Thanksgiving Eve

Thanksgiving Eve

November 26, 2003

Psalm 100:5

INTRODUCTION: In our Psalm for this evening David calls for us to praise the Lord. Yet David does not simply compel us to praise the Lord. He gives us significant reasons why the Lord is deserving of our praise. 

1.    The Lord is good – This is His essence. He is our good and gracious God and Father. In Psalm 36:5 David exclaims “Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies.” In His goodness the Lord’s benevolence reaches to the skies. He delights in doing good to us.

2.    His love endures forever – David will say elsewhere “The earth is full of His unfailing love” (Psalm 33:5) He befriends us – as He is our closest and dearest friend.  His love endures forever. It will never cease. It will not run out. It will never run cold.

The Lord’s unfailing love, kindness, and mercy is demonstrated and well documented throughout the pages of the Old Testament. In the book of Deuteronomy we are told “ Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; for He is the faithful God, keep His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep His commandments.” (VS..9)

Later on in the same chapter He reminds us “ If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the Lord your God will keep His covenant of live with you as He swore to your forefathers” (vs..12)

Concerning David the Lord reminds us In 2 Samuel 5:15: “But my love will never be taken away from him…” A question… Was David somehow different then others? Was he somehow superior? Was he smarter, stronger, better? Hardly! The sins of David are notorious and legendary. David was guilty of murder and adultery. His was the head of a dysfunctional family of which the Lord had predicted that a sword would never leave it.

No, the promise that the Lord’s love would not be taken away from David does not rest on David. Not in the slightest! Rather, it rests squarely on the love and mercy of God.

God loves us with an everlasting love despite our sin, despite our pettiness, despite our imperfection and guilt. We give thanks to God this night because His love endures forever. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent His Son into the world not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through Him…” (John 4:16-17)

3.    His faithfulness continues through all generations – Each generation will witness the faithfulness of God for themselves. In the Old Testament we see the faithfulness of God in the giving of the Law, in the deliverance of the children of Israel from the land bondage and slavery. He sustained them through the wandering and pilgrimage years.

Despite their unfaithfulness He remained faithful – faithful to He word and promise in sending us His Son to bear our burdens and our cares to the cross.

To this present hour our Lord has proven to be faithful. This night in thankfulness we offer Him our worship and praise. It is fitting that we should do so for we are only beggars – all that we receive comes from the gracious hand of our Savior.

CONCLUSION: We say with the Psalmist the Lord is good, His love endures forever, His faithfulness continues throughout all generations. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gifts.