Sermons from Moorpark Presbyterian Church

How to be Thankful - 3 Days Later

by Janet Loughry

Psalm 65

November 26, 2000

Why was this psalm written? I personally believe this psalm was written about 3000 years ago because the writer knew I would be preaching today, on this Thanksgiving Sunday and would need this particular passage. You know to our ears the phrases and words used might seem a little strange. Therefore, we might not be so quick to come up with a good reason for the original writing.

As we travel to Grandma's house in our packed SUV's, today our psalm might sound something like: "the hills overflow with car dealerships and shopping malls continue to spring forth. Yay, the flower fields are abundant with new color. Verily, the strawberry fields are fat with nector and the lemon groves pucker with praise for their maker."

To answer my question as to why this psalm was written - your answers would fit in with the great and not so great commentators - there is little agreement among them. Some believe this was used at a celebration of national deliverance after a drought and famine. The ancient Jews felt that God withheld His grace and bounty when the people where not in a right relationship with Him. This psalm is full of what any of us would want to see after a drought and famine. The pastures are full; the hills are lush; the meadows have blossomed and are thick with new growth. There is golden grain in the fields - so food is in abundance. The people's prayers have been heard and sins forgiven. They could see and feel God's forgiveness in a very literal way.

Others believe the psalm was used at a spring celebration at Passover. This is understandable when we think that as the people would be traveling toward Jerusalem for the Passover celebration, they would be looking at the lush green hills and rich land all around them.

Still others believe this psalm was tied to the autumn festival, much like that which we celebrated three days ago AND last Sunday night for our church family Thanksgiving dinner. Their celebration was called the Festival of Tabernacles. During this time the people celebrated the fall rains, and the bountiful harvest. They joyously looked forward to the coming year of plenty, AND expected blessings.

Whatever the occasion, event or season of the first celebration, and cause for the writing of this psalm, the grateful delight in God as Redeemer, Creator, and Provider makes this psalm a rich, multifaceted act of praise.

Verses 1 to 4 - tell of God's free gift of grace being extended to the repenting people. We are told in Verse 2 that God's redeeming act of forgiveness of sins is not for a select few; but extended to anyone, who asks.

Verses 5 through 8 - tell of God's greatness as Creator. God's power is displayed in the raising of mountains, the calming of the seas and the quieting of the rebellious and chaotic nations - the people. The strength of the mountains, and the unpredictable seas, are proof of God's greatness. When we fail to recognize God's greatness in these parts of creation, we might also fail to recognize God's greatness in the creation of ourselves. This is saying that the very fact that God passes by, causes life to waken in creation around us, but also within each of us..

This psalm builds to the crescendo of Verses 9-13, our focus. The rejoicing in the awesome goodness of God is told here. This awesome God who is gracious to His people is also all-powerful in showing both his grace and his power in blessing the harvest of the land. How much more the blessings of His grace and power are showered down in the lives of His people. God provides all things necessary for his people.

So there was much reason for rejoicing and thankfulness. The people were, indeed, in festive moods on each of these occasions. We know that specifically with the FALL festival, the Feast of Tabernacles was an eight-day long celebration. It was the longest and most joyful of all the feasts of the Jews. The people gathered to celebrate God's powerful acts. They gathered to celebrate God as the source of all nature's bounty.

Now WE - our nation, this community, our individual families - are in the midst of the holiday season, which is now in full swing for many of us - or soon will be - whether we like it or not. However, rather than the eight-day celebration of the ancient Jews, we have approximately eight weeks from mid-November through to the end of the year. Some would extend it through Super Bowl Sunday!!!!!

Invitations, no doubt, have already been sent and received by mail, e-mail or telephone. Some of the invitations we gladly accept: That pizzazz-filled party that just everyone will be at; the intimate gathering of very close friends; even the wedding of dear friends; theater going, Church and School Christmas musicals, and Christmas caroling.

There are some invitations we might respond with: Do I have to go? Or How can I get out of this one? Then there are the obligatory family gatherings. Those oh, so love-filled, command performances that require carefully rehearsed script to get you through.

There are secrets shared, announcements made, such as engagements and coming births.

Through them all, we are expected to be jovial, loving, and filled with joy. We are not supposed to bring frowns and tears - filled with bad news and sadness - to parties and fun gatherings. Some may be urged not to be a party pooper....put on a happy face and at least ACT excited.

Yet the holiday season for many can be filled with sadness, grief, loss, and bad news. Many times in the midst of happiness, laughter and fun being had by everyone else, some are anything BUT happy. All this, in spite of the friendly sound of crunching leaves under foot, beautiful decorations, music all around and different foods prepared and served only at this time of year.

Many people actually experience very real and serious depression from about mid- to late October through the first part of January, or later. This is compounded for those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder. Some within this community of believers will be celebrating the holidays without loved ones, because of recent loss through death, divorce or because relatives live too far away for the families to be together. Others never had a grand time growing up and the holidays were the worst. Life - especially during the holidays - is NOT always fun. As Harold Smith says in A Decembered Grief, "Seasonal excitment is not always soul deep" (pg25).

So, what happens when our drought is NOT over. How do we rejoice - and be thankful - when we are still in the midst of our personal emotional or spiritual famine, - while everyone else enjoys bounty?

The hymn with which we will close our service is titled - "Now Thank We All Our God." The tempo and positive emphasis of this loved Thanksgiving hymn of the 1600's does not tell of the very dismal circumstances in which the writer, Martin Rinkart found himself at the time he wrote it.

Rinkart became the pastor at an early age, age 31, to the church in his home town of Eilenburg, Saxony, Germany. He pastored during the dreadful bloodshed of the 30 Years' War. Germany was the battleground of this horrific conflict between warring Catholic and Protestant forces from various countries throughout Europe. It was reduced to a state of misery that baffles description, even today. The German population dwindled from 16 million to 6 million. Because Eilenburg was a walled city, it became a haven for political and military fugitives. This frightfully overcrowded city of refuge experienced waves of deadly diseases and famines that swept the city. In addition, various armies marched through the town. Death and destruction were left in each wake.

The deadly plague of 1637 was particularly severe as it swept through that area. At the plague's height Rinkart was the only remaining - or SURVIVING - minister. He cared for the sick and dying. He often conducted some 50 funerals - A DAY! Pretty dismal and depressing in my book! (Adapted from The Worshiping Church, A Hymnal, Worship Leaders' Guide, 1991)

But, Martin Rinkart's triumphant, personal expressions of gratitude and confidence in God confirm for each of us the truth taught in Scripture, that as God's children, we too can be, as the hymn states: "more than conquerors through Him who loved us." What a surprise to learn that this uplifting, faith-filled hymn came from someone in such painful and depressing circumstances!

This hymn and Psalm 65 are songs of restoration of creation. The ancient Jews accepted what they saw around them as a sign of God's forgiveness and God's readiness to begin with them again. Rinkert took the circumstances in which he found himself and saw that God continues to bless and free us "from all ills in this world -and the next."

When we come to God He is ready to restore. He is the One who created life from nothing. He is always ready to re-create life anew in us. As Pierre Wolff says in his book, May I hate God?" (pg 38), "God cannot and will not deny His creation." Nothing is more wonderful than when God visits a man, woman, or child. By forgiving us, He re-creates us in His own likeness as God's own child. Again the very fact that God passes by, causes US to waken into life....and to be filled with His everlasting life.

God is under no obligation. Yet God will NOT deny His creation. He rains down HIS care by watering the earth. He visits the earth like a river. Verse 9 says, "The river of God is full of water." With the insight we, in the 21st Century have from the New Testament we know that this river of God is Jesus Christ, His Son. Jesus is the life source and force flowing in and through us, just like a river.

If you don't already know, or if you need a reminder, let me tell you that - God so greatly loved us that He gave His only unique Son to die for our sins. In this world created by God, God is fulfilling the purposes of His redemptive work through Christ. He is doing all things well. The blessings of his salvation are enjoyed in our world of sin. We don't deserve this goodness. Yet, God's unfathomable, undeserved goodness is given to each of us.

I want to share a story about a king -by Anne Brener in Mourning and Mitzvah. This king owned a beautiful diamond. But there was a problem! The diamond had a flaw - a scratch in the middle. It could never be given, worn, or admired.

So the king, who was used to having his subjects make him happy, sent word throughout his vast kingdom that great riches, position, and prestige would come to any individual who could take away the flaw. Well, they came - the best of jewelers and artists, even magicians. They came not just from his kingdom, but from across the mountains and the seas. But alas, no one could remove the scratch. The king despaired!

Then one day a young man arrived. He was somewhat optimistic about his chances for doing what no one else had been able to do. Oh, he had heard the doubters and the scoffers. Nonetheless, he asked for a quiet place to work - where he would not be disturbed.

Every day the king asked, "Well?"

And the determined young man would answer, "Not yet."

Days passed. Weeks passed. Then one afternoon the young man handed the diamond to the king. -- Slowly a smile spread across the king's face. Then a great "YES!" ricocheted throughout the palace. The queen, her ladies in waiting, the courtiers and the knights crowded in for a closer look.

The scratch was still there!!!!!!! BUT the young man had carved a rose around the scratch, using the scratch for a stem.

You may have had a deep scratch - really a gash - inflicted in you. While you wrestle with the realities of grave illness, life without loved ones, a job, or the prospect of one, or other issues in your life, the world goes right on with the joys. It goes on with the exuberance, the excitement of the season as it blares, "Joy to the World" and "Ho! Ho! Ho!" Only your HO HO HO from previous years has turned into OH OH OH. You might be wondering, "Just how am I to rejoice - to be thankful this year?" You might want to fast-forward to January 5 - or later - and pull the blankets over your head and snarl, "Wake me up when it's all over!" (Adapted from A Decembered Grief, Smith, pg 11,12)

In the passage Dave read from John 7, we see that Jesus visited the autumn Festival of Tabernacles. He has been at the festival all week, no doubt enjoying himself. He watched and observed the people celebrate and party throughout the entire week. Then, He waited until the final day of this festive occasion to extend an invitation. Great, just what the people needed - just what we need - another invitation - another party!!??

Yet, Jesus persisted by saying: If ANYONE is thirsty...Thirsty? There must have been so much to eat and drink during the week at the festival, that no one could possibly wont for anything. They had to have had their fill.

But did they? Jesus saw that the smiles did not reach their eyes; the laughter rang hollow; the joy was not from the soul of these people. Jesus knows that in the middle of our holidays, that our laughter and smiles are only skin deep - if that.

If you, or someone you know, find the holidays difficult - be assured that Jesus knows holidays can be hard. That is why he waited until the end of the holiday to extend His invitation!

Jesus personally extends His invitation to everyone. The psalmist tells us that "all" may come to God. Again, just as in Jesus' day, so also in ours - all are included in His invitation. It does not matter the type and nature of the thirst...emotional, spiritual or physical. When our furrows - that is, our burdens - are heavy and deep; when life's wagon wheels run over us and make deep tracks and ridges in our emotions, God continues to rain His Son on us abundantly. When we accept the invitation to Jesus' party and drink of him, our burdens are settled and softened. Blessings dare to grow. Those tracks left by life can overflow with richness.

Whether yours is a life with the scratch or a gash and you want the next several weeks to disappear. Or whether you joyously look forward to all the parties, decorations, musical programs and Reason for the season, each of you has been extended the invitation to make our life fuller and richer, and complete with His living water. All are invited to accept the invitation and come to drink of Jesus. Your drought and famines may continue or return, but Jesus can and will fill you and provide for you all that you need...three days later and your days going forward.