This is the time of year when our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving. To most of the United States, the word means a specific holiday when people gather with loved ones and eat a big meal. However, most are only thankful their bellies are full and they are with people they love. What a tragedy it is to miss the purpose of such a special day. Over and over in scripture, we see the command to be thankful. Today, I want to focus on singing praises of Thanksgiving.
In Psalm 95, the psalmist begins with the command to sing unto the Lord. The psalmist is calling believers to unite in praise to the one who is LORD. The title Lord is the same as the Jewish national name for God, Jehovah. In the Hebrew language, it means He is the self-existent one, and His existence is eternal. He always has been and always will be. No other being can claim to be these things.
In the New Testament, in Ephesians 5:19-20, Paul commands us to speak to one another by singing to one another. This is what corporate worship should include. Music should prepare our hearts for the word of God that will be preached in the service. They are to be spiritual songs bringing us into the presence of God Almighty. They are not to be focused on us and our woes and needs but on the awesomeness of God. It must be sung from the heart. Giving thanks always for all that God has done for us. Speaking and singing in this manner makes our hearts happy. We have a deep-seated joy that nothing can touch. We realize this world is not our home; we really are just passing through, as the old song says. Therefore, our attitude should be joyful singing and praise unto the King of Kings.
It should be done as a joyful noise to God himself. The joyful noise shows the delight of the heart to worship and praise the one who saved our souls. The Psalms of David were sung in the temple, but they were also sung in the early Christian churches. While you may not recognize them, many of the Psalms are incorporated into our worship songs today. When we sing these songs, we are singing back to God His own inspired words to us. When the psalmist speaks of a joyful noise, it carries with it the idea of a shout, a loud noise of triumph. Many times, the Jews would sing or shout these Psalms in battle. They were making their noise to the “Rock of our salvation.” He is the one where their confidence lies and the one in which their hope lies. I believe that too often today, we do not sing in this manner because we are confident in ourselves. We in America have been so blessed that we take it for granted, and therefore, we do not praise the way we ought to.
The next phrase in this passage teaches us to “come before his presence with thanksgiving.” While He is everywhere all the time, we are always in His presence, but we are not always there intentionally. This command would require us to set aside time to focus on Him and be conscious of His presence. We are to do it with thanksgiving. Our attitude when we approach him in song and prayer ought to be offered with a thankful heart. This thankful heart needs to be a permanent mindset, not just a day in November. In Ephesians 5:20, we are reminded to always give thanks for everything!
Psalm 95:1-2 “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.”
Ephesians 5:19-20 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
If the knowledge of Him saving your soul from the pits of Hell does not make you want to shout and sing, you have a problem. In Psalm 95:3, we are reminded of the greatness of our God—a God like no other. He is one who can help us on this earth and prepare a place beyond our wildest dreams for all eternity. He is the King above all kings forevermore. We don’t just have a god; we have the one and only eternal God.
Psalm 95:3 “For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”
Take time today to praise Him and thank Him for all of His blessings on your life.
Excellent