Words Of Inspiration From Our Pastor

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!
(Psalm 107:21)

I have written this week with the Lord's help about "Giving God Praise for His Goodness!" The scripture text for this article comes from the book of Psalms. This book is one of the five books of poetry in the Old Testament. It is a collection of inspired Hebrew poetry, and was the inspired prayer and praise book used by the Jews in the temple and synagogue worship. The book of Psalms is one book with five divisions. The divisions are:
1. Book I (Psalm 1:1) to (Psalm 41:13).
2. Book II (Psalm 42:1) to (Psalm 72:20).
3. Book III (Psalm 73:1) to (Psalm 89:52).
4. Book IV (Psalm 90:1) to (Psalm 106:48).
5. Book V (Psalm 107:1) to (Psalm 150:6).
Our Scripture text comes from (Book V) and it contains forty-four Psalms. The author of this Psalm is unknown, but the main writer of (Book V) was David. (Psalm 107) is a psalm of deliverance for the children of Israel, when they would get in trouble, they would cry out to the Lord for deliverance and God would bring them out of their distresses. Read: (Psalm 107:6, 13, 19, and 28).
For this Pastor's Desk, we want to focus our attention upon our scripture text for this article. It is found in (Psalm 107:19-22) which says = 19Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, And he saveth them out of their distresses. 20He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. 21Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, And for his wonderful works to be children of men! 22And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare his works with rejoicing.
In (Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, and 31) why was Israel so reluctant to give the Lord praise for his goodness to them? The word, reluctant, means = feeling or showing doubt or unwillingness to praise him for his wonderful works to the children of men! The author said, "And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare his works with rejoicing" (Psalm 107:21, 22).
We believe that the words written in (Psalm 107:19-22) are applicable to Zion Temple First Pentecostal Church today in the 21st century. The word, applicable, means = capable of being applied to us. We must give God praise for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children for our Sunday Services. Let us enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful to him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting: and his truth endureth to all generations (Psalm 100:4, 5). Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:19, 20). Let us offer to our God the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing (Psalm 107:22). Also, let us share our testimony with others who do not know the Lord as we do. Tell them about his provision, his healing power, and his ability to deliver the human family from their distresses, and that Jesus is a Saviour who desires that all of us would be saved and have eternal life! Let us Give God Praise for His Goodness!

Suffragan Bishop Charles L. Smith, D.D.
March 26, 2023