word in the book of psalms and psalm 100
psalm 100 we're going to look at this psalm together the whole psalm it is a psalm of
thanksgiving as a heading in some of the bibles well how we are to give thanks to god for all
his blessings to us we ask ourselves the question though how often do we give thanks to god
now are we as thankful as we we should be now these questions still surge at hearts as god's
questions often do are we as thankful as we should be and how often do we thank god i'm sure
for all of us here there's not a day goes past that we're not thankful to god for so many things
but today i want us to think of it as a day of thanksgiving not especially a pointed day
but a day as with every day that we can see the many reasons we do have to give thanks
and especially tonight looking back over the past weekend and giving thanks for god's goodness to us
in so many ways it was a blessed time together and still feeling that even today and hopefully
we'll keep feeling that in the days ahead that we were blessed by god he was with us through
the preaching of the word he was with us as we sat at the lord's table he was with us in our fellowship
with one another he was with us in so many ways and truly we have so many reasons to give thanks
an encouraging time and a time we pray that will spur us on and keep us going from strength to strength
because we have been through as we heard in the prayers a difficult period of not being able to gather
in such a way we pray that bit by bit god god is building up his people again giving us the confidence
to go forward in his strength and by filling our hearts with thankfulness that gives us a strength
to keep looking to him as we go forward we read in paul's letter to the colossians there in chapter 2
these words although i am absent in body as a verse 5 yet i am with you in spirit rejoicing to see your
good order and the firmness of your faith in christ therefore as you received christ jesus the lord
so walk in him rooted and built up in him and established in the faith just as you were taught
and he concludes that little section abounding in thanksgiving abounding in thanksgiving so you see
all the things that are mentioned there the rejoicing in the order and firmness of your faith the things
we want to see in all god's people how you received christ how you are to walk in him rooted built up
established in faith all of these things that we long to see in each of us as god's children
abounding in thanksgiving thanksgiving completes our praise to god there paul is encouraging his people
in the midst of great challenges not to lose heart but to press on to press on in this way
and to do so abounding in thanksgiving the more we see of what christ has done and the faith that we
have received from him to be able to love him as we do because he first loved us let us truly be
thankful for all that he has done and with these words in mind i want us to look at at psalm 100
together this evening a psalm of thanksgiving i want to see what it has to say to us it is as we've said a psalm
a song of thanksgiving as a thanksgiving psalm both in terms of who god is and what he has done
and indeed what he is continuing to do for his people it's a psalm that gives us commands and
instructions to be a people who come to him in worship it's calling us to come before him to come
into his presence to serve the lord with gladness to come into his presence with singing to go on
in worship and thanksgiving to him it's a psalm you could say has has great breadth it's a psalm that's
a call to all mankind to come and give thanks to god that is our prayer but it's also a psalm
of great depth the depths that there is in the truths of who god is and the depths that there is
and how god has been calling his people through generation after generation we can look at it every
generation past present and future who are called to come and worship god and our savior the lord
jesus christ even though it was a psalm that has its setting in the temple courts of the old
testament as the people gathered there to worship god it doesn't stay in the old testament it's very
much a psalm that follows into the new testament that we are to be a people who are to come in this way
to gather before god in his presence and to do so through christ who has opened the way fully for us
to come and to come as we say with thanksgiving and three things i want us to see here in this psalm
about the way this psalm instructs us in our thanksgiving the first thing is the way of
thanksgiving and the second thing is the reason of thanksgiving and then thirdly we see the endurance
of thanksgiving so the first thing is the way of thanksgiving who or what do we give thanks to
it's a question we're all able to answer tonight i hope in the same way we give our thanks to god
but as we we think of that question in a wider sense in a wider society who or what do people
give thanks to we have been experiencing and still experiencing challenging days that make us think of
many of life's issues people are looking for purpose in life what is it what is it to have
purpose in life people are thinking about the future what will it be like there's so many changes we're
seeing in our world what is lying ahead of us we see a day of many troubles and we're reminded of the reality
of them we think of people as we should all be looking for hope but what is it in
as god's children we know the answer to these questions we know our purpose we are made to worship god
the future we know all the promises that are yeah and amen in christ that he has a plan and a purpose
that he is preparing a city for his people he plans our ways he plans our steps he guides our paths
we look to him for all things in the future in the midst of troubles we know too that jesus has promised
we will have troubles but to be of good courage to be of good heart because he has overcome
the world and our hope our hope is in christ we have that much to be thankful for that as god's people
we come to a living god giving thanks to him and our prayer is that as a church we will be built up
to show forth that thanksgiving to others that as the psalm i think psalm 69 the first psalm we sang spoke of
that we would be a witness to others that they would see our thanksgiving and wonder of it
a couple of years back when covid initially started there was a fascinating article in the scotsman
newspaper in these early days people were really challenged and shaken by what was happening and an
article was written and the title of it was secular gods are failing so many in the time of
covid the article opens with this line it says there are no true atheists in reality everybody
worships something this was not a christian writing this article but it was written in a sense where
we were being made to think well what are we worshiping everyone was being asked the question
what are you worshiping we're not atheists we there's no such thing we all worship something
so who do we worship it spoke of how many people were inquiring about the christian faith
they were seeing their secular gods failing them failing to satisfy their lives and beginning to question
what is it who are we worshiping what is the purpose in life but are these questions still through today
so quickly people started just to go back to the old ways to forget about god and any thought of
inquiring after him instead of giving thanks to god for coming through when was that day appointed as a
national day of prayer by our nation for giving thanks for all that we came through in covid
well we're still waiting for a day to be appointed will it happen well we doubt it because of where our nation
is at but who are we worshiping tonight who do we give thanks to tonight not just for bringing us through
for restoring us for being with us but we pray to build us up to make us stronger to go forward in his strength
we worship god not just in the good times but at all times we worship him now seeking better times now
but also that assurance of eternity the writer c.s lewis once said god whispers to us in our pleasures
he speaks in our consciences but shouts in our pains it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world
and hasn't god shouted into our pains
he has been shaking us he is still shaking us but are we listening that is what psalm 100 reminds us of
that we are able to come and worship him and give thanks to him to make a joyful noise to the lord
all the earth serve the lord with gladness come into his presence with singing
whatever our circumstances we have much to give thanks for
and we have been encouraged in these days and let us stay encouraged let us stay with our hope fixed
in our lord jesus christ in his word to have confidence in it in his spirit who is working
dwight l moody it was a great servant for god and when they began to build what would later become
moody bible institute when they were laying the foundation for it they set a cornerstone
and dwight l moody was there at that time and it said that as the stone was laid he offered up a prayer
and he gave the cornerstone a whack with a trowel and then he prayed and said thus
lord you know what this old world needs more than anything else is thy word we pray that the day will
never come when anything contrary to the bible is taught here
and that is true for everywhere where god's word is taught and proclaimed this world this old world
still needs god's word more than anything else these days remind us of scriptures that speak of god
seeing a people corrupt corrupt in sin and the judgment that he brought upon them where you go back to the
days of noah or the days of the exodus so you just work your way through scriptures and you see time and time
again how god sees a people worshiping false gods turning away from the living god and what does he use to bring them back to their senses
he brings judgment
and today we see god's judgment on us again and again
and may it be that as a people we give thanks that god has not turned away but that he is speaking
and may we pray that we will hear as his church and pray to god to pour out his spirit upon us as a people
to revive us to quicken us that we would see as the psalm says all the earth
all the earth to make a joyful noise to the lord what does he see in our hearts today then
is it that shout of joy thankfulness we make sure that we keep our eyes on the lord looking to him
our call to worship and thanksgiving in this psalm is a call to remember god and all his gracious benefits
all that he has done we can look back just a few days
but we can look back further as we heard in prayer to
generations we give thanks for god's word down through generations to us
and we pray that a generation yet unborn
would hear the word of god and rejoice
in him
the second thing we see here is the reason for thanksgiving
we have a call to worship with thanks found in verse 1 and 2
then in verse 3 we're given this this wonderful reason
for giving thanks to god
know that the lord is the lord he is god
it is he who made us and we are his we are his people and the sheep of his pasture
first of all we see that again there is this imperative there
know know that the lord he is god
know with confidence who you have worshipped and are worshipping
know with confidence who we are giving thanks to
it is god who we met with in word and sacrament
it is god who we meet with day by day
in thanksgiving and prayer and through his word to us
we meet with a living god
and that we are thankful for
but what does it mean
to know god
what does it mean
for us to know god
well one of the things that we
see in the scriptures is
the gift of god knowing him that we find in psalm 40
verse 1 to verse 3
that psalm says and we could repeat it i waited
patiently for the lord he heard my cry
he took me from the pit
out of the clay and set my feet
upon a rock making my steps secure
it is the lord who is the god of our salvation
it is him who has brought us up
it is him who we are thankful for the reason we are thankful is
we could not save ourselves
but god by his grace lifted us up
and as he lift us up he says he puts a new song
in my mouth a song
to praise our god
he gives us
a new song
a song of praise
a song of thanksgiving
he reminds us of all the reasons we have to give thanks to god
the psalmist then says that
we are
his people
the sheep of his
pasture
we are his
personal
possession
that's what the psalmist is saying there
and why is that
well it's the foundation of our reasons for thanksgiving
as we have remembered over these past days
our reason for thanksgiving is that he gave himself for us
titus 2 verse 14 says
who gave himself for us to redeem us
from all lawlessness
is that such an encouraging verse
thinking back
but also looking forward
who gave himself for us
to redeem us
to purify for himself a people for his own possession
we are his
who are sellers for good works
who are sellers going forward
in serving the lord
we are his by the reason of the fact that
he paid the price
to redeem us
when we were sold
under sin
we can praise his name
that he paid the price
he died for us
to set us free
we are to be thankful
that we are his
redeemed
what does that mean
to be redeemed
by god
there are
three different words
used in translation of redeemed
in the new testament
but every one of them
the foundation is being bought
with a price
galatians 4
verse 5
but when the fullness of time had come
god sent forth
his son
he goes on
to redeem those
who are under the law
so we might receive adoption
as sons
the word there means
to take off the market
in other words
jesus
paid the price
for us
we're no longer for sales
for sale
we are no longer slaves
to sin
in that way
that we have been redeemed
and bought and purchased
with a price
not just bought for a time
but bought for eternity
because he intends to keep us
and he will
keep us
preacher robert murray mcshane
who was in
dundee
who died
very young himself
he said
he said if christ
had not chosen me
i would never have chosen him
if christ had not shed his blood for me
i would never have shed a tear for him
if christ had not sought after me
i would never have sought after him
if christ had not loved me
i would never have loved him
the transforming power of grace
robert murray mcshane knew it
and if we know it
as i hope we all do
then it makes us thankful
to god for all
that he has done
that he has redeemed us
that he has paid
the price
for us
that we might praise
his name
and as we see in this verse too
we are his people of his pasture
he gives us that assurance
here in this psalmist
we see so often
through the scriptures
that we are
his sheep
that he will look after
jesus says
i lay down my life
for my sheep
and we are a reminder
of that constantly
of the
the way that he will supply
our every need
and it's summed up really
in psalm
23
for us
the lord is my shepherd
i shall not want
i shall not lack
it covers
it all
the list is endless
of the reasons
that we have to give thanks
because the lord is my shepherd
i shall not lack
may we go on
giving thanks to god
with that reason of thanksgiving
that we have
in christ jesus
the third and final thing
we see in this psalm
then is the endurance
of thanksgiving
and we see that in the
in the closing verses
verse four and five
enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise
give thanks to him
bless his name
for the lord
is good
his steadfast love
endures forever
ever
and his faithfulness
to all
generations
when we have this
thankful knowledge
of god
he opens
the gates
for us
the experience
of the psalmist
was to enter
into praise
and worship
of god
was to go through
the gates
into the presence
of god
and we have that
access
through christ
we come
through him
who is the door
we come
through him
who is the way
we enter boldly
into the presence
of god
through his name
we have access
in this way
no longer
do we come
with sacrifices
no longer
do we come
with bull
and oxen
and all the rest
because the price
has been paid
the sacrifice
has been given
given
we come
in the name
of the lord
jesus christ
we come
to remember
his precious name
and to give
thanks to him
and to go on
giving thanks
to him
this is ongoing
praise
god's love
is steadfast
and endures
to all generations
and that is a reason
god is faithful
and worthy
of all our praise
and thanksgiving
and that's what
he's calling us
to today as well
to come
and worship him
to come and give
thanks to him
because all
other secular
gods
are worthless
they are idols
dumb
as the scriptures
describe them
but we read here
for the lord
is good
and that is
what we have
known
that is what
we know
and that's
what we pray
we will go on
knowing that
he is good
and are we able
to say that
today
because if we know
him
you surely
can
can we not
come
and say
the lord
has been good
to us
so may we go
forward
remembering that
we are his
that we are
his people
that his love
endures forever
and his faithfulness
to all
generations
the lord
is saying
to us
you are mine
and i will
keep you
just like it
says in malachi
in the old
testament
there in
chapter 3
verse 16
it says
then those
who feared
the lord
spoke with
one another
it speaks
there
of fellowship
of reminding
and encouraging
one another
and then it
says the lord
paid attention
and heard
them
and a book
of remembrance
was written
before him
of those
who feared
the lord
and esteemed
his name
and he said
they shall be
mine
says the lord
of hosts
in the day
when i make
up my
treasured
possession
and i will
spare them
as a man
spares his
son
who serves
him
he will
make up
his treasures
and you
as his
people
as his
children
will be
part of
that
treasured
possession
we have
that
assurance
the endurance
of praises
that we
will ever
praise
the lord
the parents
of a young
man who
was killed
in the
second world
war
they were
at a memorial
service
in the church
after the war
and they
made a payment
to the church
of 200
pounds
as a memorial
to the son
that they'd
lost
and that
was a
great sum
of money
at that
time
but in the
service
that day
was another
mother of
a son who
had been
to war
but that
son had
come home
but she
whispered to
her husband
who was
sitting beside
her and
said let
us give
the same
for our
boy
the husband
turned and
said well
why what
are you
talking about
our boy
didn't
lose his
life
and the
mother said
that's just
the point
the ones
who had
lost a
son
were thankful
the ones
who still
had their
son
were encouraged
in that
moment
to give
thanks for
what they
had
and so
often in
our life
as we
live
we forget
the price
that has
been paid
the one
who gave
his life
we live
because he
died
and as we
think of
that
the endurance
of our
thanksgiving
should go
on
we have
life
through him
by faith
and for that
we give
thanks
God alone
is worthy
of all
our praise
may he
fill our
hearts
with
thankfulness
there was
a minister
in
Edinburgh
many years
back
he was
known
he was
called
Alexander
White
he was
quite a
famous
minister
in his
day
but he
was
always
knowing
for
uplifting
prayers
in the
pulpit
he always
had
a reason
to give
thanks
well there
was this
Sunday
morning
one Sunday
morning
as they
gathered
for worship
and the
weather
outside
was horrendous
rain and
wind
gales
blowing
and there
was someone
sitting in
the church
whispered to
the person
beside them
well surely
the preacher
he won't
have anything
to give
thanks for
today
not on
such a
wretched
day as
this
as he
began to
pray
his words
were
we thank
thee oh
God
it's not
always like
this
and as we
look back
over these
last number
of years
are we
given
thanks to
God
in the
midst of
all the
challenges
it's not
always like
this
and as we
go forward
may we see
his son
rising
on our
church
and on
our people
to make
us thankful
and bless
us
and give
our thankfulness
even more
going forward
praising his
name
for all
that he
has done
may we
be thankful
evermore
for all
his goodness
to us
let us
pray
our father
in heaven
you bless
us so
much
and we
thank you
that even
in the
darkest
of days
we can
say
thank you
lord
it's not
always like
this
and we
pray lord
that you
will make
your face
to shine
upon us
anew
that you
will fill
our hearts
with a
true sense
of thankfulness
to be able
to praise
your name
and to go
on oh lord
in your
strength
saying
the lord
is good
we are
blessed
as so
much
and we
are humbled
by you
and so we
pray lord
keep us
in your
presence
and in
your strength
as we
ask it
in jesus
name
amen
thank you