Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Ten Commandments of Thanksgiving # 7-8


Psalm 105:3–4 (ESV)
3Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
4Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Our ongoing study in this Psalm that David presented to Asaph at the dedication of the tabernacle in I Chronicles 16:7-14, brings us to the # 7-8 of the “Ten Commandments of Thanksgiving”.  I trust you have been encouraged in your thanksgiving and praise to God from these studies.

In verse three the seventh command is   “Let the Heart Rejoice”.
To rejoice is to be glad, delight in, be elated, to have a feeling or attitude of joy and happiness.  It often has a focus of making an outward expression of that joy. [1]  This outward expression would be seen in the body language and facial expressions of he that is rejoicing.  But it will also be expressed in their speech.  Luke 6:45c. says, “For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”  Those who are truly seeking the Lord it will be revealed in the rejoicing verbally if that is what is in their heart.

We have to be careful not to let the cares of this life get us down so much that we can no longer rejoice in the Lord.  Our job and our circumstances should never replace this.

The eighth command is, “Seek the LORD and His Strength” vs. 4  As believers our natural inquiry should be in trying to know more about the LORD than we have previously known before.  Paul said, “That I may know Him and the Power of his resurrection.” This term seek is not just a casual looking but implies intensity.

Mt. 6:33  - “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”  Paul similarly stated in Col. 3:1-2 “…seek those things which are above, where Christ is setting at the right hand of God.  Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Do we put effort into knowing the LORD and his Strength?  Here we are challenged to do just that.  The natural outgrowth of Thankfulness to God is to seek to know Him more.

I hope that as we go through the coming days we may all let our hearts rejoice as we seek the LORD and His Strength.

The video version of this is available at the "First Word" section of www.fbclittletonil.org  FW # 24
[1] Ibid

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