Psalm of Thanksgiving

A couple weeks ago, the topic of Hermeneutics was Psalms during our Wednesday night fellowship. Much of it was taken from Gordon Fee’s “How to read the Bible for All Its Worth.”

Uniqueness of Psalms

• They are God’s word (is word supposed to be capitalized?) written in the form of words directed to God.
• They are poetic and therefore need a different type of interpretation
• Not meant as a specific doctrine
• Meant to be emotional so it requires an emotional “softness” to fully experience
• Each psalm operates more as its own unit and less as a whole book
• There are different types of psalms written for different purposes

Different Types of Psalms

Laments – The largest group, these express struggles, suffering, and disappointment to the Lord in the midst still having trust in Him

Thanksgiving – Praising God for specific circumstances or blessings that God has bestowed upon the writer.

Hymns of Praise – Generally focus on one attribute of God

Salvation – Specific reference to a history of God’s saving works among the people of Israel

Psalms of Celebration of Affirmation – Corporate psalms meant to lead congregation in specific “themed” celebrations such as coronations of a new king or rededication ceremonies

Wisdom Psalms – Affirm the merits of wisdom and wise living according to God

Songs of Trust – Center around the fact that God can be trusted even in times of despair

Imprecatory Psalms – Expressions of rage and anger, often found in lament psalms

The Psalms are pretty interesting although I must admit I am not too familiar with that many of them.  We did an exercise of writing a Thanksgiving Psalm which was pretty neat.  Then we all shared it with each other.  It was pretty cool to hear everyone’s psalm – for each person to share something personal.

My Thanksgiving Psalm

Spinning in a maze of confusion and hostility

Drowning in sorrows, stress, and anger

I call upon my Lord to save me

To show me the light and the exit

I fear the current and I fear the future

I trust and I wait and He shows me the light

The Lord brings light but He calls for patience

He calls me to trust

And He lifts me out of darkness

I am overwhelmed with joy

His light will never fail

I am rescued by His grace

He is righteous and almighty

I am thankful and see His power

My thankgsiving Psalm was in reference to a tough time I was going through a few years ago.

If you want to write your own, here’s the prompt:

• Read either Psalm 116 or 118
• Think of an appropriate situation where God blessed you in a tangible way
• Write a psalm addressed to God with the different elements of a thanksgiving psalm

Introduction – summarize what characteristic of God was revealed to you in this particular situation.  Write a sentence or two to describe what you learned about God to God

Distress – Recall the “problem”.  How did you feel during that time?  Write it down.

Appeal – How did you acknowledge (or not acknowledge) God in this situation?  Write it down.

Deliverance – How did God bless you in this difficult situation?  Write it down.

Testimony – Declare what God has taught you about Him to other people, then declare the same to God.