#DailyDevotion It’s Always A Good Time To Give Thanks and Praise To The LORD
Psalm 105 Thank the LORD, call out His name, tell among the nations what He has done. 2Sing to Him and play instruments before Him; meditate on all the wonderful things He has done. 3Glory in His holy name. You who look for the LORD, be glad at heart. 4Search for the LORD and His strength; look for Him continually. 5Remember the marvelous works He did, His wonders and the judgments He pronounced. 6O descendants of Abraham, His servant! O descendants of Jacob, whom He chose!
This psalm takes place after David brought the Ark of the Covenant from Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem. It had been there since the Philistines returned it to Israel. Cf. 1 Sam. 16 and 1 Chr. 16.
David, having pitched a tent, a tabernacle for the LORD’s ark, in Jerusalem and set up the Levites to be priests to minister before it with sacrifices, songs and hymns of praise, writes and sings this song, that we find here in Psalter. He gives thanks to the LORD and calls the people to thank the LORD and tell the nations what He has done. We can see here the LORD intended Israel to be His witness to the nations and to call the nations to join them in their worship. Sadly, they would let the reverse happen.
But for now let’s be happy in the LORD. This would be the equivalent occasion as building a new church building and dedicating it. It’s such a joyous occasion. The LORD has provided a place to come, to hear His Word, to sacrifice, to receive forgiveness, to give thanks, and to worship in His presence. Wouldn’t it be great to join them in giving thanks and praise with songs and instruments as we gather around Jesus’ Word and Sacrament?
David calls us to meditate on all the wonderful things He has done and to glory in His holy name. He would be thinking mainly of the deliverance from the Egyptians, the time in the wilderness, and Israel’s victories over the nations in the land promised to them. We may join to his hymn of praise Jesus’ works, His signs and wonders when He was visible to us, His innocent suffering and death for us, His victory over the grave and His ascent to the right hand of the Father for us. The Israelites were to be glad in the LORD at heart. The news of Jesus ought to make our hearts glad as well. As they were to remember the LORD’s judgments and wonders, we remember the wonders and judgments of the LORD Jesus Christ. Even unbelievers wonder at the Sermon on the Mount though they do not understand it. It is too marvelous for them. We though do understand it. It is often too great a wonder for us as well as we contemplate doing in faith what Jesus instructs us there.
David calls out to the descendants of Abraham and those of Jacob whom the LORD did choose and calls from all nations of the world to pay attention and to join him in this song of praise. We, who through faith in Jesus and are baptized into Him, are also Abraham’s descendants as we are children of the promise. We have been grafted into Israel. Israel is one holy people, consisting of all believers, who trust in the promise made to Abraham that his Seed, i.e. Jesus, would be a blessing to all nations. We believe the promise that we will inherit the world. Let not current struggles, problems, disasters and the like discourage your faith. The LORD had promised to make Abraham’s descendants as many as the stars and that was fulfilled in the Exodos. He promised the land of Canaan, and that was fulfilled in David’s time. He promises us a new heavens and a new earth. He fulfilled His promise to Abraham, He will fulfill His promise to us.
Almighty God and Father, we give You thanks and praise for all Your marvelous gifts to us, especially Your presence through Word and Sacrament. Give us tongues that tell the nations of the glory of Your Son Jesus Christ so they may be united to Your people. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.