OUR GRATEFULNESS DEPENDS UPON
OUR FAITHFULNESS!
Psalm 111:1
Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the
LORD with my whole heart,
in the company of the
upright, in the congregation.
What a wonderful way to
begin a psalm. I will give thanks! This gratefulness is not a halfhearted or
forced action, but is genuine and sincere. When gratefulness is true, then it’s
not secret. It’s obvious to those around. What a privilege we have as believers,
to be aware of God’s actions and to unite ourselves with others in open and
sincere gratitude. We should ask ourselves if we are known as grateful people.
Gratefulness will be a
natural response, when we stop and reflect on what God is doing. The psalmist
took time to reflect on God’s great works.
Psalm 111:2
Great are the works of the
LORD,
studied by all who delight
in them.
It is very easy to be
grateful people, if we not only stop and think about the works of the Lord, but
we also study them. Our study needs to be directed towards the purposes of
God’s work.
James reminds us of a
couple of elements that should be at the forefront of our study of God’s works:
James 1:2-4
Count it all joy, my
brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing
of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full
effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:16-18
Do not
be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is
from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no
variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the
word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
God’s work in the life of
the believer always has an eternal purpose! God is working to produce assurance
and spiritual maturity. Every thing that God does is good, and is a gift from
Him; His purposes will never change!
I find that if I don’t
stop to study the character of God and His purposes, I will not be thankful,
because I will tend to look at the events of my life as separated from the
loving hand of God.
The writer has stopped to
study and reflect on God’s works.
Psalm 111:3-9
Full of splendor and
majesty is his work,
and his righteousness
endures forever.
He has caused his wondrous
works to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and
merciful.
He provides food for those
who fear him;
he remembers his covenant
forever.
He has shown his people
the power of his works,
in giving them the
inheritance of the nations.
The works of his hands are
faithful and just;
all his precepts are
trustworthy;
they are established
forever and ever,
to be performed with
faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent redemption to his
people;
he has commanded his
covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his
name!
As he studies, he reminds
himself of the purposes and the character of God.
He takes time to remember
that God’s works are majestic. His works are superior to anything man could
ever imagine to accomplish. God provides faithfully to all the needs of His
own. He has made known His works to His people. His work is not temporary, but
has eternal purposes and cannot be thwarted. He provided redemption and His
covenants are forever.
Our sovereign God also has
a holy and perfect character. He is righteous, He is gracious and merciful, He
is just, He is trustworthy, He is faithful and upright, He is holy and awesome.
Careful study of God’s works can only produce
gratefulness, nothing else. If we are not experiencing gratefulness, it is not
the works of God that are in question, but rather our own lack of reflection
and consideration of His character!
Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is
the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it
have a good understanding.
His praise endures
forever!
As the writer ends this
inspired song, he makes it clear that we need to begin in the right place: with
fear of the Lord. Only those who begin there can
obtain wisdom, and therefore have the ability to understand God’s works and be
overwhelmed with gratefulness.
Lack of gratefulness is not the result of God’s
shortcomings, but the logical end of those who live according to earthly
wisdom.
When you and I find
ourselves in seasons of ingratitude, we don’t need to pray that our
circumstances change, but that our understanding of God changes. Believers who live
in the fear of the Lord are blessed, grateful, and joyful.
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