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Thanksliving

July 12, 2015

Passage: Psalm 136:1–26


Thankfulness is intricate to a Christian's belief - it is a sure mark of a disciple.

Psalm 136 was written during the Jewish exile, a time of distress & brokenness. These Jews were giving thanks despite those circumstances. We can learn 3 lessons from this Psalm. 


1) Give thanks to God for His great & enduring love.

  • The Israelites clung to this verse (v1) throughout their entire history BECAUSE God's love truly endured for them. Our loving God is also a mighty God (v2-4).

2) See clearly God's love to motivate our thankfulness (v4-26).

  • Recognize God's day-to-day provision for us (v.4-9). These verses speak about provisions in food and security. Israel depended on the sun & rain for their crops and food and God is in control of the sun,moon,stars that were gods to their enemies signifying that God is in control of even the enemies' gods (Deut 4:19).
  • Remember the gospel (v.10-15). These verses point to the ultimate rescue by Jesus' sacrifice. The disciple is thanksgiving for the gospel.
  • Reorientate our eyes towards our sure future hope (v.16-26) God defeats the mighty kings to lead them through the wilderness into the land as He has promised them. So for us, we can do so also because God is trustworthy. What we give thanks for reveals our convictions (Col 1:4-5).

3) Persevere in giving thanks for God's love. "His love endures forever" was repeated 26 times throughout the psalm. Thanksgiving is a discipline, we have to do it deliberately and even when we don't feel like it.

Endure in thanksgiving just as God endures in loving us.