving thanks and praise to God for what He has done

            -- they recognize God’s hand in their deliverance – and even though the text doesn’t say this, I can picture the nation on their knees on the sand there by the Red Sea as they dropped down in relief because they are still alive and in praise and worship to God

            -- they sing out to God for He is highly exalted – He is worthy of all praise – in appreciation, they declare God to be their strength and their defense – they acknowledge they are saved solely because of Him and not because of anything they had done

            -- on their own, they faced sure and certain defeat – on their own, they faced death and destruction – but through God, they were delivered from the hand of Pharaoh and his army

            -- the nation comes together as one and affirms that God is their God – and proclaims that they will exalt Him in appreciation for His blessings and deliverance and salvation

 

            -- verse 3-12

 

Exodus 15:3 The Lord is a warrior;

    the Lord is his name.

4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army

    he has hurled into the sea.

The best of Pharaoh’s officers

    are drowned in the Red Sea.[b]

5 The deep waters have covered them;

    they sank to the depths like a stone.

6 Your right hand, Lord,

    was majestic in power.

Your right hand, Lord,

    shattered the enemy.

 

7 “In the greatness of your majesty

    you threw down those who opposed you.

You unleashed your burning anger;

    it consumed them like stubble.

8 By the blast of your nostrils

    the waters piled up.

The surging waters stood up like a wall;

    the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.

9 The enemy boasted,

    ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them.

I will divide the spoils;

    I will gorge myself on them.

I will draw my sword

    and my hand will destroy them.’

10 But you blew with your breath,

    and the sea covered them.

They sank like lead

    in the mighty waters.

11 Who among the gods

    is like you, Lord?

Who is like you—

    majestic in holiness,

awesome in glory,

    working wonders?

 

12 “You stretch out your right hand,

    and the earth swallows your enemies.

 

            -- in these verses, we see the second A of gratitude – Approval – and here the people remember and recount the mighty deeds of God on their behalf

            -- they speak of God as the mighty warrior who hurled Pharoah’s chariots and army into the sea and drowned his best officers

            -- they proclaim God’s majesty and power – of His mighty right hand that shattered the enemy before them

            -- they speak of God’s burning and righteous anger – how He moved against the Egyptians because of their injustice and unrighteousness and pride

            -- at the time of the exodus, Egypt was the unparalleled world power – it was the world’s greatest government – it controlled trade – it exerted its demands on other nations – Pharaoh ruled the world through the power of his armies and Egypt’s economic might

            -- so, when the nation of Israel fled Egypt, the people of Egypt boasted and proclaimed that they would pursue them and overtake them and destroy them – but just like the people we read about in Romans 1, they forgot about the Lord – and God moved in a mighty way that defined the people of Israel forever

            -- He parted the Red Sea with His breath to allow the Israelites to escape, and then covered the Egyptian army with it once again – His power was shown to be greater than the most powerful nation on earth – and so, the people of Israel sing out in praise and worship and thanksgiving in verse 11, “Who is like you, O God? – Who among the gods – meaning the idols and the manmade powers and governments of the world – who compares to the Lord God Almighty? – You are awesome in glory, working wonders for Your people – you stretch out Your right hand, and the earth swallows all your enemies”

            -- so, the Israelites sing in approval of who God is and what He has done – and then they move to the next phase of gratefulness

            -- the Third A of Gratitude – Admiration

 

            -- verse 13-18

 

Exodus 15:13 In your unfailing love you will lead

    the people you have redeemed.

In your strength you will guide them

    to your holy dwelling.

14 The nations will hear and tremble;

    anguish will grip the people of Philistia.

15 The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,

    the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,

the people[c] of Canaan will melt away;

16     terror and dread will fall on them.

By the power of your arm

    they will be as still as a stone—

until your people pass by, Lord,

    until the people you bought[d] pass by.

17 You will bring them in and plant them

    on the mountain of your inheritance—

the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,

    the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.

 

18 “The Lord reigns

    for ever and ever.”

 

 

            -- when we turn our eyes upon Jesus – when we look at Him and remember what He has done – when we lift up our eyes to Heaven and see the glory of God on His throne – we can’t help but be filled with admiration and honor and praise for God

            -- the people sang out to God about His unfailing love and submit to His Lordship and Leadership – in verse 13, they say that He will lead the people He has redeemed – that His strength will guide them to His holy dwelling – as they admire His power and goodness and might

            -- they proclaim that others will see Him and know Him because of His great and mighty acts – that the other nations around them will hear and tremble – they will be filled with fear and anguish – that terror and dread will fall on them as they come to realize how good and great and powerful the Lord God Almighty is

            -- no one will be able to move against the Israelites again because God is with them – He is their God and they are His people – they will stand as still as a stone as the people of God pass by until God brings them into the Promised Land and plants them on Mount Zion – the mountain of His inheritance – the place He has made for His dwelling and sanctuary on earth forever

           

            -- even though God has not yet given the nation of Israel the Tabernacle or the Ark of the Covenant, they still know in their hearts that God is doing something special with His people – that He will always be with them and will never leave them or forsake them – and just as the Tabernacle and the Temple were the places where God’s presence interacted with earth, it pointed towards His final kingdom and the moment when God’s presence would reside with us forever

            -- and the people sang out in praise and joy and worship to God, as they admired who He was and that He was with them and would be with them forever

 

            -- verse 19-22

 

Exodus 15:19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen[e] went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them:

 

“Sing to the Lord,

    for he is highly exalted.

Both horse and driver

    he has hurled into the sea.”

 

22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.

 

            -- the final A of Gratitude is Attention – and the message from these verses is for how we should act in light of who God is and what He has done – we should pay attention to Him – we should set our mind on Him – we should fix our eyes on Him – we should turn our hearts towards Him

            -- Miriam, Aaron and Moses’ sister, took up a timbrel – a tambourine – and led the women of Israel in dancing and jubilation as she sang praises to the Lord and called on the nation to remember the Lord God Almighty – to sing to Him for He is highly exalted – to remember what He has done – and to trust in His mighty acts in the future

 

III.  Closing

            -- Appreciation – Approval – Admiration – and Attention – these are the foundation that we must build in our lives if we are to change from being people who are negative and complain to people who are positive and who live lives of gratefulness and thanksgiving to God for all that He is and for all that He will do

 

            -- it is just so easy for us to fall into a lifestyle where we do nothing but complain and grumble and murmur about everything – and I’m speaking for myself, if not for you

            -- so, I want to encourage you this morning to really consider the harmful effects of complaining and negativity – complaining is not harmless – it’s like planting weeds in your own garden that grow up and choke out the good things and the blessings you have been given

            -- complaining all the time weakens relationships and how you are viewed – there are people on Facebook that I just hate to see their posts because I know they’re going to be negative – I know that they’re going to complain about something – and when I read them, it doesn’t make me a better person – which should make me wonder what effect I’m having on people through my posts and conversations, too

            -- and like I pointed out earlier, complaining compounds – as the physical structure and the synapses in our brains change through constant complaining – we start to see everything in life from a negative standpoint – we see everything as something to complain about

 

            -- it reminds me of the old joke about the prank that some kids played on their grandfather when he came to visit -- he had fallen asleep in the guest room, and they went and got some limburger cheese and smeared it right under his nose -- now, limburger is a really stinky cheese

            -- wasn’t very long before their grandfather woke up, and looked around and said to himself, “This bedroom stinks” -- he got up and walked into the living room, looked around, and said, “This whole house stinks” -- he opened the door and walked out to get some fresh air -- he stood in the sunshine, took a deep breath, and said, “The whole world stinks”

            -- that’s what happens to us when our lives are only filled with negative thoughts and complaints – it makes us think the whole world stinks and we can’t see the goodness and the blessings of God in our lives

 

            -- but when we start living lives of gratitude – when we choose to stop complaining and stop being negative and focus our attention on God and on giving Him thankfulness and praise on a regular basis, our lives will be transformed

            -- the focus shifts from problems to solutions – when we start to focus on the blessings instead of the problems, we naturally find ways to improve things that aren’t going well

            -- it strengthens relationships – grateful people are more pleasant to be around – no one want to have Debbie Downer as a friend – but we’d all like to have a Barnabas in our life --  someone that the Bible describes as a son of encouragement – a positive person that everyone wanted to be around -- and just like complaining compounds negativity in our lives, when we start to live lives of positivity and gratitude and thankfulness, our eyes are opened and we start to see the many blessings that God has given us – blessings that we just took for granted or ignored in the past

            -- the more positive you are, the better your life becomes – the more positive you are, the more you are grateful for the presence of God and for His blessings

 

            -- so, I have homework for you today – this is Thanksgiving week – this is the time in the US when we stop and take a day to give thanks to God for all the blessings He has given

            -- and, to be honest, a lot of us still find time to complain even as we get ready for the holiday – we’re too busy – groceries are too high – we’re tired from staying up and making dishes for Thanksgiving – there’s too much – too many people – and we have to sit next to that person whose opinion we don’t like

            -- so, here’s your homework – this week, make a special effort to think about what you are feeling and saying – and when you find yourself having a negative thought or find yourself complaining about something you are doing or someone else in the room with you, find the good in it

            -- turn your eyes towards the heavens – remember the blessings of God – and try to find something good in what would normally cause you to complain

            -- we may be busy this week, but be thankful that we are looking forward to a time to celebrate with family and friends

            -- grocery prices may be too high this year, but be thankful that you have enough money to make a good dinner regardless and that you’re getting to enjoy dishes you might not get on a regular basis – like pecan pie and deviled eggs

            -- you may be tired from all the work, but thank God that He has given you the ability to do what needs to be done and to strengthen you during the chore – it could be you need to let someone else help this year, and be thankful for that blessing

            -- there may be too many people at the table to be comfortable and you might have to sit next to that extremely opinionated relative you just can’t agree with, but thank God that the table is full and that your family member is still there

            -- find the good – turn away from the negative and spread joy and gratefulness and thanksgiving this year

            -- this is your homework for this week – and for all the weeks to come – and I’m going to try to join you in this and hopefully, God can turn us all into encouraging and positive people that are grateful for God’s blessings and who pour out God’s love to everyone we meet

            -- so, with that homework, let’s pray and get ready to celebrate a great week with family and friends

            -- Let us pray

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1 [How Complaining Rewires Your Brain for Negativity by Travis Bradberry, https://www.talentsmarteq.com/how-complaining-rewires-your-brain-for-negativity/]

 

SERMON: MINDFUL MOMENTS OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

 

Naylor Community Christian Church

Naylor, Georgia

 

I.  Introduction

            -- turn in Bibles to Psalm 111:1-10

 

Psalm 111:1 Praise the Lord.

 

I will extol the Lord with all my heart

    in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

 

2 Great are the works of the Lord;

    they are pondered by all who delight in them.

3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,

    and his righteousness endures forever.

4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;

    the Lord is gracious and compassionate.

5 He provides food for those who fear him;

    he remembers his covenant forever.

 

6 He has shown his people the power of his works,

    giving them the lands of other nations.

7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;

    all his precepts are trustworthy.

8 They are established for ever and ever,

    enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.

9 He provided redemption for his people;

    he ordained his covenant forever—

    holy and awesome is his name.

 

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

    all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

    To him belongs eternal praise.

 

 

            -- G.K. Chesterton wrote, "When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude."

            -- as someone I love and respect pointed out in a lengthy rant on Facebook one time, “I don't know why there has to be so much negativity!!! Nobody is every happy with anything, constant complaining” -- and she has a point

            -- we are a nation of whiners and grumblers -- we’re not happy unless we’re getting our way, and even if we get our way, we’re still not thankful -- we consider getting our way as nothing more than our God-given right -- an entitlement – something that we deserve simply because of who we are or where we live

            -- and when we don’t get it, it makes us grumpy and turns us into Negative Nellies, who complain about everything and everyone

 

            -- but such thinking is not scriptural and flies in the face of what God’s word teaches -- the Bible says that God is patient and long-suffering, but even God’s patience is tried when His people murmur and complain over the littlest slight or perceived injustice or discomfort in their lives -- just read the Old Testament and see how God responded to the nation of Israel’s constant whining and complaining

            -- He doesn’t like it and He doesn’t like it for a reason -- He is our God and our Creator -- He has blessed us with so many things that our hearts and souls should be responding every moment of every day with praise and thanksgiving, but yet, while we find time to complain on Facebook, we rarely find time to take a moment and count our blessings and truly thank God for who He is and what He has done

            -- so, as we are starting to turn our thoughts to Thanksgiving this year and as we recognize just how much we might have been complaining and grumpy about life lately, I thought it was fitting to take a moment and talk about this holiday and how, as God’s people, we are supposed to be living counter-culturally in this land – rather than murmuring and complaining about every little thing, we should be leading the way by showing people how to thank and praise God every day

 

            -- I really like the thought that was in a devotional I read about Thanksgiving -- the author wrote, “It could be argued that one way we know we are growing spiritually is when we look forward to Thanksgiving as much as most children look forward to Christmas” -- and let me pause in the midst of this quote to commentate -- the author doesn’t mean we are looking forward to Thanksgiving because it is a time to over-indulge in eating turkey and dressing and other goodies and to watch football with family and friends -- no, they meant to look forward to Thanksgiving as a time to actually give thanks to God -- revolutionary thinking, huh?

            -- to continue with their quote:  “It could be argued that one way we know we are growing spiritually is when we look forward to Thanksgiving as much as most children look forward to Christmas -- It isn't hard to get enthusiastic about all the good things you expect to receive [at Christmas] -- It takes more spiritual maturity to look at the good things you have already received and say "thank you" with the same enthusiasm.”

 

            -- this morning, I wanted us to start this month’s theme of praise and gratitude by looking at Psalm 111, which encourages us to be people of praise

            -- so, if you would, join me now in Psalm 111, starting at verse 1, and we’re going to go through this verse by verse

 

II.  Scripture Lesson (Psalm 111:1-10)

            -- verse 1

 

Psalm 111:1 Praise the Lord.

 

I will extol the Lord with all my heart

    in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

 

 

            -- this Psalm from an unknown writer begins with a command to the people of God -- “Praise the Lord”

-- it’s no great feat of biblical interpretation to understand that the Psalmist is urging us to remember God and to praise Him -- to lift Him on high -- to give Him honor and glory and thanksgiving for what He has done and for who He is

-- to praise God like this is the foundation of our Christian life -- to praise God is to live in the presence of God at every moment of every day – remembering what He has done and lifting His name on high -- so the writer begins this Psalm with this command – “Praise the Lord” – and notice that the word “Lord” in your Bible is in all caps – that is referring to the Lord God Almighty, calling Him by His high and holy name, Yahweh

 

            -- this command, “Praise the Lord,” is actually just one compound Hebrew word -- “Hallelujah” -- Hallelu means Praise -- Yah refers to God – so, Hallelujah literally means, “Praise God”

            -- to demonstrate that God demands praise from all His creation can easily be seen by the writer’s use of this word to start this Psalm -- Hallelujah is the only word in the world that is pronounced the same and means the same thing in every language – last week, as we were discussing All Saints Day and remembering the Kingdom of God and the saints that are part of His kingdom, we were reminded that we are part of a whole – that together with all the other believers in this world – past, present, and future – we make up the body of Christ – His Kingdom on earth – His church

-- and I think that when we see the word hallelujah and know that it is pronounced the same and means the same in every culture and country and language – this confirms that we are all part of His Kingdom -- and we are all called to thank Him and praise Him with our whole being – one body – one people – united in praise and worship to God

            -- and keep in mind we are told here in this psalm to praise God as a command -- this is a reminder to us that we should praise God even when we don’t feel like it -- praise Him in our trials and sufferings just as we praise Him when we feel blessed -- praise Him at all times -- as Deut 6:13 commands, “Honor the LORD your God, worship only him, and make your promises in his name alone.”

 

            -- the Psalmist goes on to write, “I will extol the Lord” – extol means to praise enthusiastically – so, when the Psalmist says he will extol the Lord, he is saying, “I will not only praise the Lord – I will praise Him enthusiastically – I will praise Him with my whole heart – I will praise Him with all that I am” -- even if others don’t, I will still praise God -- I will not hesitate to do what is right -- I will lift God on high -- I don’t care what the rest of you do -- I don’t care what the rest of you think -- I am going to praise the Lord, my God

 

            -- “in the council of the upright and in the assembly” -- the Psalmist says he is going to praise God, whether in the company of a few or in a corporate worship setting like this -- the example that he is giving us here is that praise should always be on our lips and in our hearts whether we are alone, with a few friends, or in the company of many believers as part of the church

 

            -- verse 2-4

 

Psalm 111:2 Great are the works of the Lord;

    they are pondered by all who delight in them.

3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,

    and his righteousness endures forever.

4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;

    the Lord is gracious and compassionate.

 

            -- in these verses the Psalmist lists the reasons why we should praise the Lord -- and there are three words that stand out to us here -- works, deeds, and wonders

            -- verse 2 talks about works -- works are what God has done for His people -- the way He has worked in our lives -- the blessings He has given us in the past

            -- verse 3 talks about deeds -- the writer expounds on God’s deeds and righteousness -- the focus of the word “deeds” in this verse in the original Hebrew is on salvation and redemption -- when it links deeds with the righteousness of God, it is literally talking about God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises of deliverance, redemption, and salvation

            -- verse 4 talks about wonders – the wonders of God, referring to His saving acts -- the miracles and signs He performs on our behalf – knowing that this Psalm was written to the people of Israel, God’s chosen people, when the writer pens these words and tells them to remember God’s wonders, they would immediately think of the deliverance of Israel from Egypt -- of God’s mighty wonders through the plagues He sent against Pharaoh -- the parting of the Red Sea -- the miracle of the manna and the quail and the water from the rock during their wilderness sojourn -- the crossing of the Jordan River into the Promised Land -- the wonders of God are the miracles He brings about in our lives

            -- the Psalmist tells us we need to ponder God’s works and deeds and wonders -- we need to consider them -- to seek them out -- to learn to open our eyes to see the blessings and the presence of God -- to recognize what He has done for us

            -- to do that, the Psalmist says, leads your heart to sing out in praise as we delight in the blessings of God

 

            -- something I’ve been reading a lot about lately is this concept called mindfulness or mindful meditation -- it is the current buzzword in popular literature -- I’m seeing it pop up on health and wellness blogs and even in the medical literature as they extol the virtues of this type of meditation

            -- the idea is to live in the moment -- to live in the present -- at every moment of the day to recognize where you are, what is going on around you, and to reflect and enjoy the moment – just yesterday, I read that this is the newest TikTok trend among the youth – to sit quietly in the moment for 15 minutes with no media – no screens – no noise – no distractions – just sitting still in the moment for 15 minutes and then reflecting on the experience

-- this idea of mindfulness certainly has spiritual application in our lives, because mindful meditation should lead to mindful moments of praise -- as we stop in the moment and just look around us and consider the blessing of God – when we pause and think about God’s grace and mercy in our lives and how He has blessed us through His works and deeds and wonders, we can’t help but thank God and sing praises to His name

 

            -- in his book, “Love Does,” Bob Goff pointed out something that I had never considered before -- while not using the term mindful meditation, Bob encouraged his readers to slow down and look around for God’s blessings -- he pointed out that the flowers growing by the road may have been ordained by God before the creation of this world to be in that exact spot as you go by just to bring color and life into your life -- that the sunrise or sunset that causes you to top and stare is a singular moment in time, given solely by your Creator for you -- no one else can experience that moment as you can -- it is a gift from God

-- we need to learn to live in the moment like that – to open our eyes – to see His blessings and His grace – His works, and deeds, and wonders – and to praise Him for His presence in our lives

            -- remembering and seeing God’s presence is a big part of what we do in the church -- spiritual markers abound in our lives -- as the Psalmist says here, God reminds us of His presence through wonders and signs -- He causes us to remember Him even in the midst of our busy lives – we just need to learn to see the signs of His grace around us

            -- to paraphrase a song lyric from Steven Curtis Chapman, “God’s fingerprints are everywhere – we just need to look for them”

            -- the sacraments and the means of grace are reminders to us of God’s presence and of His wonders and mighty acts in our lives -- as we share in Holy Communion -- as we participate in baptism – as we gather in fellowship and worship -- we are reminded of God’s faithfulness and redeeming work and we lift Him up in praise, giving Him all the honor and glory for what He has done

 

            -- in this next section, the Psalmist gives us further examples of God’s faithfulness that are worthy of our praise

           

            -- verse 5

 

Psalm 111:5 He provides food for those who fear him;

    he remembers his covenant forever.

 

            -- the word translated as “food” can also be translated as “spoil,” referring to goods and material possessions that God has gifted us – so, the Psalmist is not limiting his recognition of God’s blessings to us as just what God has given for us to eat, but rather he is urging us to remember all the blessings in our lives -- the tangible blessings of providence that keep us alive daily -- the material blessings of food and clothes and shelter -- all of this comes from the hand of God and we need to thank Him for these

            -- these are signs of the covenant, of God’s promises to us – and in referring to the covenant in this verse, the Psalmist is primarily emphasizing the covenantal promise of salvation -- of the forgiveness of sins -- of eternal life with Him

-- what we should take home from this verse is that the daily blessings of food and shelter and clothing – of homes to live in – of friends and family – of jobs and financial resources – all of these things are blessings that are part of the new covenant we have through Jesus

            -- this verse is all-encompassing -- we receive encouragement in the present as we consider the blessings He has already given in the past, which leads to confidence for the future as we reflect on God’s promise through His covenant

 

            -- vs. 6

 

Psalm 111:6 He has shown his people the power of his works,

    giving them the lands of other nations.

 

            -- to make his point, the Psalmist reminds those who are hearing his words of an example of God’s covenant blessing to their own people, the nation of Israel – verse 6 is a reminder of God’s faithfulness in bringing them into the Promised Land – not because of anything they had done – but simply because of the grace and mercy and power of God

            -- this verse is a reminder to us that God has already shown His power and greatness in His works and deeds and wonders in our pasts, too -- we can trust God with our future because He has proven His greatness in our past – and by remembering His grace to us then, we can have faith that He will take care of us in the future

-- we can praise Him for the past and we can praise Him for the future, because we have the foundation of God’s past works, deeds, and wonders that point to His providential grace in the future  

            -- the Psalmist is trying to impress on the people of Israel here that they could trust God with their future because He had delivered them many times before as He led them into the promised land – and we can do the same, as we remember and praise God for His past deliverances even as we look forward to future blessings

 

            -- vs. 7

 

Psalm 111:7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;

    all his precepts are trustworthy.

 

 

            -- God’s works are faithful and just -- in other words, God treats us fairly -- God does not exalt one above another – God does not show favoritism

            -- in William P. Young’s book, “The Shack” -- my favorite part of this book is when the main character mentions someone by name to God and He responds, “I know him -- he’s my favorite” and then when he mentions someone else, God says “Yes, he’s my favorite” -- we’re all God’s favorite -- we are all loved by Him fully and equally -- as someone once quipped, “Our pictures are all on God’s refrigerator” – when God is talking to the angels, it’s our pictures He pulls out to show them because He loves us and is proud of us

            -- God is impartial -- he is faithful and just -- He causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust -- and He died on the cross for all -- even for that person you don’t like -- even for that person you don’t think can be saved – even for that person that came from another land – even for that person who voted differently than you – He died on the cross for everyone -- even for you

            -- His blessings and His promises are faithful and just and for all

           

            -- the Psalmist points out that God’s precepts are trustworthy -- the term precept is referring to God’s word -- God’s commands -- God’s instructions and principles for living as found in His word

            -- God’s commands – God’s precepts -- are “trustworthy” -- we can trust them because they are faithful and just -- they are not given to harm us, but to help us and keep us on the right path – as Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” -- God is on our side – His words are faithful and just -- and his precepts are trustworthy and given for all of us

 

            -- vs. 8

 

Psalm 111:8 They are established for ever and ever,

    enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.

 

            -- God’s works and His blessings are steadfast and faithful and trustworthy for ever and ever -- we can trust in them – they are not like shifting sands, which are here today and gone tomorrow – the works and the blessings of God are like a firm foundation – a rock under our feet – we can stand on this rock and trust that it will be there – it will not fall – it will not fail

-- the Psalmist’s point here is that God’s blessings and precepts have been our firm foundation and something that we could trust in throughout our lives -- they are with us now -- and they will be there in our future

            -- our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever -- He will never change and His grace and providence in our lives will be constant -- God is faithful to us and deserves our praise and thanksgiving

           

            -- vs. 9

 

Psalm 111:9 He provided redemption for his people;

    he ordained his covenant forever—

    holy and awesome is his name.

 

 

            -- the greatest work, deed, and wonder God has done is His redemption carried out through His Son Jesus Christ – the forgiveness of our sins – the promise of eternal life with Him – this is the reason we gather on days like today – this is the reason we trust in God and put our faith in Him – this is the reason we put our hope in Him -- as Job said in Job 13:15, “though he slay me, yet will I hope in Him”

-- if God does nothing more for us than save us through Jesus, He has blessed us beyond eternity -- what more do we need, really, than the promise of eternity with Him? -- what can man do to us in the face of the certainty of eternal life?

            -- our trust is in His redemption -- our hope is in Him -- and we should lift Him on high every single moment of every day in praise for our salvation and redemption

            -- notice one thing here – it says that God “provided” redemption -- to provide something doesn’t mean it is used or received -- God’s redemption has been given – it has been offered – it has been provided -- but it’s still up to us whether we pick it up or not – whether we receive this gift from God and trust in it for our eternity – or if we reject it and ignore it and continue to go our own way

 

            -- you can see the Psalmist’s praise for God overflowing in this verse – he begins to use words to describe the goodness and greatness and mightiness of God such as holy and awesome -- transcendent -- omnipotent -- omnipresent -- worthy of our awe -- worthy of our worship and praise

-- when we recognize God as holy and awesome and lift Him up in praise, our praises join with the heavenly chorus around the throne, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty” 

 

            -- vs. 10

 

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

    all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

    To him belongs eternal praise.

 

            -- the fear of the Lord -- in his book, “Mere Christianity,” C.S. Lewis wrote about the numinous -- the recognition by all people everywhere that there is something or someone greater just outside the door – he pointed out that every culture in the world – every person in the world – recognizes that there is Something out there beyond us – beyond the physical world – beyond our senses

            -- have you ever been alone – perhaps at night – perhaps in nature – all by yourself – and all of a sudden, you get the feeling that you’re not alone – that something is there with you – you get goosebumps – you get a heightened sense of awareness – you know that there is something there that you just can’t see – that’s the feeling of the numinous

 

            -- and while this feeling can come upon us when we encounter any spiritual presence outside of ourselves – whether good or bad – the term numinous specifically is referring to the universal concept of a God that is above us and around us and with us – as Wikipedia explains, the idea of the numinous “is used to describe the power or presence or realization of a divinity”

            -- Lewis goes on in his writings to point out that the numinous -- this awareness of divinity -- awakened a special kind of fear that leads to awe -- that’s what the Psalmist is getting at here

 

            -- when you start living with open eyes and open hearts – when you become aware of the presence of God around you – when you are mindful of Him in your daily lives – then the fear of the Lord -- the awareness of His power and greatness and presence in our lives – comes upon you

-- this fear – this feeling of awe and wonder at being in the presence of God is defined here as the beginning of wisdom because this is the beginning of a righteous relationship with Him

            -- as we come to know God in a real and personal way – as we experience God in our lives -- as we see God and recognize Him around us every day -- we begin to live in awe of who He is and what He has done and our hearts and souls immediately respond with praise

            -- we follow His precepts -- not as a means of salvation -- but because we seek to honor and please our God and Creator – for the same way that children obey their parents – they don’t obey their parents to get out of punishment – they obey because of love – because of the relationship – and it’s the same with us as we begin to live in God and for God and with the awareness of God around us

            -- we live in the fear of the Lord – we live in praise of God – we obey His precepts and His commands – not to avoid pain and punishment – but because to do so is a means to show our love and honor and respect to Him – we do what God tells us to do because we trust Him and put our hope in Him

            -- the Psalmist closes this Psalm with the phrase, “To Him belongs eternal praise” – eternal praise – never-ending praise – praise for all eternity

-- all praise, at all times and forever, belongs to God and God alone -- He is our God, our Creator, our Redeemer, our Sustainer, our Provider, Our Lord, and our Savior -- and He is worthy of all our praise and thanksgiving

 

III.  Closing

            -- Jennifer Stellar, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, wrote an article recommending that we all conduct “spring cleaning” for our minds – she says:

 

“We share a universal problem right now.  We’re all busy and stressed, and maybe even more a self-involved because of the pandemic.  Social isolation may be contributing to a tendency to ruminate more or even be narcissistic, which is related to ego.  But experiencing awe can “quiet that ego.”

 

-- The article concludes:

 

“Researchers define awe as the mostly positive emotion you feel when you’re in the presence of something so vast you can’t immediately understand it.  Awe is often found in nature – the experience of watching the sun rise over the ocean on an empty beach or taking along hike in a dense forest.  But it can also be experienced by looking at a cityscape, listening to music or absorbing a piece of art that transports you to a sublime place.  It can make you feel small (in a good way), reminding you there’s something bigger out there.”²

 

            -- I think Jennifer Stellar has stumbled upon a greater truth without recognizing it – a truth that we see so clearly here in this psalm

            -- this experience of awe that she speaks of – that she finds in nature or in watching the sun rise over the ocean on an empty beach – while taking a long hike in a dense forest – we know as the presence of God

            -- for the fear of the Lord – the awe of being in His presence – is the beginning of wisdom and the gift that He has given to His people

            -- Stellar is right – we need awe – we need to experience it to ground us and to make us better and whole and right again – but the awe that we need to seek is in the Lord

            -- and when we begin to open our eyes and see His many blessings – when we open our hearts and receive the goodness of His love and grace and mercy – this feeling of awe will overwhelm us – and the fear of the Lord will lead us to cry out in praise and worship to the God who made us and loves us and is with us always and forever

 

            -- this is what Thanksgiving should be about – not turkeys and football and stuffed stomachs – but pausing in the midst of our lives to seek God and to experience His presence and to sing out praises and worship as we extol Him with our whole hearts and our whole lives

            -- so, with those thoughts, we’re going to close in prayer, and then we’ll join together in our final hymn of praise as we remember God and thank Him for who He is and what He has done for us

            -- and remember to always thank God with a grateful heart – to not take His blessings for granted – but to see them as the good and gracious gifts from a loving Creator that they are – and to introduce the fear of the Lord and true thanksgiving and praise into your family gatherings this year

 

            -- let us pray

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1 TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL, http://www.todayintheword.org

2 Modified from Sadiya Ansari, “The Awesome Benefits of Awe Walking,” Best Health (4-7-21)