Thanksgiving Message: Psalm 103

Thanksgiving Sunday– November 23^rd , 2008                   Dillon, Montana

Title:    Blessing God for His Blessed Benefits!                      Text: Psalm 103

Introduction:  Often in Scripture we read of God blessing man! We also read of men calling on God in prayer for His blessing.  But we also read that men are to bless God! Does this surprise you?

Ver. 1- All that is within me. “Let your conscience bless the Lord, by unvarying fidelity. Let your judgment bless Him, by decisions in accordance with his word. Let your imagination bless Him, by pure and holy musings. Let your affections praise Him, by loving whatsoever he loves. Let your desires bless Him, by seeking only his glory. Let your memory bless Him, by not forgetting any of His benefits. Let your thoughts bless Him, by meditating on His excellencies. Let your hope praise Him, by longing and looking for the glory that is to be revealed. Let your every sense bless Him by its fealty, your every word by its truth, and your every act by its integrity.” John Stevenson as quoted by C. H. Spurgeon

Proposition: God has blessed us and we need to bless God in return!

Transition: David tells us all about it in Psalm 103!

I.   The request to bless the Lord – vs.1-2, 20-22

Definition: Bless – In the Hebrew it comes from a root word that means to kneel.

Hence, we can ascertain the two main meaning of the word in Scripture. Subjects often kneel before a king for two reasons: 1) to pay homage, worship, and honor the king, and 2) to receive an award, recognition, or blessing from the king.  God blesses us  with all His benefits and we bless Him with praise, adoration, and thanksgiving.

A.      A call for himself to praise God – vs.1-2

1.      Undivided praise – “all that is within me!”  – vs.1

2.      Unforgotten praise – “Forget not all His benefits” – vs.2

B.     A call for angels to praise God – vs.20-21

C.     A call for God’s works to praise God – vs.22

II.     The reason to bless the Lord – His benefits! – vs.3-12

A.      Forgiveness of sin – vs.3 & 12

B.    Healing of diseases – vs. 3

Psalm 116:12-14 “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.”

C.     Redemption from destruction – vs.4

D.     Lovingkindness and tender mercies – vs.4

E.     Good things to eat – vs.5

F.      Righteous judgement – vs.6

G.     Revelation of His ways – vs.7

H.     Many facets of Mercy – vs.8 –11

III.  The requisite to bless the Lord – The Fear of God! vs.11, 13-17

A.      What it means to fear God:  The fear of God has two aspects -

1.       Terror fear – We hide from God because we know His holy justice!

2. Worship fear – We seek, draw near, and submit to God because we know His holy justice and holy love.

Terror                   Astonishment       Devotion Dread                   Awe                        Trust Trembling            Reverence             Worship

God wants us to grow in our fear of Him!

How? By reading and meditating on the Word of God!

Deuteronomy 17:18-19, The king is to learn the fear of God through the Word!

Deuteronomy 31:13, Children of Israel are to learn the fear of God through the Word!

B.     Reasons to fear God: – vs.11-17

Hebrews 9:27-28 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

1.       God is merciful to those who fear Him – vs.11-13

2.       Man’s time on this earth is short – vs.14-16

3.       God mercy is eternal – vs.17

C.  Result of fearing God – vs.18, Pr 3:7 “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”

Conclusion: The Lord has blessed us!  Let us respond in worship-fear and thanksgiving for all His merciful benefits toward us. May the Lord revive us again to bless the Lord with all that is with in us!