This is a link to an overview of Biblical Giving of Thanks
Here's an outline with audio (click on the title)
Believers in Christ should give thanks always (Eph 5:20), in everything (1Thess 5:18): for provision & safety (2Cor 9:11; Ac 27:35), faith (Rm 1:18), justification (Col 1:3-5), sanctification (Rm 7:24-25), glorification (1Thess 2:13;Col 1:12), trials (Rom 5:3; 8:28), deliverance (2Cor 1:10-11), others
(Rm 16:4; 1Th 3:9), and His sovereignty (Phil 4:6; Rev 11:17), so that God is glorified (2Cor 4:15;9:11; Col 3:17) and others are edified (1Cor 14:17).
We should thank and praise God when we experience His infinite goodness and loyal love in…
A. His redeeming, gathering, answering prayer, delivering, leading us, & satisfying our needs, longings/desires
1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good: for his loyal love endures for ever. 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy 3 gathered…4 wandered in the wilderness…5 hungry and thirsty their soul fainted in them.
6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
7 And he led them by the right way, that they might go to a city to live [The delivered are led by God]
8 Oh that men would give thanks the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.
+ being redeemed, calling to God, being dependent, following His lead; - stubbornness, independence (the essence of sin) fail to follow
B. His just discipline yielding our freedom/sanctification
10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; 11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the most High: 12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labor…they fell down…none to help
13 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, he saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces.
15 Oh that men would give thanks the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For he has broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in two.
+ repenting, calling, heeding the Word/counsel; - complacency, rebellion, ignoring the Word, not cooperating with the Holy Spirit
C. His healing of even fools (repentant) with His Word, and delivering from even deserved consequences
17 Fools because of their transgression, and their iniquities, are afflicted. 18 Their soul abhorred all manner of food; and they drew near to the gates of death. 19 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
20 He sent His Word, healed them, and delivered from their destructions. [Jn 8:31-32; 17:17]
21 Oh that men would give thanks the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
+ switch objectives, sacrifice, be a loud mouth when it comes to praising God; - sin, pride, ignorance of Word, poor praise
D. His sovereign power, in spite of hurricanes and tornadoes, graciously guiding us to what’s best for us
23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; 24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. 25 For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves 26a…their soul melts because of trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distresses.
29 He clams the storm … 30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he guides them to their desired haven.
31 Oh that men would give thanks the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
+ accurate view of God, faith, gathering (Heb 10:24-26); - small grotesque God, isolation/independence
E. His “incredible” reversal of “reality” in order to bless us, recognized and hoped for by the righteous wise
33 He turns rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; 34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. 35 He turns the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. 36 And there He makes the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city to live in. [We still have responsibility]
38 He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffers not their cattle to decrease.
39 Again, they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. 40 He pours contempt upon princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness 41 Yet sets He the poor on high from affliction, and makes them families like a flock.
42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
43 Whoever is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness/loyal love of the LORD.
+ reflection/observation, hope, obedience, righteousness, humble need; - insensitivity, temporal focus, needless pride
Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:
1. What are some other things that help or hinder our giving of thanks? Can we thank God if He hasn’t done anything?
2. What makes one insensitive to what God has done or is doing? Why is it beneficial to routinely give thanks? Is thanksgiving natural?
3. How is thanksgiving related to contentment? Is giving thanks because “it could be worse” the right idea?
4. How does one give thanks while beset by an irritant, circumstance, thing, or person, for which/whom one is honestly ungrateful?
5. What can you do this week to “render unto God +for all the benefits He has shown you”? What would help/hinder your response?
No comments:
Post a Comment