Give Thanks To The Lord
Psalm 92:1 – “It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High.”
Here are some thoughts from other writers on this verse:
(Kidner) - “Giving thanks to God is more than right; it is also good: “…good, no doubt, in the sense that, in love, he values it, as he valued his creation; but also in the sense that it uplifts and liberates us.”
(Morgan) - “The statement seems an obvious one; no one will be inclined to contradict it. Yet how little we know of this highest function of worship, that of offering the pure sacrifice of praise.”
(Maclaren) - “The devout heart feels that worship is ‘good,’ not only as being acceptable to God and conformable to man’s highest duty, but as being the source of delight to the worshipper.”
(Spurgeon) – “To give thanks to God is but a small return for the great benefits wherewith he daily loadeth us; yet as he by his Spirit calls it a good thing we must not despise it or neglect it.”
David, here in this verse, is not just simply giving a suggestion. This is more of a command to give thanks to the Lord. It is a command in the sense that it is only right for us to thank the Lord and give Him praise. He deserves it! He is worthy of it!
This could also be taken as a declaration to give thanks because we know and understand to whom we are giving that thanks. It is to the Most High. It is to the One who has ultimate authority and greatness. And because of that, He is able and has the power to bestow on us what He sees we need. All that we have, whatever it is and to what extent it is, comes from God, who has given it to us because of His deep and abiding love for us. We must thank Him for it all. It is good to give thanks to Him and to sing His praises.
Giving thanks to the Lord is to lift Him up and honor Him; to give Him the glory. One commentator said this, “An expression of gratitude is a way of honoring another person.” So it is when we show the Lord gratitude, not only for what He has done for us, but for who He is. Psalm 50:23 says, “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me.”
Let’s give Him thanks and praise, not only this week of Thanksgiving, but every day of our lives! Don’t let a day go by but what we lift our hearts and voices and give thanks to the Lord!