Make A Joyful Shout to the LORD!

 Much of America just celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday.  Yet, how did we express our thankfulness?  To whom did we express our thankfulness?  Was our thankfulness focused primarily on the “things” that I have noting that I have more than last year or more than someone else?  Were they focused on the people that I have in my life because I realize that I would be lonely without them? 

In Psalm 100:1 the psalmist says, “Make a joyful shout to the LORD all you lands…”

The command here often translated “joyful noise” is not simply singing as we have often been challenged that we must sing out.  Some have even said that it doesn’t matter if we are on key or not because we are to make a “joyful noise.”  However, the meaning behind this statement “joyful shout” is a clear audible forceful action, a shout of triumph!

I’ve seen enough grown men watching football games to know that they respond with excitement to their teams scoring an amazing touchdown or making a great defensive play, sometimes to the detriment of their recliner.  Yet are we willing to get excited about our God and what he has done for us?   I have one friend who in his excitement for his team would pick up his 40 lb. English bulldog and toss him up and down in celebration when his team did well.  Fortunately for the dog, he was a Cubs fan, and it was rare.

Notice also in this phrase that not only was there to be a triumphant shout, but there was also to be a clear recipient.  That recipient is to be the LORD,   the covenant God of Israel and the “I AM that I AM” as Moses got to know Him. Are we so generic in our thanksgiving that we never give credit where credit is due?  Did we go through the whole thanksgiving celebration without mentioning the LORD of Creation who has blessed us?

The final part of the phrase reminds us of who is to be making this “shout of praise;” it was “all you lands”.   All mankind is to be lifting their voice in praise for the awesome deeds that he has done.  No one is exempt from the command.  Yet, many will never come to know the Almighty, All-powerful God well enough to realize that it is “in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

I hope that as you reflect upon not only Thanksgiving, but the coming celebration of the birth of our Savior that you will indeed be able to “Make a joyful shout the LORD”.  

The video edition of this is available at www.youtube.com/churchoflittleton   FW #38

# 9-10 Ten Commandments of Thanksgiving Psalm 105

Psalm 105:4–5 (NKJV)

⁴Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

⁵Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,

Today we will finish our study in Psalm 105.  We have been looking at the Ten Commandments of Thanksgiving which were first penned by David for Asaph at the dedication of the tabernacle in I Chronicles 16:7-14.

The ninth command we are told in verse four is to, “Seek His Face.”  This seek is to search for, look for with the intention of learning more information about God.  It implies a diligence or hard work in gaining that information. ^[1]  Yet here it is not just God that we are seeking but his face.   God’s people should be aware that his face can be turned away from them in grief and displeasure or turned towards them to smile upon them in favour and approval.^[2]

One can do a study of  the passages in scripture that talk about “pleasing God” or doing His will.  But does that idea of pleasing God even concern us?  Do we train our kids to seek God’s guidance and try to please him as they make decisions regarding their life plans?  Do we make decisions based on what is pleasing to God?  So that his face is shining on us?

The final commandment for us in this passage is, “Remember His Marvelous works.” Vs. 5

When we remember we recall the information or events that God has done.  His Marvelous works can be wonderful, marvelous, or amazing; but part of what makes them wonderful is the attitude of great surprise and awe over what God has done or is doing. ^[3]

The passage goes on and says to remember his wonders.  These wonders are miracles or prophetic signs that show God’s power or causes a response of awe. ^[4]

And then he finishes the statement encouraging us to remember his judgment.  It is God who will decide our legal standing in regards to his law.

This choice to remember has to be a purposeful thing.  Those who do not can quickly turn from God.   In Joshua 24 Joshua had challenged the people to “Choose you this day whom you will serve.”  They agreed to do so and to serve God all their days.  Yet as we turn just a couple of pages to

Judges 2:10–13 (ESV)  we read,  ^10”And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel. ¹¹And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. ¹²And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger. ¹³They abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.”  One generation of not remembering and the nation quit serving the LORD! 

What are we doing for our children and grandchildren?  Are we sharing with them God’s wonders?

The video version of this is available at www.youtube.com/churchoflittleton FW #25

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^[1] Ibid.

^[2] Roger Ellsworth, Opening Up Psalms (Leominster: Day One Publications, 2006), 152.

^[3] James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament), electronic ed. (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).

^[4] ibid

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

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^[1] Ibid

The Ten Commandments of Thanksgiving #5 & 6 Psalm 105

Psalm 105:2–3 (ESV)

²Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!

³Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

This passage which is reiterated from I Chronicles 16:7-14 contains what I have been referring to as the “Ten Commandments of Thanksgiving”.  In today’s segment we will consider commands five and six.

The psalmist continues, “Talk of all his wondrous works” in verse 2. 

He is saying speak, tell, make an utterance of any kind, or use your words to bring focus upon what you have been thinking about.^[1]  We are not to keep God’s works to ourselves we are to help others to see them.  He goes on saying, “of His wondrous deeds”  The Israelites in Deuteronomy 6:6–7 were told, (ESV) ⁶And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. ⁷You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”  The discussion of God’s wondrous deeds was to be a continual process.   God expected the Israelites conversation to be filled with the things of God.  Psalm 111:2 says, “The Works of God are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them.”

Finally for today we see that we are to, “Glory in His name.” vs. 3  To “Glory in” is to boast in, praise, to express words of excellence, with a focus on the confidence in God.^[2]  We can boast in our finances, our cardinals, our work, But God wants us to boast in Him and His attributes.

Jeremiah 9:23–24 (ESV) ^23”Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, ²⁴but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.””

As we grow in the knowledge of the LORD and what the LORD does in and for us we should be boasting in those things.

So in the days approaching thanksgiving and for the days following may we talk of all that God is doing and may we boast in who He is…

The video version of this is available at www.youtube.com/churchoflittleton .  FW #23

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^[1] Ibid

^[2] James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament), electronic ed. (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).

Ten Commandments of Thanksgiving #3-4

Psalm 105:1–2 (ESV)

¹Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!

²Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!

In this Psalm quoted from the tabernacle dedication by David and Asaph in I Chron. 16:7-14, we find Ten Commandments of Thanksgiving.  As we continue here today we will look at the third and fourth commands.

The last part of verse one says, “Make known his deeds among the peoples.”  We as followers of God are to reveal or make known the actions of God.  This term “people” is sometimes translated “nations”.   Though God chose Israel, they were to be a light to the gentiles and to share what he had done.  God’s desire has always been that the whole world would know Him.  We also are to share God’s work with others and not simply within the body of Christ.  Do we give credit to God for what He accomplishes?  Do we do this even at work or in town when we are around those who are not believers?  Many of us will have the opportunity to gather together with others during the upcoming holiday season.  Will we reveal to others God’s work or will we simply keep it to ourselves?

Our fourth commandment of thanksgiving comes in verse two, “Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him.” As we sing these praises notice they are to God to God and God alone.  These praises are not intended to entertain.  They are intended to give God credit where credit is due.  We need to personally accept this responsibility to be singing praises to God. And we can be thankful for those in our churches who help us to sing praises to God, who are humble enough to serve and lead us without taking credit themselves or trying to take attention away from the God of the Universe who we are to praise.

As we go through the coming days and weeks may our thoughts be so much on the things that God has done that they flow from our lips as we give Him praise and credit Him even before our friends who are unsaved.  May our voices be lifted in praise as we add melody to our thankfulness for God and our worship of Him.

To see the video version of this follow the links on our website to "First Word" or go to www.youtube.com/churchoflittleton     FW # 22