TOPIC: PRACTICAL GRATITUDE
MEMORISE:
And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. 2 Samuel 6:21
READ: 2 Samuel 6:14-22
14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
MESSAGE:
We must consider practical ways of saying ‘Thank you’ to the Lord. When you are truly grateful to someone. It will be difficult to hide it. Your gratitude will be evident in everything you do and this truth is confirmed in today’s Bible reading. When David considered how he had been surviving both seen and unseen battles of life, he could not help dancing and leaping for his God.
The Almighty God has kept us alive to date, and like David, we must practically demonstrate our gratitude through dancing and offering of heartfelt praises to Him. For the preservation of our lives alone, we must bless the Lord. In Psalm 144:1, the Psalmist blesses the Lord for teaching his hands to war and directing his fingers to fight right. We must realize that not all fighters win the battles of life. This is what made David write:
“Bless the LORD, O my soul… Who redeemeth thy life from destruction…” Psalm 103:4
Considering the numerous battles David fought in His lifetime, particularly against King Saul and his own son- Absalom who staged a coup against him, one should know that but for God, David would have died a premature death. This why he described God’s benevolence as “lovingkindness” and “tender mercies”. Oh, how I wish we all would appreciate God’s kindness as much as David did. Moreover, David recognized that the mercies of God to him were of tender types- not one but many. Little wonder that in our Bible reading of today, he literally praised the Lord to the consternation of his wife who despised him for dancing passionately for the Lord.
Apparently, Michal had never seen her father- the former king praise God in that manner before so it was strange to her. Little wonder God replaced him with David, who would genuinely praise and worship Him.
A practical application of a heart of gratitude brings to mind the manifold blessings of God, it leads to genuine thanksgiving and appreciation of all the miracles and wonders of God that we receive daily. Let somebody shout Hallelujah!
ACTION POINT:
Take a minimum of fifteen minutes to thank God for His goodness and mercies over your life and those of your loved ones.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 20-24.
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 20: PRAISE TO THE LORD ALMIGHTY.
1. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.
2. Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?
3. Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee;
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.
4. Praise to the Lord, who, when tempests their warfare are waging,
Who, when the elements madly around thee are raging,
Biddeth them cease, turneth their fury to peace,
Whirlwinds and waters assuaging.
5. Praise to the Lord, who, when darkness of sin is abounding,
Who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,
Sheddeth His light, chaseth the horrors of night,
Saints with His mercy surrounding.
6. Praise to the Lord, oh, let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him;
Let the Amen sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.
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