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TRAITS OF A THANKFUL HEART

PSALM 26

INTRO: 

It would seem that this Psalm resembles a Court Scene. David is on the stand,

being cross-examined by God, who is the  Supreme Judge. David is desiring to

clear the record about where he stands concerning any sin that is in his life. He

also wants God to handle any false charges from his enemies. The keyword is

verse 7 is "thanksgiving" which means "to confess, to give thanks, to praise,

to celebrate, and also means "an acknowledgement of benefits". Forgetfulness

and ungratefulness are the  two major sins in Nation, church, home and individuals.

Question: not what does the world owe me, but  Question: what do I owe to God.

The answer is found in this 26th division of the psalmsl We further see that

Traits of a Thankful Heart are brought about by:

I.  A PROCESS OF EXAMINATION (verse 2 "examine me")

   A) With an Operational Truth about the Power of God

       ("I have walked in the truth")

       <there is truth about>

       1. My Enlightenment (vs 2 "my heart")

          <truth in the heart always>

           a. hurts first

           b. heals fast

           c. helps fully

       2. My Emotions (vs 2 "my reins")

           The word "reins" is defined as "used to signify the

           temper and disposition; signifies close thought and

           reflection of mind; referred to as the seat of joy and of

           severe grief.  So David is saying to God, "examine my

           emotions!!! 

   B)  With an Ongoing Transfer of the Person of God

        ("For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes")

        David now sees the evidence of the Person of God in his

        life.  His examination on the witness stand has produced

        the truth and reality of God.  There is no self is this state-

        ment, only God

II.  A POINT OF EXCLAMATION (verse 7-8)

   A)  The Privilege of Thanksgiving ("that I may")

       Thanksgiving is not a right that we possess, and thanksgiving

       is not an obligation, which is no more that a dead ritual.  It

       is a privilege.  It is a door that will open the chambers of your

       heart to divine enlightenment, and the control of your emotions

       to divine enjoyment.  When we refuse to, or neglect our

       privilege of thanksgiving, we shut the door in God's face and

       we shut the door of His blessings.

   B) The Publishing of Thanksgiving ("that I may publish")

       The word "publish" means "to broadcast". Too often we praise

       God privately in prayer and complain to everybody else public-

       ly.  Would be better to complain to God privately, and praise

       God publicly.

   C) The Purpose of Thanksgiving

       ("talk of all thy wondrous works")

       1.  exhaltation

       2.  magnification

       3.  communication

   D) The Place of Praise (vs 8 "Lord, I have loved the habitation

       of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth")

       There are two wonderful words used by the Psalmist in this verse

       that totally and emphatically define why the Psalmist loves to

       Praise God in the House of God.  One word is "habitation" which

       means "a place that is inhabited by someone".  The second word

       is "honour".  How can we honor the Lord in the House of His

       habitation, if we never open our mouths and let praise flow from

       our lips.

III.  A PRIORITY OF EXPEDIATION (verses 9 - 12)

      <In John 16:7, Jesus said, "it is expedient that I go away">

      Expedient means "necessary or absolute necessity".  After we

      have an examination that led to an exclamation, then it becomes

      expedient or necessary to make some absolute adjustments in

      our lives.  If we do not make these adjustments, then we will not

      return to the point of exclamation.

      A)  Draw the line with sinners (verse 9 "gather not my soul with

        sinners, nor my life with bloody men")

        It is not being with sinners that harms us, it is being of sinners!!

      B)  Deny the Lust of situations (verse 10 "In whose hands is

        mischief and their right hand is full of bribes")

        We have to stay out of situations that excite out lustful passions.

        This is not being applied to sexual lusts, but the lust of the flesh

        for possessions, power and prosperity.

      C)  Dwell on Level Ground (vs 12 "My foot standeth in an even

        place:  in the congegation will I bless the Lord")

        Now that the Psalmist is standing on level ground, he can see the

        enemy when he is approaching.  He also now possesses a level

        view of God, and most importantly, he has a level view of himself.