Daejeon Onnuri English Ministry: Sep 24, 2023 “Giving Thanks”(Psalm 136:1-16)

September 24, 2023

Sep 24, 2023 “Giving Thanks”(Psalm 136:1-16)

Psalm 136:1-16 New International Version
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:

4 to him who alone does great wonders,

5 who by his understanding made the heavens,

6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,

7 who made the great lights—

8 the sun to govern the day,

9 the moon and stars to govern the night;

10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt

11 and brought Israel out from among them

12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;

13 to him who divided the Red Sea[a] asunder

14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,

15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;

16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;

Giving Thanks

Psalm 136:1-16

Next week is Chuseok which is when Koreans find reasons to be thankful.

In Psalm 136 we read a psalm that God's love endures forever. The first verse states, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good." This asks the question, can be thankful because God is God.

There are some shows which prank rich couples by the husband saying that he lost his job. This has led to actual divorces because some of the wives only married because of what they could get.

The same can be true with Jesus. Do we love Jesus for who he is or what he can give us.

In God's providences not just experience God's blessings but also suffering and struggles. There are reasons why problems and difficulties come our way, and sometimes it is for a good that would not have happened unless the sorrow and pain came.

to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever; and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever; with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever; and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever; but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever;

Psalm 136:10‭-‬16 ESV

In these verses we read that God is with us and has done great things and is continuing to work with us. God was with the Israelites when they were in slavery and when they were freed.

God's love is eternal. He is with us on our path. He is with us at this moment, and this is enough reason to give thanks.