ALWAYS THANKFUL- NO MATTER WHAT
Introduction:
Thanksgiving Day should not be the only day to give thanks to the Lord.
One good thing about the Thanksgiving Day is- it reminds us to be thankful to the Lord for all His grace and blessings.
Psalm 34 is one of the psalms of thanksgiving by King David, who was always thankful to the Lord. The title of the Psalm says, “A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.” This refers to the events of 1 Samuel 21:10-15 where David, because he was afraid, acted like he was crazy before Achish, the king of Gath. The Psalm does not indicate any attempt to vindicate David’s action. In fact, in the Psalm, David makes no reference to his conduct. He makes no comment upon it. He merely recalls his feelings at the time of his deliverance. We are not to assume that this was necessarily written at the time of the events of 1 Samuel 21.
1. David was thankful in all circumstances:
David said in verse 1: I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
David praised and worshipped the Lord in good times of victory by dancing in the presence of God. II Samuel 6:14- Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before. the Lord with all his might. Verse 21- David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord.
In what circumstances Psalm 34 was written? We see that David worshipped and thanked the Lord in the most hopeless circumstances. He ran away from King Saul, who was seeking to kill him. He thought that by running away in to the Philistine territory, he will escape from Saul. Remember David had killed Philistine giant Goliath when he was a young boy and later he killed many Philistines in the battles. The Philistines were considering David their prime enemy. Here David ran in to the enemy’s country of Gath, where King named Ackish (whose title was Abimelek). The servants of the king immediately recognized him and brought before the king. This could have been dangerous for David, as the King could kill him. So he pretended to be a mad person in front of the King. The King Ackish ultimately drove David out, considering him an insane person.
Look at David, once a mighty warrior, hiding in enemy’s place and in the most hopeless situation. He has no way to go. He had no option but to pretend to be a mad. Somehow God used this situation to save David from the enemies and led him to the cave of Adullam where his family joined and other men joined him.
Sometimes when we feel hopeless we also do anything to escape. But as the title of Psalm 34 says, this song of thanksgiving was written in this hopeless situation. This was the lowest point in David’s life. But the Psalm begins with praise and thanksgiving.
David teaches us that we should be always thankful regardless of good and adverse circumstances. Apostle Paul wrote in I Thess. 5:18- give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
2. Secret of David’s thankfulness:
a. David didn’t boast in his strength and power but boasted in the LORD.
Verse 2- I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. The word LORD is mentioned 12 times in the Psalm 34. YHWH, Jehova, is the covenant name of God who is faithful to His people, even though people forsake God, He will not forsake His people. He is a compassionate God, quick to mercy and slow to anger.
David’s worship and thanksgiving was not based on his physical circumstances but they were based on the faithfulness of Almighty God. Thank the Lord when everything is good and comfortable and thank the Lord even when things are bad and situations are uncomfortable.
Many people sitting here are going through hurting times: dismal medical reports, sickness, family issues, relationship breakdown, unanswered or delayed prayers for the salvation of loved ones, financial struggles etc. David teaches us that it is not impossible to praise and thank the Lord even in most difficult times.
Our situations may appear to be impossible to us, but for God nothing is impossible. He delivered David from the impossible and hopeless situation. The need is to depend on God and not on our wisdom and strength.
Our testimony of deliverance encourages “the poor/ afflicted” people. When we say, “my God delivered me from this or that” it gives encouragement and message to others to trust the Lord for deliverance.
b. David magnified the Lord in the face of problems and involved others in our thanksgiving: Verse 3- Glorify/ Magnify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
David said in Psalm 69:30, "I will magnify God with thanksgiving." The word "magnify" can be used in two different senses:
i) Make something appear greater than it is, as with a microscope or a magnifying glass.
ii) Make something that may seem small or insignificant appear to be as great as it really is. This is what our great telescopes help us begin to do with the magnificent universe which once upon a time spilled over from the brim of God's glory. So there are two kinds of magnifying: microscope magnifying and telescope magnifying. The one makes a small thing look bigger than it is. The other makes a big thing begin to look as big as it really is.
When David says, "I will magnify God with thanksgiving," he does not mean: "I will make a small God look bigger than he is. He means: "I will make a big God begin to look as big as he really is." We are not called to be microscopes, but telescopes.
c. David always sought the Lord and prayed in every situation.
Verse 4- I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Our God is a prayer answering God. Our God delivers us from all our fears.
Isaiah 55:6- Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. When we seek the Lord, He is found.
Verse 17- The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
d. David sought the light of the Lord in his darkest moments.
Verse 5- Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. David saw the radiant face of the Lord in the darkest situation and received light. He was not ashamed before the enemies as the Lord made his face glow with radiance.
e. David humbled himself before the Lord: Verse 6- This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. He was a mighty warrior and victor in the eyes of men but in prayer he became “poor” and humble. He realized that his might and power can’t save him, but only God can deliver him from such a hopeless situation.
f. David trusted the Lord and His invisible protection:
Verse 7- The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Verse 8- Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Psalms 91:9-10- If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.
Verse 22- The Lord will rescue his servants.
g. David trusted the Lord for his provisions:
God is our provider: He is our Jehovah-Jireh- Verses 8-10- The Lord is good.
James 1:17- Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Those who fear the Lord, they will not lack anything. Even lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Phil. 4:19- My God shall supply all your needs according to riches of His glory- unlimited, inexhaustible, everlasting glory.
Conclusion:
How can we be thankful to God in all circumstances?
7 principles we learnt from David:
a. Boast and glory in the Lord not in our strength
b. Magnify the Lord in the face of problems- don’t magnify problems
c. Seek the Lord in prayer always
d. Seek the light of the Lord in his darkest moments
e. Humble yourself before the Lord
f. Trust the Lord for His protection
g. Trust the Lord for His provisions
David invites you to “taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him” Give your life to Jesus and taste His goodness.
