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Giving Thanks: The Best Thing

Thanksgiving

Nov 27, 2019


by: Jack Lash Series: Thanksgiving | Scripture: Psalm 17:13–15

I. Introduction
A. The time for giving thanks has rolled around again. And there are so many things to be thankful for: Family, health, jobs, provision, protection, houses, cars, opportunities, friends, beauty, talents
B. Let’s see what guidance we can receive from Psalm 17.
II. I’ve talked about Psalm 16:4–6 before. “The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips. 5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. 6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.”
A. Here the psalmist compares himself to those who run after other gods. He says that their sorrows will multiply.
1. The psalmist, on the other, hand, has a very different inheritance.
2. His inheritance is the Lord.
3. In the language of a father’s land being divided up among his sons, he says, “The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.”
4. Others may have received other things: lands, money, cattle, possessions, or a good name. But the psalmist, he got the best inheritance of all. For him, the lines have fallen in pleasant places. His inherited portion is the Lord!
III. Then in the next psalm, David goes on to say something similar.
A. Psalm 17:13b–15 Deliver my soul from the wicked...by your hand, O LORD, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants. 15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.
1. Men of the world
a. In the ancient world, children were the greatest treasure of all.
(1) Psalm 127:4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.
(2) Deuteronomy 28:1 If you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God,...4 Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb...15 But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God ...18 Cursed shall be the fruit of your womb
b. The Lord blesses them with children
c. With wealth
2. Is there a contradiction here? In Psalm 16 he says that the sorrows will multiply but in Ps.17 he says that the Lord will fill their lives with children and wealth.
a. But notice the difference in tense. The Lord may give them much now, but in the future, their sorrows will be multiplied.
b. Their portion is in this life. Their family life and wealth are all they’re going to get.
3. But not so for the psalmist. He will behold God’s face; when he wakes up in the morning, he will be satisfied by seeing the Lord.
B. In both of these psalms, David is desperate. His earthly pleasures are running very low. And yet, he is finding satisfaction in the Lord. And this will only increase as time goes on — forever!
IV. So what do we learn here? Even though we have many things to be thankful for, we don’t really need all those other things. Here we see that there is one thing we have to be thankful for which the person of the world does not have.
A. We have God. Not everyone gets that privilege.
B. He is our joy. He is our hope. He is our life. His lovingkindness is better than everything else in life.
C. Other things are nice. Having a good marriage is nice. Having a good friend is nice. Having a healthy body is nice. Having a good job is nice.
D. But only the Lord gives abundant life. Only the Lord gives eternal life. Only the Lord satisfies the human heart.
V. There are many things we are naturally thankful for,
A. We are thankful for the praise of others. We are thankful when we receive things we want for Christmas. We are thankful when we get a good night’s sleep. We are thankful when we get a raise.
B. Now there’s nothing wrong with being thankful for that kind of thing. James 5:13 tells us, “Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise!”
C. The problem begins when our happiness is based on those things. How do we know if our happiness is based on those things? We know when those things are taken away. Does our happiness depart as well? If so, we had based our happiness on those things.
D. The problem of rejoicing in the wrong thing is seen in Luke 10:17–20 when Jesus appointed 72 of His followers and sent them out (Luke 10:1), giving them the power to cast out demons (Matt.10:8; Luke 9:1–2). The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
1. Did you ever think you’d hear Jesus say, “Do not rejoice”? Yet He says “Do not rejoice that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
E. It is so easy to base our happiness on earthly privileges or accomplishments.
1. Beauty, intelligence, wealth
2. Finding Mr. Right
3. Getting pregnant
4. Rejoicing in ministry success
F. Christ wants us to be thankful for all these things. BUT, you can be very thankful for all these things and still be way off track.
G. A friend in prison
1. If the things which make us happy are outside of prison, then no prisoner can be happy.
2. Could you be happy in prison?
3. I can tell you one thing. There are people who are happy in prison, because they have Jesus. and Jesus is in there just as he’s out here.
4. Prisoners never speak highly of the prison environment or accommodations. They are disgusted with the way people are treated, the rampant hatred and emptiness. But they still know that they have what they need, because they have Jesus.
5. You know, prisoners have an advantage over us. They know that their happiness doesn’t come from their circumstances.
6. Not many prisoners may be giving thanks this week, but the ones who are, their gratitude is like a sweet aroma in the Lord’s nostrils.
H. We have our own prisons at times. “Something is wrong! This doesn’t feel right.”
1. I married the wrong person!
2. I’m not supposed to be a mother.
3. I shouldn’t have signed up for classes this semester.
4. I shouldn’t have walked into this church this morning.
5. I don’t like my job.
6. Or you just have a day when everything goes wrong.
I. But it’s in those times when we find out what we really believe. In those times we find out if the Lord is really our happiness.
1. You see, the fact is that God isn’t there with us any less when we’re in our little prisons.
2. And the most precious thanksgiving we give is when our worship rises up out of prison, because you know that God is leading you, even though it is through a wilderness.
3. God promised to lead us, and He promised to be with us. but God never promises that it’s always going to feel right.
4. Sometimes you find yourself wandering in a wilderness and it’s natural to feel like you shouldn’t have come here.
a. But just because you’re in a dark, barren place doesn’t mean God hasn’t led you there.
b. The HS led Jesus into the wilderness.
c. The Lord led the Israelites into the wilderness.
VI. How can you be thankful in a wilderness? Only when the thing you’re thankful for is something which can’t be taken away. only when the Lord in your life is the thing you are grateful for.
A. Thankful for the privilege of knowing Him.
B. Thankful that He is always with you
C. Thankful that in His perfect wisdom He has you just where He wants you
D. Thankful for the privilege of being included among His precious people
E. Thankful that His great love rests upon you on account of Christ.
F. Thankful that there is a paradise of joy being prepared for you no matter what happens to you here.
G. The people of this world have their portion in this life. They may have all sorts of fun stuff. But as for the people of the Lord, they shall behold God’s face; when they awake in the morning, they will satisfied with the Lord.
VII. Conclusion
A. You can have so much, but miss the best thing of all.
B. It’s possible to live a long, and even happy, life — and yet to miss out on the best thing of all.
C. Don’t live a Christ-less life! He gives abundant life. He gives true freedom. He doesn’t just feed the hungry stomach, He feeds the hungry soul. He heals the wounds of the heart. He is the Lover who will never walk out, and who will love you with a perfect love.
D. That’s something to be eternally grateful for!