Scripture reading: Psalm 130.
Sermon text: Psalm 138.
I once read an atheist defined as someone who appreciates the beauty of a sunset but has no one to thank for it.
In his lifetime, David learned the value of thanking God for the blessings he received: for God's anointing him as king of Israel, for God's protection from Saul and his enemies, and for God's establishment of his house as the monarchy of Israel. In all things, David learned to thank God.
This word “thank” doesn't exactly describe David's action. The Hebrew word for “thanks,” “todah,” more adequately expresses “praise.” David didn't merely thank God for His blessings; David praised God for His blessings, meaning David expressed His gratitude to God to the nation (and, through the psalms he wrote, to us). As we gather today to celebrate New Hope’s 172nd year as a congregation, I believe we should praise God for the blessings He has given us, for His protection over us, and for bringing us together to celebrate His work in the life of our church.
When David praised God, he wanted more than just the people of Israel to hear his praise; “before the gods I sing your praise.” As God’s blessings to humanity extended beyond the physical realm, David’s praise would echo through the heavens. All the worshipers of the false “gods” of the nations around him would bear witness both to God’s blessings in David’s life and to the praise David would return to God for those blessings.
David gave his reasons for praising God: He would give thanks to God for His “steadfast love and your faithfulness.” The Hebrew word for “steadfast love,” the word “hesed,” refers to an unconditional, eternal covenantal love that motivates God to bless all those who believe in Him. God extends this love to all believers in all time and place.
David said that through God’s steadfast love, He has “exalted above all things” both His “name” and His “word.” The blessings God poured onto David led all those around David to recognize God’s name and to know Him as the One who protected David. God exalted His word by blessing David’s faith and obedience. The word of God, expressed to David through the covenant of Moses, contained both blessings to those who obeyed the covenant and curses to those who disobeyed the covenant. David had faithfully kept God’s covenant, and God had blessed his obedience. The blessings David received for his obedience led others to believe in the God of Israel’s covenant.
God had also expressed His steadfast love to David by answering David’s prayers. “On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.” Israel had heard David pray to God; the nation had witnessed God’s answer to David’s prayers. As God answered David’s prayers, David’s faith in God grew, as did the faith of the nation.
David wanted the kings around Israel to know of God’s blessings as well. The “kings of the earth” would “give thanks” to God when they heard that God had kept His covenant with Israel. The kings would “sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.” In most nations in the Ancient Near East, the kings served as both sovereigns who ruled over the people and as priests who interceded before their nations’ deities for their people. When the kings heard of God’s faithfulness to David, they would realize the falsity of their idols and turn to the true God.
Unfortunately, few kings around Israel actually abandoned their idols for God. Through their own pride and arrogance, these kings refused to bow down and accept God’s rule over their nations through David, His chosen servant. These “haughty” rulers would bring God’s judgment down upon themselves and their people, even as the “lowly” who believed in God would receive blessings.
David praised God because God preserved him “in the midst of trouble.” The nation of Israel existed in a very dangerous and violent neighborhood. The small nations in the Ancient Near East lived in the shadow of mighty powers both to the north (Assyria and other Mesopotamian powers) and to the south (Egypt). While the other nations would try to rely on diplomatic skill and guile to avoid trouble with the superpowers around them, David relied on God to preserve Israel. “You stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,” said David of God, “and your right hand delivers me.” God had promised Israel that He would protect the nation as long as they kept the covenant (Deuteronomy 20:1-4). David, God’s chosen ruler and servant, led his nation to keep the covenant throughout his life.
Lastly, David praised God because He would “fulfill His purpose” for David. God had created David to rule Israel and establish the line through which His Son, Jesus, would come to earth in Bethlehem. by His eternal steadfast love, God would fulfill His promise to David: “Your throne shall be established forever” (2 Saumuel 7:16). As David finished the psalm, he called again on God not to “forsake” His work in David’s life and in Israel as His chosen people.
As I look around the sanctuary, I see familiar faces, both those who worship here each week and those who return occasionally because of family ties to New Hope. I know that we all have reason to praise God for His preservation of our lives, for His blessings of prosperity in our lives, and for His continued presence as we live our lives.
We know that, first and foremost, we must praise God for His salvation, wrought through the life of Jesus, His Son. Jesus, David’s greatest Descendant, exemplified God’s fulfillment of the covenant under which David lived. Jesus fulfilled the covenant and then died as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). Jesus then rose again from the dead, proclaiming to all Creation — both seen and unseen — that He had conquered sin and death. After His ascension into heaven, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit into the world to guide the Church and to indwell everyone who confesses Jesus as Lord, believing in His resurrection (Romans 10:9-10).
The Holy Spirit continues His work in the world today through the Church, the Body that encompasses every believer who has ever believed in Jesus for salvation. We gather regularly to praise God for His steadfast love and His faithfulness. We have called on God, interceding for others and asking His protection for our lives, and He has consistently answered our prayers. We sing of the ways of the LORD, for we know the greatness of His glory. We walk in the midst of a troubled world, confident the Holy Spirit will guide us, deliver us, and fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.
And, we know that because of God’s steadfast, covenantal love for His people, He will never forsake the work of His hands. We know that all creation groans under the weight of sin (Romans 8:22), but we also know that God will deliver creation through a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 22:1). We know that the new creation will never experience the horror of death, mourning, crying, or pain, “for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 22:4).
You came here today to celebrate your tie to this church, a church that has served our area since 1839. As you leave today, celebrate, with your whole heart, the steadfast love of an unchanging God. Praise the LORD before your family, friends, and everyone you meet. Let them see the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. Let them see that you have given your whole heart to the God whose steadfast love and faithfulness has guaranteed you an everlasting life.
