Young People's Group

“OH, GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD…”

by Pastor Mitch
May 29, 2011

Making Thanksgiving So Much More A Part Of Our Life

There is so much in life that we can be thankful for. Instead of grumbling and complaining about all kinds of different matters, we should learn to make thanksgiving to God so much more a part of us. The Psalmist made a call to all to give thanks to the Lord.

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
For His mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
For His mercy endures forever” 
Psalm 136:1-3

The phrase “give thanks to the Lord” is mentioned four times in this psalm. As the Psalmist wrote this psalm, his heart was filled with gratitude and thanksgiving. He could not help but send out a call for all to give thanks to God who is far above all other forms of gods. The Lord has been good to us. There is no other god like our God. He is the God of gods and the Lord of lords. Young people, let’s learn to make giving thanks to God so much more a part of our life.

Thanking God For His Undergirding Principle Of Mercy

“For His mercy endures forever.” 
Psalm 136:1

The above phrase is mentioned twenty-six times in this psalm. It is most obvious that the focus of the Psalmist was on the undergirding principle of God’s mercy. He was able to see that undergirding many good things that have happened in history and in his life was the mercies of God. The Psalmist identified three areas of God’s work. Firstly, he saw how the creation of the universe and our earth were done because of His mercies (Psalm 136:4-9). The great wonders that the Lord did and the wisdom used to design and create the stars, the sun and moon were all expressions of His mercies. Secondly, His mercies can also be seen in the history of Israel when the Lord brought His people out of Egypt, led them through the wilderness and given them the land of Canaan as their heritage (Psalm 136:10-22). Thirdly, God’s great evidential mercies can also be seen in Him delivering us in times of trouble and providing for our needs. Truly, the Lord has been and will continue to be most merciful to us. Let’s give thanks always for His enduring mercies.

Beginning And Ending With Thanksgiving

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.” 
Psalm 136:1

“Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!
For His mercy endures forever.” 
Psalm 136:26

The Psalmist began his psalm with thanksgiving and he also ended it with thanksgiving. Young people, let’s make this a practical principle with reference to our lives. Let’s begin each day with thanksgiving and let’s also end the day with giving thanks to the Lord for His abundant mercies. The Lord has watched over all of us for the first half of the year. He has been most gracious to us. Let’s take time to be thankful to Him for His mercies and goodness. We will be having a Youth Praise Evening on the 10th June 2011. Let’s take time to come together and give thanks to God for His mercies. Let’s sing to Him with hearts of deep appreciation.

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