Special: Thanksgiving

Preached on 11.23.08 by Dustin Neeley
Sermon Notes

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble 3 and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south. 4 Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to a city to dwell in;
5 hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
till they reached a city to dwell in.
8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things. 10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
prisoners in affliction and in irons,
11 for they had rebelled against the words of God,
and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;
they fell down, with none to help.
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and burst their bonds apart.
15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
16 For he shatters the doors of bronze
and cuts in two the bars of iron. 17 Some were fools through their sinful ways,
and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
18 they loathed any kind of food,
and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and tell of his deeds in songs of joy! 23 Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the great waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the Lord,
his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men
and were at their wits’ end. 28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
and praise him in the assembly of the elders. 33 He turns rivers into a desert,
springs of water into thirsty ground,
34 a fruitful land into a salty waste,
because of the evil of its inhabitants.
35 He turns a desert into pools of water,
a parched land into springs of water.
36 And there he lets the hungry dwell,
and they establish a city to live in;
37 they sow fields and plant vineyards
and get a fruitful yield.
38 By his blessing they multiply greatly,
and he does not let their livestock diminish. 39 When they are diminished and brought low
through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
40 he pours contempt on princes
and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction
and makes their families like flocks.
42 The upright see it and are glad,
and all wickedness shuts its mouth. 43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord. Psalm 107 ESV

Outline of the Text:
v.1-3 Invitation to praise God for His deliverance.
v.4-32 Snapshots of God the Deliverer in action. Notice the pattern.
v.33-42 Hymn of praise to God for Who He is and what He has done.
v.43 Encouragement to meditate on the steadfast love of the Lord.

Who God Is and What He Has Done:

1. Our God is the Merciful Deliverer and the Satisfier of souls who has given His people a place to dwell.
   How has God delivered you, satisfied your soul, and given you a place to dwell?
2. Our God is the Chain Breaker who frees His children from their bonds.
   How has God broken your chains? Where do you need Him to?
3. Our God is the Merciful Healer who brings healing by His Word.
   How has God brought healing through His Word? How do you need Him to?
4. Our God is the Sovereign Ruler over all of His Creation who stills the storms.
   How has God brought you through the storms? How do you need Him to?
5. Our God is Righteous Judge who brings justice.
   How can God use us to bring justice as an act of thanksgiving?

If we want to move toward thanksgiving, we should reflect on WHO GOD IS and WHAT HE HAS DONE.

The Practice of Reflection:

1. Meditate on these descriptions of God.
   Does this lead you to thanksgiving? If not, why not?
2. Meditate on the Gospel. (Consider all the pointers in this passage.)
   What was (or would be) your life like without Jesus?
3. Think carefully about the past year. Month. Week.
   What has God done? What do you need Him to do?
4. Talk to your spouse/roommate/friends about these things.
   Others help bring out the details. Be encouraged from their stories.
5. Start keeping a journal. Look back at previous entries and journals.
   This provides a tangible record of God’s faithfulness.

Am I reflecting on WHO GOD IS and WHAT HE HAS DONE this Thanksgiving?

Works Consulted : Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Life Application Bible, MacArthur Study Bible, Spurgeon’s Treasury of David Psalms Commentary