August 21, 2022 -- Psalm 79:13 -- Reasons to Give Thanks to God Forever and Ever

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
Psalm 79:13 ESV

The context of our words is this: Psalm 79 is filled with lament—that is mournful crying out to God. The writer is aware of all the troubles God has poured out on the land, the peoples, and the hardships all the people of the land are enduring. He is emptying out his heart before God. His bewilderment, his longings and unfulfilled expectations all of these are put before the LORD His God. Where else can we go when our hearts are overwhelmed and the world seemed filled with enemies?

Our text this fine day is the beautiful ending of the psalm. Here the writer is declaring to God: in contrast to all the troubles to the right and to the left, above and below, we know we are Your people. What security is given to believers. No matter the upheavals all around His people are teh sheep of His pasture.. Remember Psalm 23? The LORD is our Shepherd—He gathers His people together, He feeds them, He gives water, He restores the soul!  Here, in Psalm 79, after 12 verses of heart-wrenching crying out to God, this psalm ends with a profound vow of trust. There is such calm and peace, as recalls Psalm 23, recalls the tender care of the Living God.

Those who know Jesus, the Good Shepherd, for that is what He is called in John 10, will gather even more reassurance from this Psalm. We will give thanks to God forever. He has fed His people. He has saved His people. He protects His people, even when the world seems to be burning all around. He is making His people holy, even in a world that is awash in the sewage of sinfulness and rebellion against God. His people are being made holy.

One generation tells the next of the goodness of God This is goodness that outshines whatever is the latest reason for fearfulness. Today, as at the time the psalm was written, there are wars that rages, fears for safety. For us today, there are the added layers of the epidemic of drug abuse, the climate fears which put all the responsibility on man to solve, as if God is not able to keep His creation functioning and whole, as if God had not already accounted for the sinfulness of man. In sharp contrast to all of this, believers of one generation remind the next of God’s pervasive faithfulness and compassion so that future generations rise up to bless His Name.

Today is Sunday. Get to church. Be renewed in our precious faith. Grow in your knowledge of God and exercise obedience to Him. Set aside your worries and unfounded fears. Connect with other Christians so that your faith will be strengthened.

Steadfast God, immovable and powerful to keep all the promises You made in Scripture, increase our trust in Jesus, Your appointed Shepherd of the people. Give us the eyes of faith to see how generation after generation Your Spirit has gathered together the people who recount Your praise. God, worthy of all praise, bring Your people to church, so that our precious faith may increase, we will be prepared for the wonders of eternity and as we wait for eternity in Your Presence, we will then call out to this world to join us in giving thanks to You for Your great salvation. Amen.

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