Friday, November 10, 2006

Some thoughts on Thanksgiving (part 4)


A PSALM OF PRAISE or THANKSGIVING

"1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." (Psalm 100:1-5)


This Psalm is classified as “A Psalm of Praise or Thanksgiving.” Here God invites everyone (“all ye lands”) to render praise unto Him. God did not intend to save a few, to reach merely one nation (i.e. Israel) but rather through Israel, other nations can be blessed (see Gen. 12:3). Even in the Old Testament, God is interested in the salvation of mankind. True worship of the LORD is not subdued, rather it was expressly loud. Again great liberty is given to God’s people in regards to thanksgiving. In fact, according to some commentaries, this is the psalm that they would sing when offering their thanksgiving sacrifice. Sharing a testimony of God’s goodness is certainly part Bible thanksgiving and we as Christians, of all people, should not hold back.

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