Give Thanks to the Lord for He is Good!
With Thanksgiving drawing near it is the tradition of many to consider things we are thankful for. Some are thankful for family, friends, food. Maybe others are thankful for a certain team winning a certain game, or maybe they are thankful for their job. The truth is we have a lot to be thankful for around this time of year I usually am drawn to the psalms. As I sat down to write this weeks Buff Notes I was drawn to Psalm 136.
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
4 To Him who alone does great [a]wonders,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
5 To Him who made the heavens [b]with skill,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
6 To Him who spread out the earth above the waters,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
7 To Him who made the great lights,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting:
8 The sun to rule [c]by day,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
9 The moon and stars to rule [d]by night,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.10 To Him who smote [e]the Egyptians in their firstborn,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
11 And brought Israel out from their midst,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
12 With a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
13 To Him who divided the [f]Red Sea [g]asunder,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
14 And made Israel pass through the midst of it,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
15 But He [h]overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the [i]Red Sea,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
16 To Him who led His people through the wilderness,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
17 To Him who smote great kings,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
18 And slew [j]mighty kings,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting:
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
20 And Og, king of Bashan,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
21 And gave their land as a heritage,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
22 Even a heritage to Israel His servant,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.23 Who remembered us in our low estate,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
24 And has rescued us from our adversaries,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
25 Who gives food to all flesh,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
The Psalmist continues on through this psalm recounting all of the incredible things God has done for his people. I wonder if we sat down and wrote out all the things God has done for us what it might sound like? Maybe it would sound something like.
God has blessed my life beyond what I deserve,
His love never ends.
He has molded me and shaped me in his image,
His love never ends.
He sent His Son to die for me,
His love never ends.
He blesses me with life day in and day out
His love never ends.
I encourage you as we head into the Thanksgiving holiday to spend some time writing a “Psalm”. I encourage you to model it after Psalm 136 and repeat a common line after every line. Recount the things God has done it your life and give thanks to Him!
