Middletown transcript., 1917-11-24
INTERNATIONAL.
SUlhESC1O0L
LESSON
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER rs
A PSALM OF THANKSGIVING.
by REV p. B. FITZWATER, D. y.
Teacher of English Bible in the MOODY
Bible Institute of Chicago)
copyright, 1917. Western Newspaper Union.

i
This Psalm is mans response to the
goodness and mercy Of God. 1t ex'
presses the Joy and gratitude OF for
given sinner as he worships before
God. There is too much in this Psalm
for one to attempt to set it forth, SO
WE must be content to display some OF
Its most prominent notes.
I. Mans Entire Being Should Sing
Gods Praise, v. I. The true worship
per praises God with every faculty OF
his being; his intellect, emotion, de-
sires, affections all unite in praising
Jehovah. The entire being responds
In q song Of harmonious praise. Some
praise God with their voices but not
with their hearts; some with their In
tellect but not with their affections;
some with their emotions but not with
their wills. That praise which involves
the entire being alone Is pleasing to
God.
II. The Benefits Granted, w. &c. The
Psalmist exhorts man not to forget all
Gods benefits. This seems to be need
ed now as we'll as then, for most Of US
are better at remembering our troubles
and adversities, our losses and our sor'
rows, than we are at remembering oul
mercies and blessings. 1t would be
good thing for some of us to keep
record of the good things Of life and
see that, after all, our blessings out
weigh our burdens. We have more
days of sunshine than Of clouds. more
joys than we have Of sorrows, more
hours when we are free from pain than
we suffer with pain. If God were
as forgetful of US as we are Of Him,
life would be hard indeed.
(1) Forgiveness of sins, v. 3. In
forgiveness we are freed from the
curse of sin and its blight and burdens
are removed. We are not only for
given, but we are healed Of sins dis
ease! not only freed from the burdens
of sin but Of its effects, so that we do
not go after the things Of this world.
To be saved for heaven means that
we are saved from the world.
(2) Redemption, V. 4. We have
been saved by Christ giving Himself
as ransom for our souls.
t3) Satisfaction. v. 8. When Cog
redeems, He so thoroughly renews the
man that the good things which he
gets from God satisfy him. His bless
ings are so real that he finds satisfac-
ton In God. Men and women Of the
world are reaching out after fleeing
things. They are ever grasping after
| something, but are never satisfied. Not
so with the redeemed soul; he finds
| absolute satisfaction in the things
which God gives him. Workings may
be satiated, but Gods redeemed alone
are satisfied.
az Executing judgment in behalf OF
the oppressed, v. 6. He Is always on
| the side of the oppressed. God under
| takes for his own, and sooner or later
He will mete out justice to all. There
Is a reckoning day for the world com.
| ing. Those who have done evil shall!
suffer loss; those who have done good
shall be rewarded.
III. Attributes of God for Which He
| Should Be Praised, w. 7-1S. These
attributes have been displayed in Gods
dealings with his chosen people.
(D Merciful and gracious, v. 8. He
is slow to anger and plenteous in mer.
cy. An example of his mercy is seen
in the father of the prodigal son run.
ming to meet his son and kissing him.
| A very little thought will make very
evident how God withholds his anger
and waits patiently for an opportunity
to extend his mercy.
(2) He will not always 'chide," Wv
8-12. When God forgives he forgives
forever. Men say they forgive, but
how often they "chide" and "keer
anger" God has not dealt with us ac'
cording to our sins, for, as the heav.
ems are high above the ed. . great
is his mercy toward them that they
fear him. So really has God forgiven
| us that our transgressicns are as fal
removed from us as the East is from
the West, an incalculable distance.
(3) He is compassionate and tender.
w. 1914. This reveals Gods fatherly
heart. He fully knows our weakness
He does not deal with us as though we
were strong. He knows how weak anc
fallible we are through the fall. 1t is
consoling to know that God considers
our frame; He knows that we. are
"dust." 4. 1s
az His mercy is everlasting, eternal
w. 1917. Man is at best transitory
but God is eternal. The one who rests
| his hopes in God is eternally safe
This should encourage us to lean moi
upon man but upon God.
(5) God is gracious to those who are
in covenant relationship, v. 49, If we
would enjoy these blessings revealed
In Gods attributes we must be Gods
children. His mercies are restrictive
only bestowed upon his own children
w. A Call to All the Universe t.
Praise the Lord, w. 1922. Since Goo
is such a wonderful Being, He should
have universal praise. His kingdom II
over all; his Lordship should have
recognition.
Complete Surrender.