Many Scriptures, including many psalms, express gratitude to God. We will focus on one of them, Psalm 92, which addresses our two main questions:

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High.” (Psalm 92:1)

Firstly, we should give thanks to Him because it is good for us to do so. It is good for God too. Even though He does not need our thanks, He is pleased when His children offer them. It is certainly beneficial for us. Unlike the dangers of ingratitude, the benefits of a grateful attitude include:

» Guarding against ungodly attitudes and deeds.

» Subduing what one commentator calls “the potentially animal nature of man.”

» Teaching the “way of giving” of God when we give thanks.

» Promoting good spiritual, mental, moral, and physical health.

“Moreover, it is fitting to thank God when He has answered our prayers. After all, we will undoubtedly still need help! To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.” (Psalm 92:2)

We must acknowledge and thank God for His goodness and faithfulness to us. In His love and faithfulness, He has endowed us so much. We should constantly think about the following blessings and thank God for them, being careful not to take them for granted:

» His truth, which He continues to reveal to us.

» His gifts, both spiritual and physical, which He continuously pours out on us.

» His church and our part in it.

» His ministry and their unwavering service to us.

» Our brethren and the opportunities for brotherly fellowship and service to them.

» Our families, their health, and prosperity.

» Our nations and all the blessings that come from our citizenship.

» And myriad other gifts and good things that He freely bestows.

“For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.” (Psalm 92:4)

We should thank God because He brings joy and even a sense of triumph and victory to those actively involved in His work, and every member of His church has such an opportunity. We are all members of the Body of Christ, and like the parts of the physical body, we have been given different talents and functions (1 Corinthians 12:12-31).

The apostle Paul also recounts thanksgiving and triumph in 1 Corinthians 15:57: “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“When the fulfillment of the Eighth Day finally arrives and we see our loved ones rise in the Second Resurrection, we will cry out with great joy: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?‘” (Verses 54-55).

“O Lord, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep.” (Psalm 92:5)

God’s works and thoughts deserve our gratitude. His creation is marvelous in its beauty, detail, and usefulness, and His thoughts are deeper than any human can understand. If we consider the care with which He created the universe, we can glimpse the same care with which He created children for His family.

“The senseless man does not know, Nor does the fool understand this. When the wicked spring up like grass, And when all the workers of iniquity flourish, It is that they may be destroyed forever. But You, Lord, are on high forevermore. For behold, Your enemies, O Lord, For behold, Your enemies shall perish; All the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.” (Psalm 92:6-9)

Verses 6 and 7 interrupt to mention the future of the uncorrectable selfish and ungrateful of the world: the brutal, senseless, and wicked workers of iniquity. Then, the psalmist contrasts them with God, who is eternally exalted. We must thank God because He is the Most High, the great and sovereign God. We must understand that He is God and no other!

“But You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil.” (Psalm 92:10. In Hebrew, the verbs are in the future tense.)

We should be grateful that one day God will exalt His people. From the weak and simple of the world (1 Corinthians 1:26-29), He will bring us to glory, lifting us from our humble beginnings to anoint us as kings and priests (Revelation 1:6; 5:10).

“My eye also has seen my desire on my enemies; My ears hear my desire on the wicked who rise up against me.” (Psalm 92:11)

The psalmist encourages us to thank God for His justice toward His enemies and against our enemies. Is it fair that we should be grateful for God’s judgment and punishment toward them? We should certainly not rejoice in their fate (Proverbs 24:17-18). However, it would be wise to remember the righteous judgments of Nadab and Abihu, Eli’s sons, Uzzah, Ananias, and Sapphira. We must guard against regarding God as harsh or reckless in His judgments. God’s enemies are also our enemies, and His punishment toward them is for our good (and ultimately theirs).

“The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” (Psalm 92:12)

God gives health and spiritual and physical growth to His people, according to His will, great wisdom, and mercy. This is certainly something to rejoice and be thankful for!

“Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God.” (Psalm 92:13)

The psalmist repeats the word “flourish” (Hebrew parach), which can be translated as “bud,” “bloom,” “grow,” “sprout,” “fly,” and “bud.” In the Old Testament, “the courts of our God” refer to God’s physical Temple, an earthly symbol of His heavenly throne room. In the New Testament, the term now refers to God’s spiritual Temple, the Church, and prophetically to the time when the Father and the Christ will reign on earth (Revelation 7:15; 21:3). We should therefore thank God for “planting” us in His Church where we can grow abundantly in preparation for that future time when we will work and reign with Him forever.

“They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing.” (Psalm 92:14)

We should be grateful to God that even the elderly in His church are generally in good physical and spiritual health, still capable of being active in His work and bearing fruit. This is attributable to living according to God’s way of life, including obedience to the vibrant health laws revealed in His Word, as well as the blessings He bestows upon each of us. One day, on the fulfillment of the Eighth Day, all sickness will be eradicated forever (Revelation 21:4; 22:2). God will hasten that day!

“To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him“. (Psalms 92:15)

Last, but not least, we should be grateful to God because He is completely – one hundred percent – reliable, upright, steadfast and just.

This text is an extract from the book “The blessings of THANKSGIVING” written by Jérémie TCHINDEBE.

We invite you to read the following article “Giving Thanks To God For All Things”.

Be Grateful