Creating a Thankful Family (Psalm 77)
November 26, 2020

Creating a Thankful Family (Psalm 77)

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Creating a Thankful Family
Psalm 77
Thanksgiving Day
2020

Introduction
Even in the midst of our current “pandemic,” this remains a most enjoyable time of year. I say that because of what this season represents, which is a time for reflection and the giving of thanks to our Creator for what He has provided for us, not only in terms of earthly goods, but especially in regard to our life to come.

The Bible teaches that a thankful perspective on life is fundamental to what it means to be one of God’s people. One of the most God-honoring things you can do is train yourself to be a thankful person. And, if you have children, one of the most God honoring things you can do is teach them to be thankful.

So, as you enjoy this day with friends and loved ones, I want to talk about creating a thankful family. How is it done? Is it difficult? Does the Scripture give us any help in this matter? Before going further, I want to remind you that we are not, by nature, thankful people. We are, by nature, selfish, self-centered people and we must train ourselves to be grateful not only to other human beings but also even to our Creator. And since the Bible says so much about the giving of thanks, I can promise you that God honors the thankful home.

In the Old Testament, numerous references are made to the obligation of thanksgiving. There were sacrifices of thanksgiving in which the worshiper expressed recognition of God’s mercy (Lev. 7:12, 13). God’s people, then, were trained to think from a thankful perspective as they obeyed the law and brought thanksgiving offerings to the LORD.

In. Psa. 95, we learn that an attitude of thanksgiving was supposed to characterize God’s people. The writer says: “Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving...” And, likewise in Psa. 100:4, we read: “Enter His gates with thanksgiving...” The giving of thanks and worshiping God go hand in hand according to the directions given to Israel. Psalm 50:23 teaches that the giving of thanks is a way of honoring God: “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me...”.

The Old Testament Scriptures tell us that there were even individuals appointed to do nothing by sing hymns of thanksgiving to God. After the return from exile, one of the first things Nehemiah did was appoint singers for the worship of God and among those, were designated certain men who were in charge of “songs of thanksgiving.” (cf. Neh. 12:8, 46).

Of all the things Nehemiah was concerned about at that critical point in Israel’s history, the giving of thanks to the LORD was high on his list of priorities. He understood the significance of being a thankful man and he understood the significance of Israel quickly establishing itself as a thankful nation even though the people had just returned from exile.

When we come to the New Testament, we find that the giving of thanks to God is just as prominent. Paul said: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil. 4:6); and “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Col 3:15, 16); and “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” (Col. 4:2) One of Paul’s outstanding characteristics is his emphasis on the giving of thanks. He not only emphasized this truth in his letters, but he also lived this truth himself.

There can be no debate that God’s people are obligated to express thanksgiving to Him frequently. In fact, we should be characterized by an attitude of thanksgiving at all times. But we do not live in a thankful society. On the contrary, we live in an arrogant society. You do not encounter genuinely thankful people frequently when you leave your home during the week.

It is more likely that you will encounter selfish people, people who want everything they have and more, people who think they deserve a better life than what they are experiencing. This is not really a surprising attitude when you remember that we are sinners; and one thing that sin does is make us complainers.

To give thanks we must recognize a power greater than ourselves. To give thanks we must become humble and confess our reliance on another. Christians are required to be thankful people. We are obligated to recognize God’s merciful dealings with us. The thanklessness of those around us is of no consequence as far as our personal responsibility is concerned. What we have to do is work to be thankful people and work to raise thankful children and work to build thankful households.

In Psa. 77 the writer provides us with three steps which, if implemented by you and your family, will gradually produce an atmosphere of thanksgiving. While great displays of thankfulness may be few and far between, by imitating the example of this writer, you can be sure that you and your children are at least making an honorable effort.

The historical setting for this Psalm is uncertain. Circumstances were such that the writer was emotionally overwhelmed. It could have been that the nation was experiencing a particularly difficult time or perhaps this Psalm only reflects a personal experience of the writer. Whatever the case, we can learn something about the state of the writer’s mind from the tone of this Psalm. As you read this Psalm, therefore, pay attention to what the writer tells us about his perspective.
Psalm 77:1 My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; My voice rises to God, and He will hear me. 2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; In the night my hand was stretched out without weariness; My soul refused to be comforted. 3 When I remember God, then I am disturbed; When I sigh, then my spirit grows faint. 4 You have held my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I have considered the days of old, The years of long ago. 6 I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, and my spirit ponders: 7 Will the Lord reject forever? And will He never be favorable again? 8 Has His lovingkindness ceased forever? Has His promise come to an end forever? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious, or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion? 10 Then I said, "It is my grief, That the right hand of the Most High has changed." 11 I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. 12 I will meditate on all Your work and muse on Your deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God? 14 You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples. 15 You have by Your power redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. 16 The waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were in anguish; The deeps also trembled. 17 The clouds poured out water; The skies gave forth a sound; Your arrows flashed here and there. 18 The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook. 19 Your way was in the sea And Your paths in the mighty waters, And Your footprints may not be known. 20 You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

We can conclude that the writer passed through a time of depression, desperation, and doubt. Whatever prompted the writing of this portion of Scripture took a severe emotional toll on this man. He speaks of seeking the Lord throughout the night (v. 2). His soul was so troubled that he could not sleep and did not know what to say (v. 4). The writer thought much about the past—perhaps remembering better times or times when the LORD came to his aid (vv. 6-8). Whatever happened led this writer to wonder if God had forsaken him forever. Would he ever again experience God’s favor? Had God become so angry that He had withdrawn His grace? (v. 9) In his intense grief, this man thought that perhaps “the right hand of the Most High has changed.” (v. 10)

How does one recover from such spiritual and emotional depression? This writer reveals a method of dealing with his circumstances that brought stability. He was able to replace his doubt and depression with thanksgiving. The formula contained in this Psalm can serve all of God’s people. We need not be in the condition experienced by this writer before we make use of his wisdom.

What, then, did this writer do which can be imitated by us to produce thankful families? What steps did he take which can be repeated by us? The answers are given in vv. 11-15. Just after the writer tells us how distraught he was, he also tells us what he did to relieve his fear and regain his confidence so that he could respond to his situation as a thankful man instead of a fearful man.

1. In order to create a family that is characterized by thankfulness you must remember the deeds of God (v. 11)
The writer reached the point where he thought God had deserted him. From this pit of despair come these words: “I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; surely I will remember Your wonders of old.” (v. 11) This writer could find no comfort in his present circumstances. He had considered various explanations, including the idea that the LORD had forsaken him. But, before he is lost in total despair, he does something that turns his situation around.

He begins to think about what God had done for him and his people. What this man experienced challenged his view of God, but he resorted to reflection upon the past to gain comfort and confidence in the present. Therefore, instead of continuing to dwell on his present misery, he found solace in the past works of his God.

The writer refers to God’s past acts as “wonders.” This is where the turn-around begins. God’s deeds are spectacular; they are incredible. They reveal a God who rules, loves, and provides, not a God who terrorizes, hates, and withholds. To think that this God would actually care for us while we live out our few years on this earth is also an amazing notion. This is what the writer of this Psalm does, however. He thinks on these and other truths about God. From this point on, the tone of this Psalm changes dramatically. This passage becomes a hymn of praise and thanksgiving.

The lesson here is obvious. If you wish to maintain the proper attitude toward life and toward God, you must remember the past wondrous deeds of God. You must not forget what He has done for you and your family. You must not forget how He has cared for you and how He has comforted you and how He has given you purpose and understanding. If you wish to create a spirit of thanksgiving in your family, take time to remember the ways in which God has expressed His love for you in the past. Make this a regular practice now and even throughout the year.

2. In order to create a family that is characterized by thankfulness you must meditate on the deeds of God (v. 12)
An important element is added in this second step. We tend to miss the point when the Old Testament Scriptures talk about something being “remembered.” We think that means to recall something to mind and then be off to the next thought or activity. But in the Hebrew mind, to remember something involved more. And this writer explains this concept clearly when he says that beyond merely remembering God’s past acts, he will meditate on them.

This was part of the remembering process, we might say, of the Jews. To remember something was to ponder it. The writer means that as he remembered God’s past acts, as he remembered things God had done before, he took the time to muse over them, to linger over them in his mind. This brought satisfaction to his troubled soul. You can almost see him shaking his head in an approving manner as he recalled one episode of God’s kindness after another. “Yes, God has been good to me. Yes, I remember how He provided for me and made me safe.”

What is pictured here is a sincere and prolonged reflection. It’s the kind of thing we don’t do very often these days. We are too busy to linger over the promises of God and we are too busy to ponder what God did for us last year or five years ago or twenty years ago. We are not people who mediate on such things for any length of time. And, as a result, we are spiritually poorer than we need be. This man paused long enough to draw lessons from God’s past actions. This is something that takes time; it takes dedication.

As this writer meditated on the past, he recalled that God had always shown Himself to be gracious and compassionate. He had never broken His promise. He had never forsaken His own. Based upon this knowledge, the writer was strengthened. His confidence was renewed. In spite of the trying circumstances he was facing, he was able to compose himself and master his circumstances instead of being mastered by them.

The regular review of God’s gracious acts and promises should be part of every family’s routine. We must take the time to reflect on what He has done to protect and provide for us. Stories of God’s goodness and God’s answers to prayers should be told over and over again in our homes. God’s works should be legendary in the minds of our children.

3. In order to create a family that is characterized by thankfulness you must have the proper opinion of God (vv. 13-15)
This third step is a product of the first two. When you remember something and then ponder it, you obviously become more familiar with it and gain a more accurate perspective. The same is true with God. In this Psalm, the writer takes us to the expected result of having meditated on the acts of God in his past. This exercise naturally served to remind the troubled writer of God’s character. God’s character is revealed in His works for His people, so this man, who was so distraught at one point, is rescued from that condition by thinking on God’s ways and, thereby, remembering who God is and what God is like.

We don’t want to miss this simple truth: God’s past actions reveal truths about His nature. You’ll notice that three chief attributes stand out in these verses. First, God’s past manner showed that His ways are holy (v. 13). The writer’s circumstances are immediately put into perspective when he remembers God’s holiness. God had not been overcome; this man’s plight was not beyond the perfect awareness and control of God. Regardless of how circumstances appeared, therefore, the writer was reminded that all of God’s actions are pure. He cannot be charged with unfairness.

Second, God’s past manner demonstrated that He is a God Who routinely works wonders (v. 14). If anything is going to give you comfort during a trial, it’s the knowledge that God is a God who works wonders. As he thought about past situations, this writer remembered that it is not an unusual thing for God to deliver His people from the most threatening of circumstances. That must have been a tremendous help to this man. He recalled times when the nation, or perhaps he personally, had been involved in a difficult situation. How did God respond on those occasions? God had not abandoned His own.

Third, God’s past ways reminded this writer that God is a God of salvation (v. 15). Do you ever think of God in this manner? He is the God of salvation. Imagine that you are surrounded by vicious enemies and imagine that, as far as anyone can tell, this is the end for you. And then you remember that the LORD is the God of salvation. Redemption characterizes all that God does. The restoration of His fallen creation is the aim of God’s activity in the lives of human beings. Even when God’s people suffer, there is redeeming value to it.

This man is fortified with this truth, as well. He learned in the past from the history of the nation and his personal experiences that God brings about trying circumstances in order to refine His people and produce greater glory for Himself in their lives. Whatever the writer was now facing could be viewed in the light of God’s master plan of restoration.

Having a proper opinion of God will always lead to thanksgiving. Families desiring to be characterized as thankful must spend time cultivating this proper opinion. This is especially true for children. Parents must take time to teach their children how God is to be viewed. And, in addition to His written word, nothing better educates us about the nature of God than His actions. Remembering them, meditating on them and drawing lessons about God from them—this is the formula that produces a reverence for God and reverence is inevitably followed by thanksgiving.

Here, then, are three steps which will create an atmosphere of thanksgiving in you and your family. Remember what God has done in past days. Remind your children of what God has done for you and them. When you call God’s past acts to mind, take the time to meditate on them. Talk about God’s care with your children and help them extract lessons from those experiences. When this pattern is followed, trials become our instructors and we come away from that testing more confident in God, with a greater understanding of His nature and with a more stable hope regarding the days ahead.

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