By now most of us have wrapped up
our Thanksgiving Dinners. All across America families gathered at the table and
many said prayers of thanksgiving. For some families this is a once a year
thing. Other families will offer thanks but to whom will they offer it? God has
become a second thought for many. That is bad enough but for others
thanksgiving was offered up to the gods of nothingness. Psalm 106 is the story
of Israel and their treatment of God in their hot and cold treatment of Him. It
will serve us well to look at their history and find parallels in our own
relationship with God.
Psalm 106:1-5
Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD, or declare all his praise? Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times! Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people; help me when you save them, that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.
Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD, or declare all his praise? Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times! Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people; help me when you save them, that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.
This is what we want from God. We
want to praise Him in the good times and we want justice to happen to others
not like us, but we want grace to be applied to ourselves.
Oh how we are like the nation
Israel; both individually and as a nation.
Psalm 106:6-7
Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness. Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the Sea, at the Red Sea.
Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness. Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the Sea, at the Red Sea.
As soon as things get a little
tough we forget what Jesus did for us at Calvary. We rebel against Him.
Psalm 106:8
Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power.
Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power.
God did not send His only Son,
Jesus, to die for us because we are really nice people. He did it for His name’s
sake and in that act on the cross we see the mighty power of resurrection.
Much of this psalm describes the
way Israel repeatedly sought God when in trouble, then went right back to their
idols after the dust settled. This history could describe ours as well. Thanksgiving
is over. This marks the beginning of the Christmas season and tomorrow is known
as Black Friday. It is a day when the idol of money and materialism takes over.
It begins a season of partying. As Christians will this season be consumed by
our sharing the gospel or will we just party with the world?
Psalm 106:34-35
They did not destroy the peoples, as the LORD commanded them, but they mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did.
They did not destroy the peoples, as the LORD commanded them, but they mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did.
How many more children will die at
the hands of abortionists? Observe the words of this psalm and tell me we are
any less guilty than they.
Psalm 106:37-39
They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood. Thus they became unclean by their acts, and played the whore in their deeds.
They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood. Thus they became unclean by their acts, and played the whore in their deeds.
There were consequences for the
acts of Israel and there are consequences for ours as well.
Psalm 106:40-41
Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, and he abhorred his heritage; he gave them into the hand of the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them.
Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, and he abhorred his heritage; he gave them into the hand of the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them.
But praise God we live in the
season of grace.
Psalm 106:43-45
Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes and were brought low through their iniquity. Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry. For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes and were brought low through their iniquity. Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry. For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
Do not let today be a single event
but make praise and thanksgiving encapsulate your entire existence. Make today
a beginning of the Christmas season. Make it the beginning of a life of prayer,
praise, and of worship. Let this be your opening prayer:
Psalm 106:47-48
Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, "Amen!" Praise the LORD!
No go out into the
world and make Christmas the season of Christ
Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, "Amen!" Praise the LORD!
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