“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul and forget not all his benefits.” Psalm 103:1-2
November 27, 2024
Do you ever talk to yourself? We all do at some point. David takes this to another level by offering a great hymn of thanksgiving (103:1-22) spoken to himself. “He is cataloging the goodness of God, enumerating his blessings, lest in a moment of depression or backsliding, he should forget the source of his prosperity and take God’s grace for granted” (Roy Clements, Eden Baptist Church, Cambridge, England). You might want to add this to your menu for a Thanksgiving meal: Thanksgiving is a self-administered means of changing our outlook on life. There are times when we need to shake off our lethargy, apathy, and gloom by taking charge of our minds and memories. This is a good way to meaningfully kindle our emotions. If you want to read on to verses 2-5, they are as someone has said, “fuel enough…for more than kindling.” This is a needed elbow in the ribs to warn us of the danger of forgetting to acknowledge our God-given benefits which can be a sign of a deeper problem (2 Chron. 32:25; Deut.8:12-14). Thanksgiving embraces the expanse of God’s redeeming work (verses 3-5, if you would like to read on). How should we praise God? Answer: With all our soul. “There is no true worship which does not touch the affections” (Jonathan Edwards).
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A recommendation: Take some time on Thanksgiving Day to identify some of the good things God has bestowed on us.