WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.140 If you want to open your Bibles or your Bible apps, turn to Psalm chapter 20, or chapter 100. 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:17.519 If you're flipping through your Bible, you might miss it. It's only five verses long. 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:22.320 One term. 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:23.859 That's it. 00:00:28.699 --> 00:00:29.740 Psalm 100. 00:00:30.600 --> 00:00:33.079 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. 00:00:33.640 --> 00:00:37.119 Serve the Lord with gladness. Come into his presence with singing. 00:00:37.960 --> 00:00:42.579 Know that the Lord, he is God. It is he who made us, and we are his. 00:00:43.179 --> 00:00:45.880 We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 00:00:46.859 --> 00:00:50.140 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. 00:00:50.659 --> 00:00:53.379 Give thanks to him. Bless his name. 00:00:54.100 --> 00:00:57.799 For the Lord is good. His steadfast love endures forever. 00:00:57.799 --> 00:01:00.719 And his faithfulness to all generations. 00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:12.200 The title on this psalm is A Psalm for Giving Thanks. 00:01:12.200 --> 00:01:20.500 Could also be titled, A Psalm for Giving Thanks Whether You Feel Like It or Not. 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:28.180 That sounds a little forceful, but what I mean by that is, it could be a psalm for giving thanks when we feel like it. 00:01:28.180 --> 00:01:31.580 It's also a psalm for giving thanks when we don't feel like it. 00:01:31.579 --> 00:01:44.099 Whenever we come to scripture, as with anything, we kind of come to it in kind of two modes or two moods. 00:01:44.140 --> 00:01:47.959 They can be a positive mood or a negative one. 00:01:47.959 --> 00:01:51.599 And you might say, well, sometimes I kind of feel neutral. 00:01:52.099 --> 00:02:00.039 But I think when we're talking about praising God, if we come with a neutral feeling, that would probably fall into the negative or the bad mood category. 00:02:00.739 --> 00:02:04.839 So, two moods, positive and negative. 00:02:05.899 --> 00:02:14.519 And we're going to approach both of those and see how this psalm fits for both of those occasions. 00:02:14.520 --> 00:02:23.500 For the positive, joyful person who is just feeling good about life, they're into worshiping God. 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:26.580 You know, they read and they meditate on this psalm. 00:02:26.939 --> 00:02:28.360 And it just adds encouragement. 00:02:28.840 --> 00:02:31.780 It adds energy to what we're feeling about the Lord. 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:41.600 And it easily adds to our happiness as we read through these verses and increases our thankfulness in the Lord. 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:44.639 Make a joyful noise to the Lord. 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:48.259 Everyone, Jew or Gentile, all the earth. 00:02:48.879 --> 00:02:50.319 Serve the Lord with gladness. 00:02:50.959 --> 00:02:53.900 Yes, because we know He is God, our God. 00:02:53.979 --> 00:02:57.680 And we're filled with the thanksgiving of knowing who He is. 00:02:59.259 --> 00:03:03.439 But what about those times where we're feeling not that positive? 00:03:03.560 --> 00:03:04.979 We're feeling negative. 00:03:04.979 --> 00:03:05.639 We're feeling negative. 00:03:06.079 --> 00:03:08.919 Mad, frustrated, depressed. 00:03:09.579 --> 00:03:11.859 Maybe we're just flat in our spirituality. 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:15.739 And our worship to God just feels dry. 00:03:16.819 --> 00:03:18.659 I think we have all been there. 00:03:18.939 --> 00:03:21.659 Hopefully we haven't been there long and stayed there. 00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:22.599 But that's common. 00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:23.899 Any of those feelings, right? 00:03:24.500 --> 00:03:26.339 Just feeling distant from God. 00:03:26.340 --> 00:03:31.219 Maybe you're going through a trial and you don't see God in that trial. 00:03:31.420 --> 00:03:33.920 Or at the end of that trial, it just seems ongoing. 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:40.080 Seeking relief from struggles or just searching for a place of refuge. 00:03:40.780 --> 00:03:50.199 And you come to this psalm where it's wanting us to be joyful in the Lord and bless His name. 00:03:50.259 --> 00:03:51.879 And you're just not feeling it. 00:03:51.879 --> 00:03:59.900 So how can we approach these verses that are calling us to do those things when we don't feel like doing those things? 00:04:00.699 --> 00:04:02.579 And that's what we're going to look at today. 00:04:02.740 --> 00:04:10.639 Because in these verses, I think David helps us get a grip with those times where we're in those negative moods. 00:04:10.639 --> 00:04:24.079 It's only five verses long, but as we look at it, there's a structure to the verses that help us do those commands that were given in the verses. 00:04:24.500 --> 00:04:32.339 So if we look at verses 1 and 2, we see actions along with emotions that should go with them. 00:04:32.339 --> 00:04:36.259 So verse 1, make a joyful noise to the Lord. 00:04:36.739 --> 00:04:42.779 And verse 2, serve the Lord with gladness and come into His presence with singing. 00:04:44.939 --> 00:04:47.459 Now verse 3 changes a little bit from that. 00:04:47.819 --> 00:04:51.819 We don't have the actions and emotions we have, but we have knowledge. 00:04:52.120 --> 00:04:57.479 We have truth that connects back to those first two verses, right? 00:04:57.480 --> 00:05:01.900 So verse 3 says, know that the Lord is God. 00:05:02.939 --> 00:05:03.700 And what else? 00:05:03.740 --> 00:05:06.400 It says, it is He who made us and we are His. 00:05:06.879 --> 00:05:07.640 And it keeps going. 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:09.900 We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:13.439 David says, know the Lord, He is God. 00:05:15.300 --> 00:05:21.560 Know that the one we are called to be joyful in is our God, the one who made us, the one who owns us. 00:05:21.560 --> 00:05:28.740 And when I say owns us, it's not just owning us because He created us, but He's made us His own. 00:05:28.939 --> 00:05:32.319 So it's deeper than just God owning us. 00:05:34.220 --> 00:05:36.280 It's a more loving relationship. 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:39.939 There's that love and protection that He gives to us. 00:05:40.920 --> 00:05:45.779 So this is what we are to know when we come into verses 1 and 2, 00:05:45.860 --> 00:05:49.660 when we're called to make a joyful noise and to serve Him with gladness. 00:05:49.660 --> 00:05:59.860 It's not just to do it forcefully, but do it with the knowledge of who God is and who we are in God. 00:06:02.220 --> 00:06:08.060 And let's take a look at the next two verses also because they have a similar pattern as well. 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:10.500 Verse 4 says, 00:06:11.200 --> 00:06:14.879 Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. 00:06:15.320 --> 00:06:18.340 Give thanks to Him and bless His name. 00:06:18.339 --> 00:06:25.979 So again, we have actions, entering and giving, that are accompanied with emotions, right? 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:28.759 There's entering His gates with thanksgiving. 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:30.939 That's an emotion. 00:06:33.359 --> 00:06:34.000 Thankfulness. 00:06:34.759 --> 00:06:36.299 Enter His courts with praise. 00:06:37.179 --> 00:06:38.679 So we're giving thanks to Him. 00:06:38.779 --> 00:06:39.879 We're blessing His name. 00:06:40.439 --> 00:06:41.799 This entering and giving, 00:06:42.659 --> 00:06:46.179 they're connected with joyful emotions, right? 00:06:46.180 --> 00:06:48.879 The thanksgiving isn't a negative thing. 00:06:48.980 --> 00:06:51.480 The praising and the blessing isn't negative, 00:06:51.699 --> 00:06:56.079 but they're positive emotions that go with those actions. 00:06:57.579 --> 00:07:02.079 So what if we're not feeling those positive emotions? 00:07:04.300 --> 00:07:08.199 What if we aren't feeling very thankful at all about anything, 00:07:08.340 --> 00:07:09.399 and we can't give thanks? 00:07:09.399 --> 00:07:13.359 We can't enter His gates in verse 4, as you said, with thanksgiving, 00:07:13.479 --> 00:07:14.679 because we don't feel it. 00:07:16.120 --> 00:07:17.719 Well, let's look on to verse 5. 00:07:20.019 --> 00:07:20.959 It doesn't say, 00:07:21.239 --> 00:07:24.599 No, that the Lord is God, like it did in verse 3. 00:07:25.579 --> 00:07:26.459 But it says, 00:07:26.819 --> 00:07:27.759 For the Lord is good. 00:07:27.959 --> 00:07:30.099 So the for is like a because. 00:07:30.100 --> 00:07:33.920 So the first four verses lays it out, 00:07:34.420 --> 00:07:35.800 pointing to verse 5, 00:07:35.900 --> 00:07:36.660 which it says, 00:07:37.100 --> 00:07:38.780 For the Lord is good. 00:07:39.280 --> 00:07:41.320 His steadfast love endures forever. 00:07:41.840 --> 00:07:44.080 And His thankfulness to all generations. 00:07:44.920 --> 00:07:47.240 So just to recap on the verses, 00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:51.980 the first two have the actions and emotions we're called to do. 00:07:52.780 --> 00:07:55.800 And then verse 3 is the truth that we should dig into 00:07:55.800 --> 00:07:58.500 to be able to do those when we don't feel like it. 00:07:58.500 --> 00:08:01.240 And the same thing with verse 4. 00:08:01.639 --> 00:08:02.899 Actions we're called to do. 00:08:03.399 --> 00:08:06.579 And then 5 is that truth that we can dig into 00:08:06.579 --> 00:08:11.439 when we don't feel like doing those times of blessing 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:13.160 and giving thanks that we're called to do. 00:08:22.839 --> 00:08:25.639 So, in verse 5, 00:08:25.639 --> 00:08:29.399 if we see that we are called to know that God is good. 00:08:29.779 --> 00:08:30.459 All the time, 00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:33.199 even when we don't understand what's happening. 00:08:33.899 --> 00:08:36.080 Even when we don't see God's at work. 00:08:37.860 --> 00:08:41.840 His love started before we were ever in existence. 00:08:42.319 --> 00:08:45.019 And His love continues forever. 00:08:45.340 --> 00:08:46.279 It doesn't stop. 00:08:46.279 --> 00:08:50.439 And that's the steadfast love endures forever. 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:54.360 Before we were thought of 00:08:54.360 --> 00:08:57.120 and forever, 00:08:57.360 --> 00:09:00.059 as long as we can see into the future and beyond. 00:09:01.839 --> 00:09:04.779 His love is steadfast, 00:09:05.179 --> 00:09:06.360 like it says, 00:09:06.459 --> 00:09:07.379 and never changing. 00:09:08.659 --> 00:09:11.759 Imagine if you've been around one. 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:13.039 I think everybody here has. 00:09:13.159 --> 00:09:14.720 But imagine a rock. 00:09:14.860 --> 00:09:15.000 Now, 00:09:15.220 --> 00:09:17.200 not just like a rock outside the school, 00:09:17.340 --> 00:09:18.319 but a big rock. 00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:22.600 One that you can climb around it on top of. 00:09:22.939 --> 00:09:24.659 And you could get underneath 00:09:24.659 --> 00:09:26.279 kind of an overhang of the rock 00:09:26.279 --> 00:09:28.220 and get shelter from. 00:09:28.220 --> 00:09:32.580 Back when I was little, 00:09:32.700 --> 00:09:33.820 we lived in Tennessee 00:09:33.820 --> 00:09:35.740 and there was a mountain 00:09:35.740 --> 00:09:38.340 that we could climb part of the way up 00:09:38.340 --> 00:09:40.080 and it had an overhang 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:40.879 where you could look out 00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:43.740 and just see over like a valley. 00:09:44.100 --> 00:09:46.580 And it was scary because it was high, 00:09:46.820 --> 00:09:49.700 but you didn't feel scared because of the rock. 00:09:49.860 --> 00:09:50.740 You didn't feel scared 00:09:50.740 --> 00:09:52.920 that the rock was going to let you down 00:09:52.920 --> 00:09:54.600 and it was always going to be there. 00:09:54.600 --> 00:10:00.100 So imagine a rock that you can take refuge under. 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:02.159 And you can leave that rock 00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:03.019 and you come back. 00:10:03.100 --> 00:10:04.600 That rock is still there, right? 00:10:06.440 --> 00:10:07.440 Life changes. 00:10:08.019 --> 00:10:08.820 Storms come. 00:10:11.180 --> 00:10:13.019 But the rock never moves. 00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:14.279 The rock never changes. 00:10:17.659 --> 00:10:20.920 That's our God that never changes. 00:10:21.100 --> 00:10:23.120 That's our refuge that never moves. 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:25.299 That's our salvation. 00:10:25.980 --> 00:10:27.740 If we put our trust into it, 00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:29.320 that never changes 00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:30.560 and is always there 00:10:30.560 --> 00:10:32.220 and is always dependable. 00:10:35.500 --> 00:10:36.980 And then it says, 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:38.960 it's faithfulness to all generations. 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:44.620 Now David is saying this, 00:10:45.060 --> 00:10:46.519 but you don't have to take 00:10:46.519 --> 00:10:48.919 just David's words for this. 00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:52.019 For the people of Israel, 00:10:52.419 --> 00:10:53.199 hearing this, 00:10:53.279 --> 00:10:56.479 this would remind them of a time back in Exodus 00:10:56.479 --> 00:10:59.759 where Moses was going to the mountain 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:01.079 to get the Ten Commandments. 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:04.719 In Exodus 34, verses 6 and 7, 00:11:05.219 --> 00:11:06.959 when he's going to get the commandments, 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:07.819 it says this, 00:11:07.820 --> 00:11:10.460 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, 00:11:10.460 --> 00:11:12.140 The Lord, the Lord, 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:14.160 a God merciful and gracious, 00:11:14.780 --> 00:11:15.580 slow to anger 00:11:15.580 --> 00:11:17.640 and abounding in steadfast love 00:11:17.640 --> 00:11:18.920 and faithfulness, 00:11:19.180 --> 00:11:21.900 keeping steadfast love for thousands, 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:23.260 forgiving iniquity 00:11:23.260 --> 00:11:25.180 and transgression and sin. 00:11:25.179 --> 00:11:29.039 This is the words of God. 00:11:30.959 --> 00:11:33.259 So we have a promise here 00:11:33.259 --> 00:11:34.479 from an unchanging, 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:36.719 never-lying God 00:11:36.719 --> 00:11:39.659 who says that he is merciful 00:11:39.659 --> 00:11:41.099 and gracious and slow to anger. 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:42.659 And we know that to be true, 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:45.500 but to hear that from the words of God 00:11:45.500 --> 00:11:49.159 in keeping steadfast love for thousands, 00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:52.019 the idea is thousands of generations. 00:11:52.019 --> 00:11:55.039 So it's something that is just forever 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:57.879 as far as we can mentally get a picture of. 00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:06.179 So it's God's unchanging character 00:12:06.179 --> 00:12:07.740 that we see here, 00:12:07.860 --> 00:12:09.439 and it's his grace and love 00:12:09.439 --> 00:12:11.100 and that character that never changes. 00:12:14.259 --> 00:12:16.220 So to be reminded of that 00:12:16.220 --> 00:12:18.199 at those times when we struggle 00:12:18.200 --> 00:12:22.259 with whatever we're struggling with, 00:12:22.820 --> 00:12:24.340 you know, life just brings us down, 00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:25.320 a hard day at work, 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:28.160 family issues, financial problems, 00:12:28.780 --> 00:12:31.080 spouse or girlfriend, boyfriend, 00:12:31.300 --> 00:12:32.560 or neither. 00:12:34.940 --> 00:12:39.340 To be, to remember that we were made 00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:43.220 and that we were known and loved 00:12:43.220 --> 00:12:44.480 by a God 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:47.620 who then chose to bring us into his family 00:12:47.620 --> 00:12:52.740 and promises that he will never leave us 00:12:52.740 --> 00:12:57.360 should give us hope and joy 00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:59.440 that really is uncomparable 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:01.220 to all the troubles that we have. 00:13:01.500 --> 00:13:02.940 It doesn't mean those troubles go away. 00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:03.659 They're still here. 00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:06.379 But in light of all that, 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:09.620 we're able to rise above it, 00:13:09.800 --> 00:13:11.279 still struggling with the problems, 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:12.759 but know that we have a God 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:15.559 who holds us in his hand 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:17.039 and is able to take those, 00:13:17.299 --> 00:13:18.699 take us through whatever struggles 00:13:18.699 --> 00:13:20.220 we wrestle with. 00:13:21.980 --> 00:13:24.019 So whether we're feeling mad 00:13:24.019 --> 00:13:24.720 or depressed 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:25.899 or forgotten 00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:26.839 or worn down 00:13:26.839 --> 00:13:29.199 or just flatlined, 00:13:29.839 --> 00:13:31.620 we come to this psalm 00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:34.220 and if we do feel that way, 00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:36.439 then we start to look back 00:13:36.439 --> 00:13:37.819 at the truth that we know. 00:13:37.820 --> 00:13:41.100 We put our focus back on God 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:42.860 and off of ourselves. 00:13:44.680 --> 00:13:45.600 Scholl says this, 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:47.840 I've heard her say it several times 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:49.360 to the kids 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:52.280 when they're just struggling 00:13:52.280 --> 00:13:53.240 to be content 00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:55.540 and they're looking for the next thing 00:13:55.540 --> 00:13:57.140 and nothing seems to make them happy. 00:13:58.180 --> 00:14:00.480 She usually pushes them 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:02.500 to start filling out 00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:04.000 like a grateful journal. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:06.620 And it's when you start to remember 00:14:06.620 --> 00:14:08.740 all the ways that you were blessed 00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:10.019 and all the things that you have, 00:14:10.379 --> 00:14:11.360 you suddenly realize 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:12.779 that you don't have so much 00:14:12.779 --> 00:14:15.200 to be sad and down 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:16.919 and nothing goes my way 00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:18.200 and when's the next big thing 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:18.740 going to happen? 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:20.559 Suddenly you see 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:22.700 God's blessing in your life 00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:26.320 and it's because we get our eyes 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:27.419 off of us 00:14:27.419 --> 00:14:29.740 and onto what we've been given 00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:30.480 and onto God 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:31.740 that takes us out of that. 00:14:31.740 --> 00:14:35.480 So, when you're struggling 00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:37.100 to find joy in God 00:14:37.100 --> 00:14:38.740 and thankfulness 00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:41.820 that just seems to be out of reach, 00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:43.500 start with these truths. 00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:44.820 Start with what you know 00:14:44.820 --> 00:14:48.440 and you can read Psalms, 00:14:49.100 --> 00:14:50.580 you can pray. 00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:52.759 Oftentimes what's helpful 00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:54.240 is to preach it yourself 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:55.840 as you're the one that's stubborn 00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:58.440 and holding on to that mood 00:14:58.440 --> 00:14:59.539 that is holding you down, 00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:00.799 that depression, that anger. 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:02.959 And it's preaching back at yourself 00:15:02.959 --> 00:15:04.079 those truths that you know 00:15:04.079 --> 00:15:04.719 to be true. 00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:08.620 You just have to tell yourself that. 00:15:10.599 --> 00:15:12.000 Recount what God has done. 00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:15.839 And then if you still find yourself 00:15:15.839 --> 00:15:20.399 in a mood that is just keeping you down, 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:23.779 depression, sadness, whatever it is, 00:15:24.139 --> 00:15:25.399 then you just take that to the Lord. 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:30.059 You pray for Him to lift that sadness 00:15:30.059 --> 00:15:30.959 and that depression. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:35.439 And then you just continue on. 00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:38.059 Reminded of the Psalms 00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:40.419 where David is talking about 00:15:40.419 --> 00:15:42.340 how he is just downtrodden 00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:44.259 and depressed and down. 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:47.079 And the Psalm just changes 00:15:47.079 --> 00:15:48.819 and talks about how 00:15:48.819 --> 00:15:51.179 he looks to the Lord 00:15:51.179 --> 00:15:52.319 and he worships Him. 00:15:52.579 --> 00:15:53.939 He doesn't say 00:15:53.939 --> 00:15:56.079 what changed his mind 00:15:56.079 --> 00:15:56.739 all the time. 00:15:57.239 --> 00:15:59.099 He just changes his focus, 00:15:59.579 --> 00:16:02.039 realizing that it's not our mood 00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:04.759 that is going to fix things, 00:16:04.899 --> 00:16:06.620 but it's our God 00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:08.239 that's going to change things. 00:16:08.459 --> 00:16:10.620 And what we're looking at, 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:11.339 if we're looking at us, 00:16:11.379 --> 00:16:12.259 if we're looking at Him. 00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:16.700 And remembering that 00:16:16.700 --> 00:16:18.720 He is the rock of our salvation. 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:21.279 Nothing that we're going to find here 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:21.980 in this world 00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:23.159 is going to be that rock, 00:16:23.299 --> 00:16:23.960 our refuge. 00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:24.960 So...