GIVE THANKS FOR THE GOODNESS OF GOD

GIVE THANKS FOR THE GOODNESS OF GOD

I Chronicles 16:7-36

Dr. Wm. J. Maxwell

First Presbyterian Church, Newport, RI

November 12, 2006

“Grateful.” That’s how he always replied to my question. I’m referring to a Church of God pastor in the area where I served my first church. Now, several years later, I can’t honestly remember his name. But I do recall that, on every occasion when I asked him how he was doing, he would reply, “Grateful.” “I’m grateful.”

Some might think it was a cliché, but I saw him as being sincere in this response. He truly was a grateful man. If, on the other hand, he wasn’t feeling particularly grateful on that day, in responding with this word, he would soon come up with reasons to be grateful!

Because the month of November is especially a time for us to be grateful, we are going to take a break from our study of Acts to consider our gratitude to God for His goodness, His gifts, and His grace. This morning, we will consider giving thanks to God for His goodness.

OUR PASSAGE BEFORE US.

As we do, we turn to a wonderful passage in the time of David, King of Israel. David had established Jerusalem as the capital city. He had built houses for himself in the city now designated and known as the “City of David”.

But David was not content in having an established capital and a palatial home for himself in Jerusalem. The tabernacle – the meeting place of God with His people – remained in the town of Gibeon. Longing to have this center of worship be in Jerusalem, David constructed a new tabernacle in Jerusalem for worship and to house the Ark of the Covenant.

With great pomp, circumstance and rejoicing, the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem and set inside the new tabernacle. It was a wonderful occasion, with offerings being made, gifts given to the people, and Levites being appointed to “minister before the Ark of the LORD, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel.” (NIV)

David then instructed Asaph and those with him to sing and give thanks to the LORD with the wonderful words of praise given in our passage, words of praise that are also found in Psalms 105, 106 and 96.

Collectively, these words form together as a call to rejoice in the one, true God, for all other gods are but worthless idols; but it is in fact the LORD who made the heavens and it is the LORD who made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and with the people of Israel.

In this wonderful assembly of choral praise and worship, there is a particular verse that is repeated in Scripture often – a call for the people of God to worship the LORD and give thanks to Him with two special reasons in mind: “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!” [i]

The two reasons given here for which we ought to thank God have to do with His character, His very being. The first has to do with His goodness, the second has to do with His covenant-love.

DAVID TEACHES US THAT

WE OUGHT TO PRAISE AND THANK GOD

BECAUSE GOD IS GOOD.

The LORD is good, and for this reason, God is worthy of praise and honor.

In the former verses, God is noted to be worthy of our praise because of the “wondrous works that He has done, His miracles and the judgments He uttered.” These “wondrous works” are especially to be found in relation to God’s choosing the patriarchs, making promises, and fulfilling those promises in the life and history of Israel.

But God is also noted to be worthy of praise because of who He is, in and of Himself, in His nature, being and character. Listen to the words of worship and adoration again:

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,

and He is to be held in awe above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols,

But the LORD made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before Him;

Strength and joy are in His place.

Ascribe to the LORD, O clans of the peoples,

Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name.

Did you hear all the descriptive words used in relation to God’s being? Greatness, splendor, majesty, strength, joy, and glory! All are sufficient cause to bring us to a posture of worship and adoration. But there is surely more when we draw our attention to verse 34 and add that “the LORD is good.” There is to be found in God a sure and certain benevolence, good will, kindness and generosity. As such, God is most worthy of our praise and adoration.

Let’s be honest with ourselves, though. We don’t always think that what God is doing in our world or in our own lives is all that particularly good. But the fault doesn’t lie within God; the fault lies within us.

Max Lucado makes this point by first telling a story of how he tried to save a hummingbird trapped in a garage and obviously confused. With the children pleading for Daddy to do something, Lucado tried his best to free the little bird. But every move Lucado made, the situation became worse. The little bird finally trapped himself between two window panes inside a window. That’s when Lucado took a radical step, grabbed a few feathers, and jerked the bird out to freedom.

Now, hearing the bird tell the story to his wife, once back in the nest, you would think the bird narrowly escaped the clutches of a “big, ugly one” coming after him. There was no thought whatsoever on the part of “the big, ugly one” to liberate him. After all, he was only interested in “hummingburgers for dinner”!

Lucado wanted to say to the little bird, “If only you knew …” And he also adds that God so often seems to be saying the very same thing to us. In the difficulties and trials and even tragedies of life, Lucado tells us, “Daily, God’s extended aid is misinterpreted as intended hurt. We complain of closed windows, not noticing the huge open doors. We panic as the ledge rises, oblivious to the exit below. We dodge the stick that guides and the fingers that liberate.” We fail to hear His voice:

If only you knew … If only you knew that I came to help and not condemn. If only you knew that tomorrow will be better than today. If only you knew the gift I have brought: eternal life. If only you knew I want you safely home.[ii]

A good God will not fail to remain good in His being, and such a good God will not fail to remain benevolent towards those whom He loves and for whom He sent His only begotten Son. In this season of thanksgiving, let’s remember the goodness of God. Let’s renew our trust that a good God only wants what is best for us and that He will relentlessly pursue what is best for us, because He is good.

SECONDLY, DAVID TEACHES US THAT

WE OUGHT TO PRAISE AND THANK GOD

BECAUSE HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.

The Hebrew word used here is a very special word, the word “chesed” or “hesed.” This word has been translated in many ways, such as love, steadfast love, mercy or loving-kindness. It’s the same word found in Psalm 23:6, translated as “mercy” in the ESV or as “love” in the NIV.

This word means a cementing, bonding kind of love, used most often in the sense of a covenant relationship, particularly the one found between God and His people. It began with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, continued with the emerging nation of Israel, and was brought to fruition through the line of David himself, culminating in the Person of Jesus Christ.

As we look to the covenant relationship we have with God through faith in Jesus Christ, we can find the deepest level of compassion, loving kindness and mercy. So, one of the most common exclamations of praise in Israel and for the New Israel, the Church, is surely this: “Give thanks to the LORD, for His steadfast love endures forever.” [iii] This God, this covenant-making, covenant-keeping God, is ever to be praised!

Again, this does not mean a life free of hardship and free of difficulty, but it does mean a life embraced by a love that will never let us go. It is such a firm, consistent, relentless love, that it will prove to be the sure foundation we need in every situation and in all of life.

Last summer, when I was on sabbatical, my wife and I not only went to Scotland, but we went to Ireland as well. Ireland is an absolutely beautiful country of lush green fields, towering rocky cliffs along ocean shores, and deep blue lakes. Killarney in southwestern Ireland was a particular favorite of ours and we hope to go back there some day.

A few years ago, a Detroit priest named Edward Farrell went to Ireland for a vacation. He had one living uncle there who was about to celebrate his 80^th birthday. So, Farrell made a special effort to visit with him and particularly for that occasion.

On the day of his uncle’s birthday, they both got up very early before dawn and in the stillness of that morning hour, neither one of them said a word. They dressed and then took a walk together along the shores of Lake Killarney. Then they stopped to look and even stare at the sun rise on the horizon, yet still saying nothing; not a word had been spoken.

All of a sudden, the uncle turned and went on his way, skipping down the road. His countenance was so bright, even radiant, as he was grinning ear to ear. That’s when the conversation began, beginning with the nephew: “Uncle Seamus, you really look happy.” “I am, lad.” “Want to tell me why?” That’s when the 80 year old uncle said in reply, “Yes, you see, my Abba is very fond of me.” [iv]

It appears that the 80 year old uncle had been reviewing his life, considering in all the faithfulness of God. It appears that the 80 year old uncle was also viewing the graciousness of God in giving him the gifts of a glorious sunrise before him and a nephew by his side.

But it also appears that the 80 year old uncle was elated most with the relationship he had with God, whose steadfast, covenant-making, covenant–keeping love in Jesus Christ enabled him to relate with God in the most intimate of terms, as Abba, Father, the very term used of a child toward his or her earthly father.

Amazing. And yet true for all those who know this love of God in Jesus Christ, from which

neither death nor life,

nor angels nor rulers,

nor things present nor things to come,

nor powers, nor hight nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation

will be able to separate us … [v]

During this month of November, we can surely acknowledge many reasons for which to give thanks to God. After all, so many blessings continue to pour into our lives from His gracious hand. But in this passage specifically designed for giving thanks on the occasion of the Ark of the Covenant coming to Jerusalem, you and I are also reminded to worship the LORD because of who He is:

“O give thanks to the LORD,

for He is good;

for His steadfast love endures forever!”