Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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THANK GOD!
Psalms 147


Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! (Psalms 147:1


As our nation set apart this day for thanksgiving, let us reflect on God’s

unfailing mercy and steadfast love towards us. No community can survive with out its memories.  Psalms 147 is a postexilic psalm that expounds the religious experience of the people of God. This psalm begins and ends with praise. Each of its three main units (1-6, 7-11, 12-20) opens with an imperative Praise! Sing! Praise! The psalmist describes the reasons for praising God.

Thank God for His creative power: The psalmist paints a vibrant portrait of our God as one whose power and graciousness embraces everyone and everything – from the downtrodden to the baby raven to the fiery stars high above. “Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure” (verse 5). Thus the psalmist declares the sovereignty of God as the one who build and rebuild a scattered and shattered people. It is a profound thought that the Lord builds up Jerusalem, he gathers the outcasts of Israel, he heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.  These words remind us of the comforting words of second Isaiah (Isaiah 40 – 66) to the people in exilic and postexilic experience. The psalmist describes God’s restoration of God’s people as comprehensive and ongoing.
 
Thank God for his mighty acts in history: The people of God have many things to remember – the mighty acts of God in their history.  They should always remember with thanks that the Lord has lifted them up in their lowliness (v. 6). It is God’s marvelous and wonderful acts of redemption from bondage (the exodus event), and the varied experiences of the wilderness journey that molded them as a people. All through their history it is God who guided them and nurtured them as his choicest treasure. It is that realization which helps the Psalmist to conclude at the end – “ He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his ordinances. Praise the Lord!” (V 20)

Thank God for his providence in life: Verses 13 and 14 reveal that God provides protection, peace and satisfaction in our life – “strengthens the bars of your gate, grants peace, fills you with finest wheat” The Israelite people experienced God’s provision in every moments of their life. The Psalmist underscores this truth again and again and testifies that His provision is universal, timely and responsive: “He feeds the young ravens when they cry.” (Verse 9) God is concerned about the most insignificant and fragile creatures. This prompts the Psalmist’s conclusion that God neither delights in human strength nor speed, qualities idolized in our culture today, but reverence (vv .10-11). Those “who fear the Lord” acknowledge God’s sovereignty and strive to live humbly and fully mindful of their capacities and limitations as creatures of God.

Prayer: Almighty Father, help us to be thankful to you always, remembering your creative power, mighty acts and care and concern for every creatures upon this earth. Amen.                  

Rev. Joseph Johnny, New York

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

 

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