Psalms 107:8-9

DISCOURSE: 682
THE DUTY AND GROUNDS OF PRAISE

Psalms 107:8. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! for he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

AMONG the various graces which characterize the true Christian, that of gratitude to God is very conspicuous. Others indeed will confess their obligations to the Supreme Being; but none are duly sensible of them, till they have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. When once we have “tasted that the Lord is gracious,” and been impressed with a sense of redeeming love, we shall view the goodness of God in all his dispensations; and, not only glorify him ourselves, but earnestly desire that all should render him the honour due unto his name. This disposition was eminently displayed in David, when he penned the Psalm before us. No less than four times does he repeat the fervent wish, that men would praise the Lord: and at each time does he suggest the most ample grounds for the performance of that duty.
From his words we shall take occasion to consider,

I. The duty here recommended—

Wherever a superior being is acknowledged, there a tribute of prayer and praise is considered as due to him. The light of revelation confirms this general sentiment; and expressly inculcates thanksgiving to God as an universal duty. The manner in which the Psalmist urges us to praise our heavenly Benefactor, deserves peculiar attention: it speaks more forcibly than the strongest injunction could have done; and intimates that praise is,

1. An indispensable duty—

[Praise is the external expression, whereby a soul, filled with admiration and gratitude, gives vent to its feelings towards its heavenly Benefactor. It is an exercise of which the glorified saints and angels are never weary [Note: Revelation 4:8.]; and in which we enjoy a foretaste of heaven itself [Note: 1 Peter 1:8. χαρᾷ δεδοξασμένῃ.] — — — Words can scarcely convey a more sublime idea of this employment, than those by which David describes its effects upon the soul [Note: Psalms 63:5.] — — — In this view he strongly recommends it to us, and we may also recommend it to each other, as “good, pleasant, and comely [Note: Psalms 147:1.].” It is a duty which we owe to God. There is not any precept in the Bible more plain than those which relate to this subject [Note: 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Ephesians 5:20.] — — — There is not any duty, the neglect of which is represented in a more heinous light [Note: It is the strongest mark of an ungodly state, Romans 1:21; and a certain ground of eternal condemnation, Deuteronomy 28:45; Deuteronomy 28:47.] — — — On the other hand, there is not any religious act of which more honourable mention is made than this [Note: It glorifies God, Psalms 50:23.] — — — Not any to which, if accompanied by a suitable deportment, more exalted privileges are annexed [Note: Psalms 50:23.] — — — Hence it is, that thirteen times in the space of six short verses, David renews his exhortations to every living creature to praise the Lord [Note: Psalms 150.]

2. A much neglected duty—

[Whatever blessings men enjoy, they rest in the gift, and forget the Giver. In fact, we scarcely know the value of our blessings till we are bereaved of them. The generality of men, instead of acknowledging with gratitude God’s kindness towards them, and requiting him according to the benefits he has vouchsafed to them, take occasion from his mercies to sin the more against him — — — Not even the godly themselves abound in this holy employment as we might expect. Many, alas! live at so great a distance from God, that they can scarcely ever rise above a petition for mercy, or, at most, a sense of thankfulness that he has not utterly cast them off. They cannot soar to a contemplation of the divine perfections, or of the excellency of Christ, or of the blessedness of those mansions that are prepared for them. They have so much of the world in their hearts, and so little faith, that they cannot realize their principles, or glorify God in any measure as they ought. Instead of cultivating the devout spirit of David [Note: Psalms 63:3; Psalms 119:164.], they rest satisfied in a lukewarm state, saying, “It is high; I cannot attain unto it [Note: Psalms 139:6.].” Yes; though there are some who delight themselves in God; yet, in reference to the greater part even of real Christians we must say with sorrow and regret, “O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and according to his excellent greatness [Note: Psalms 150:2.]!”]

To stir up ourselves to a due performance of this duty, let us consider,

II.

The grounds proposed for the performance of it—

There is nothing that may not in some view or other be made a ground of praise and thanksgiving. In the text we are led to notice,

1. Those which are general—

[The goodness of God, as manifested in the wonderful dispensations of his providence, is that which first offers itself to our consideration. How bountifully does he supply the returning wants of his creatures even while they are continuing in rebellion against him! How marvellously has he preserved us in life from our earliest infancy to this day; and kept in tune, as it were, in the midst of continual shocks and dangers, an instrument of ten thousand strings! With what kindness has he restrained the evil dispositions of men, which, if suffered to rage without control, would produce a very hell upon earth [Note: In proof of this we need only look back to the slaughters and massacres, the rapes and ravages, and all the other horrors of the French Revolution.]! As for the godly, they would soon be extirpated from the face of the earth, if the sons of Belial were permitted to execute all that is in their hearts. And who amongst us would not have perpetrated many more evils than he has, if God had not imposed an invisible restraint upon him, and diverted him from his purpose [Note: See the instances of Abimelech, Genesis 20:6; of Laban, Genesis 31:24; of David, 1 Samuel 25:32.]?

But on this occasion [Note: The peace in October, 1801. In lieu of this, any particular mercies, which the season suggests, may be specified.] we must particularly call to mind the wonders God has wrought for us, in preserving us from domestic tumults and foreign invasions; and in making us victorious, when our allies have been all subdued, or have even combined against us with the common enemy for our destruction. In a more especial manner should we admire the goodness of God in so suddenly disposing the hearts of our enemies to peace, and in bringing the calamities both of war and scarcity to a happy termination.

The riches of his grace are also deserving of the deepest attention. Surely it is not possible to overlook the wonderful work of redemption which God has wrought for sinful man. What shall I say of the gift of his only-begotten Son to die for us? — — — What of the gift of his Holy Spirit to instruct and sanctify us? — — — What of all the promises of grace and mercy and peace to the believing soul? — — — And what of that eternal inheritance he has prepared for us in heaven? Truly he dealt not so with the fallen angels: but to “the children of men” he has communicated richer blessings than words can declare, or that any finite imagination can conceive. And should we not praise him for these? If we are silent on subjects like these, verily our mouths will be shut in the day that our ingratitude shall be punished by our indignant God.]

2. Those which are more particularly specified as vouchsafed to “the longing and hungry soul”—

[Under the image of a weary traveller rescued from the deepest distress, and brought beyond all expectation to the rest he had desired, the Psalmist represents a soul hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and raised from a state of despondency to the full enjoyment of its God. Thousands there are who are reduced to great perplexity in the pursuit of heaven. They feel their guilty and perishing condition; but how to extricate themselves from the wilderness of this world, and to find their way to the city of habitation, they know not. Having tried in vain those self-righteous methods of escape which their own reason has suggested, they cry at last to God, and implore his guidance. He, ever ready to hear the prayer of the poor destitute, “reveals his dear Son in their hearts:” he shews them that in Christ is their hope, in Christ is their refuge, in Christ is their security. Being thus led to Christ, their “longing souls are satisfied, their hungry souls are filled with goodness” — — — Who can conceive what satisfaction a soul feels, when Christ is thus revealed to it as “the way, the truth, and the life?” And I wish you particularly to notice how God marks with approbation not our attainments only, but our very desires. “Longing and hunger” are the very lowest operations and effects of grace in the soul: yet does God delight in them, and magnify his mercy towards those in whom even these slight beginnings of what is good are seen.

And is not this a ground of praise? If any who have experienced such mercies “should hold their peace,” methinks Sodom and Gomorrha will rise up in judgment against them. The more we contemplate redeeming love, the more will a sacred ardour glow within our bosoms to bless and praise the Lord [Note: ver. 43.]

Address—
1.

Those who never praise God at all—

[What enemies are such persons both to their present and future happiness! How much richer enjoyment would they now have of all God’s mercies, if they could discern his hand in them, and taste his love! And how much happier would they be in the eternal world! for, can it be supposed that God will bestow heaven indiscriminately on the evil and unthankful together with the good and thankful? Can it be thought that a man who was more insensible of favours than an ox or an ass [Note: Isaiah 1:3.], shall instantly on his dismission from the body begin to adore his God, and to join in those celestial anthems for which he had not the smallest taste? No: we must begin on earth the work we are to carry on in heaven: nor can we hope to participate the felicity of the saints, if we have not first cultivated their disposition, and found delight in their employment.]

2. Those who desire and endeavour to praise him—

[While some find their hearts enlarged in praising God, we trust there are many who say, O that I could praise the Lord for his goodness! But whence is it that, with a desire to enjoy God, so many spend their days in sighing and mourning instead of in joy and rejoicing? Perhaps they pore over their own corruptions without contemplating the divine attributes: they look at themselves more than at Christ: they consider their own wants; but overlook the Lord’s promises: they anticipate future difficulties, without adverting to past deliverances: in short, they cannot praise God as they would wish, because they are forgetful of those benefits which are the occasions and grounds of praise. Let all such persons then be aware of their error. Let them begin this day the important, the delightful, the long-neglected work. Let them unite in praising God for his mercies, whether public or personal, whether temporal or eternal.

To all would we say, in the energetic language of the Psalmist, “O sing praises unto the Lord, sing praises; sing praises unto the Lord, sing praises; sing ye praises with understanding [Note: Psalms 47:6.].” “Let young men and maidens, old men and children, praise the name of the Lord; for his name alone is excellent, his glory is above the earth and heavens [Note: Psalms 148:12.].”]