The Thanksgiving Psalm

What is the point?

Why Thanksgiving Sacrifices?

The physical act of lighting something on fire does not please God. (See Isaiah 1:11) The meat, bread, and blood in themselves do not matter to God. So why did He command the sacrifices of thanksgiving?

The Thanksgiving Psalm

Thanksgiving sacrifices were accompanied by thanksgiving psalms. Studying thanksgiving psalms helps us understand the reason and purpose for thanksgiving sacrifices.

The Thanksgiving Psalm

Praise Psalms & Thanksgiving Psalms: Same idea, different focus. Praise Psalms Praise God for His general attributes and works. Thanksgiving Psalms Praise God for specific acts in dayto-day life.

The Thanksgiving Psalm

Praise Psalms & Lament Psalms: Two sides of the same coin. Lament Psalms Cry out for deliverance Thanksgiving Psalms Praise God for deliverance

All lament and no thanksgiving is pride. All thanksgiving and no lament is fake. A biblical life of worship involves BOTH.

Psalm 116
Parts of a Praise Psalm Proclamation to Praise Reason for Praise Renewed Vow to Praise

Psalm 116
1. Proclamation to Praise

Psalm 116:1-2 (NIV) I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

Psalm 116
2. Reason for Praise Psalm 116:3-4 (NIV) The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: O Lord, save me!

Psalm 116
2. Reason for Praise

Psalm 116:5-7 (NIV) The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.

Psalm 116
2. Reason for Praise Psalm 116:8-11 (NIV) For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I believed; therefore I said, I am greatly afflicted. And in my dismay I said, All men are liars.

Psalm 116
2. Reason for Praise Psalm 116:12-16 (NIV) How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. O Lord, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.

Psalm 116
3. Renewed Vow to Praise

Psalm 116:17-19 (NIV) I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.

Thanks in the Life of Worship

AgainWhy Thanksgiving Sacrifices?

It wasnt about the meat or the fire. It was about the public declaration of what God had done.

Thanks in the Life of Worship

We are not blessed solely for our own benefit! God intends His blessings to be shared with His people through public thanksgiving. We owe God thanks for all He does for us. To withhold thanks is to rob God and the community.

Thanks in Our Own Lives

Hebrews 13:15 (NIV)
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praisethe fruit of lips that confess his name. Make it a point to genuinely thank God for at least one thing each day. Make time for thanksgiving testimonies during times of group worship. When God does something for you, tell a friend. Remember, it is a sin not to thank.

The Bottom Line

A life of worship is a life that is thankful. Are you encouraging the church by giving thanks?