By E L Thornton
Sermon 20
Ps 106:1-5
“Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise? Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times. Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation; That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.”
The landscape along the interstate highway was in immaculate condition. It was clean and free of highway clutter, paper, cans and the likes. The ones who were designated to care for the landscaping certainly knew how to groom the plants and trees that dotted the right of way. The white and green cabins nestled in a grove of small trees was a sharp contrast to the blue outline of a line of high ridges in the distance.
There was a big diesel truck approaching from the rear, laboring up a long incline, blackish smoke rolling from it’s chromed stacks. Attached to this truck was
a flat bed trailer which was stacked high with crushed cars. In all probability, headed to a large city, to have them ground or melted for recycling.
The big rig passed, vibrating and rattling, and pulled in front. While the eighteen wheeler lumbered away, leaving a trail of black smoke, a bumper sticker, which had miraculously escaped the crushing process, was casually read.
With a load of at least twelve crushed cars, stacked in three stacks, and four high, with large rusty chains and big binders to hold them in place, the object of observation was on the bottom of the rear stack. The car was crushed beyond recognition, all the windows broken out, the paint fading, cracked and peeling, this vehicle is likely over a hundred thousand miles from it’s origin.
It has probably been driven hard, maybe had an accident or two, broke down a few times, it’s certainly a long way from it’s original beauty. It is at the bottom of the pile, and it’s destination is not what was intended by it’s maker. But amid all the rust, broken glass and rattles, here is a vehicle which is sporting a bumper sticker which reads, “GOD’S BEEN GOOD TO ME.”
Ps 106:1 “Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
Ps 100:1-5 “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
One of God’s faithful missionaries, Allen Gardiner, experienced many physical difficulties and hardships throughout his service to the Savior. Despite his troubles, he said, “While God gives me strength, failure will not daunt me.” In 1851, at the age of 57, he died of disease and starvation while serving on Picton Island at the southern tip of South America. When his body was found, his diary lay nearby. It bore the record of hunger, thirst, wounds, and loneliness. The last entry in his little book showed the struggle of his shaking hand as he tried to write legibly. It read, “I am overwhelmed with a sense of the goodness of God.” Think of that! No word of complaint, no childish whining, no grumbling at the circumstances — just praise for God’s goodness.
I. GOD IS GOOD IN HIS SOVEREIGNTY:
An anonymous author made this striking comparison: “Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ’s 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men who were among the greatest philosophers of all antiquity. Jesus painted no pictures; yet some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michalengelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from Him. Jesus wrote no poetry; but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world’s greatest poets were inspired by Him. Jesus composed no music; still Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the hymns, symphonies, and oratorios they composed in His praise. Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble Carpenter of Nazareth.
“His unique contribution to the race of men is the salvation of the soul! Philosophy could not accomplish that. Nor art, Nor literature, Nor music, Only Jesus Christ can break the enslaving chains of sin and Satan. He alone can speak peace to the human heart, strengthen the weak, and give life to those who are spiritually dead.”
Ps 135:5 “For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.”
God is big. He’s so big that the heaven is His throne and the earth is His foot stool. He crosses the universe using the brightest stars as a golden stairway. He clears His throat and it becomes the mighty thunder. He bats His eyes and it becomes a bright streak of lighting. He passes His hand across the face of the earth and it becomes a storm of strong wind. He alone can see the two poles of the earth at the same time. He puts the sun in place and it moves not for six thousand years. Every planet and every star march around it like silent sentinels guarding a precious gem. He spun the earth out of His righteous hand and it orbits around the sun thousands of years without slowing in its pilgrimage.
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Ps. 145:3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.
6 And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.
7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
9 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
10 All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.
11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;
12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.
13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
14 The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.
16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
20 The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
146:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
2 While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
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He is good in His sovereignty.
II. HE IS GOOD IN HIS RELATIONSHIP TO MAN:
Ps 8:4 “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.”
On God’s totem pole, He’s on top, the angels are second, man is third. “A little lower than the angels.”
In God’s relationship to us, he is many things———
In Gen. 15:2, He is Jehovah-Adonai, The Lord our Sovergein.
In Zech. 14.5, He is Jehovah-Elohay, The Lord our God.
In Ps. 118:27, He is Jehovah-Elohim, The Eternal Creator or God over all things.
In Ps. 7:17, He is Jehovah-Elyon, The God most high.
In Jer. 51:56, He is Jehovah-Gmolah, The God that recompenses.
In Ps. 95.6, He is Jehovah-Hosseenu, The Lord our Creator or maker.
In Gen. 22:8, He is Jehovah-Jireh, God will provide.
In Ezek. 7:9, He is Jehovah-Makkeh, God that smites.
In Exod. 31:13, He is Jehovah-Mekaddesh, God that cleanses you.
In Exod. 17:15, He is Jehovah-Nissi, God my victory.
In Ps. 23:1, He is Jehovah-Rohi, The Lord is my Shepherd.
In Exod. 15:26, He is Jehovah-Rophe, The Lord that healeth thee.
In Judg. 6:24, He is Jehovah-Shalom, God that gives peace.
In Jer. 23:6, He is Jehovah-Tsidkenu, God our righteousness.
He is the Advocate, 1 John 2:1
He is the Almighty, Rev. 1:8
He is the Alpha and Omega, Rev. 22:13
He is the All Together Lovely, Song of Sol. 5:16
He is the Amen, Rev. 3:14
He is the Anointed, Ps. 2:2
He is the Author of Salvation, Heb. 5:9
He is Blessed, Branch, Bread of life, Bridegroom, Bright and Morning Star, Buckler, Builder.
He is the Captain, Chief Corner Stone, Chiefest among Ten Thousand, Cleanser, Comforter, Creator.
He is the Day Dawn, Day Spring from on High, Day Star, Deliverer, Desire of all Nations, Devouring Fire, Door, Diadem of Beauty.
He is El Shaddai, “God Almighty,” the Elect, the Emmanuel, the Exalted, the Example, the Excellent, the Faithful, the Father, the First and Last, the Firstfruits of them that Slept, the Forgiver of sins, Fountain of Living Waters, the Friend of Publicans and Sinners.
He is the Good Lord, Good Man, Good Master, Good Shepherd, Good Spirit,
Gracious God, Great High Priest, Great King, Great Prophet, and Greatly to be Praised.
He is my Healer, my Helper, my Hiding Place, my High Tower, my Hope, my Keeper, my Maker, and my Master.
He is the Omnipotent One, the Omnipresent One, and the Omniscient One.
He is the Resurrection and the life, He is the Rock of Ages, He is the Rock that is Higher than I, He is the Rivers of Living Water, and the Rewarder of them that seek.
He is a Shield, a Shelter, a Stone, a Strong God, a Strong Refuge, a Strong Tower, a Strong Hold in the day of trouble, and a Sure Foundation. And He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
To the Architect He is the Chief Cornerstone.
– Artist————-One Altogether Lovely.
– Astronomer——-Sun and the Morning Star.
– Banker————the Unsearchable Riches.
– Botanist———–Plant of Renown.
– Builder————Sure Foundation.
– Doctor————Great Physician.
– Farmer————Sower and Reaper
– Florist————-Rose and the Lily
– Genealogist——–Name Above Every Name.
– Geologist———-Rock of Ages.
– Horticulturist——-True Vine.
– Jeweler————Precious Stone.
– Slave————–Redeemer
– Sinner————-Saviour. And He is good in His relationship with man.
III. HE IS GOOD IN HIS ACTIONS TOWARD MAN:
James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
Matt 7:7 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
He’s been good, When trouble comes He’s been good. When the problems arise He’s been good. When things go wrong He’s been good. When the journey has been long He’s been good. When my way get dark He’s been good. When my mountains get high He’s been good. When the sun quit shinning He’s been good. When the storms come He’s been good. When Satan fights He’s been good. When sickness comes He’s been good. When the kids rebel He’s been good. When I can’t pray He’s been good. When I can’t sing He’s been good. When preaching don’t make no sense God’s been good to me.
(The End)
Bo King sing “He’s Been Good To Me”
