THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE

Thanksgiving and praise are most appropriate when we have faced trial or difficulty and have experienced God’s help and deliverance. In this psalm, David models for us how such thanksgiving and praise should look and sound: whole-hearted, bold* (cf. vs. 1 “before the gods I sing your praise”, and humble* (cf. vs. 2 “I bow down toward your holy temple”). Where he states that, “I give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and…faithfulness” David shows us further still why such thanksgiving and praise toward God is infinitely appropriate.

And yet in the span of two verses, David does more still. He shows us that our thanksgiving should be most deeply rooted in God’s deepest commitment—which is ultimately not to us, but rather to His name and word (cf. vs. 2 “…for you have exalted above all things your name and your word”). Therefore, His steadfast love and faithfulness toward us, rooted in His unchanging character, are unshakeable.

And then we read finally of what God has specifically done for David: “On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.” (vs. 3)

Surprisingly, as Derek Kidner writes, we find that God has actually not changed David’s circumstances per se but more perhaps profoundly has changed David, “It is not always the situation which most needs changing: it is, as often as not, the man involved in it.”*

May we agree wholeheartedly with David that such a God who changes not only our trials but also changes us, is always worthy of whole-hearted thanksgiving and bold and humble praise.

*Kidner Classic Commentaries, Psalms 73 -150, Derek Kidner, IVP Academic 2008.