GOD IS GOOD

Our psalmist recounts some of God’s many mercies: redeeming, v. 2; gathering them as the congregation of the Lord, v. 3; leading them by the right way, v. 7; satisfying the longing soul, v. 9; delivering them out of bondage and darkness, v. 14; saving them from the storm-tossed sea of despair into His peace, vv. 23-30, and turning the dry ground into watersprings, v. 35.

Are these not enough to bring forth thanksgiving? Let the reader apply each to its respective spiritual analogy. Truly the Lord is good, v. 1, and we should say so, v. 2, and also say it in the congregation, v. 32. Moreover, we should make the thanksgiving a sacrifice freely offered and of a fragrant odour to the Lord, v. 22.

Of old, the peace offering was used as a thankoffering, Lev. 7. 12. Psalm 100 was a psalm especially “for the thank offering”, R.V. marg. “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving…be thankful unto him” was the fitting exhortation, 100. 4.

With that offering, vows were recalled, Lev. 7. 12-16, in such words as, “thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render thankofferings unto thee”, Psa. 56. 12 R.V. So now our thankful hearts will soon sense the obligation upon them when recalling how in the past God’s goodness had evoked either spoken or unspoken promises to Him.

Hebrew^ 13. 15-16 is an echo of the praise offering of Leviticus 7 in a New Testament setting, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name”. Another element in the praise offering was sharing with others, Lev. 7. 31-32; Psa. 22. 26. Therefore Hebrews 13. 16 continues, “to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased”.

Among the many blessings for which we should more particularly give thanks continually is “his unspeakable gift (the Lord Jesus)”, 2 Cor. 9. 15, including the remembrance of His holiness vindicated at the cross, Psa. 30. 4, and the coming final victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 15. 57.

“Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”, 1 Cor. 15. 57.