WHAT CAN I GIVE?

W. Charles Harris II

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The Psalmist is mindful of what the Lord has done for him and loves Him for it; he wants to do something that would say thank you in a special way. His question "what shall I render?" is the same question that each of us should be asking as well.

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Sing: You are My Strength

You are my strength Strength like no other Strength like no other Reaches to me (4)

In the fullness of Your grace In the power of Your name You lift me up You lift me up (2)

OPEN BIBLES TO PSALM 116:12

Psalm 116:12 NASB95

12 What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits toward me?

One of the biggest issues that we face as a society of human beings is the inability to respond properly to the prompting of love. It’s sad, but its the truth, you can bend over backwards to help some people and they treat you like it was something that you was suppose to do without so much as showing an ounce of gratitude. In this text today, this psalmist may not be known by name; We may not know who they are, but it is no mystery how they feel.

FEELINGS

The text begins with a grand declaration: “I LOVE THE LORD”

How many of us in here today can truly say that and mean it today.

52 Topical Sermons: Volume 2 Sermon 18. Let Me Tell You about the Lord

According to new research from the Center for the Study of Global Christianity one out of five non-Christians in North America does not “personally know” a single follower of Christ. That’s 13,447,000 people who don’t have a Christian friend or even acquaintance. The percentages get higher for certain religious groups. For instance, 65 percent of Buddhists, 75 percent of Chinese people, 78 percent of Hindus, and 43 percent of Muslims in America do not personally know a follower of Christ.

Worldwide, the numbers are much worse: more than 8 in 10 non-Christians do not personally know a follower of Christ.

The existence of these shocking stats suggests that the vast majority of professing Christians have not made their feeling for the Lord known. And just in case, you have gotten a little rusty in your declaration, now is a good time to practice saying it to somebody you meet tomorrow “I love the Lord.”

FORMULATION

The writer tells us what caused him/her to feel the way they did. They said because He hears and answers my prayers. Not the one where I said Lord I need a better job, car, or housing. Not the one that went fix my romantic relationship, I just don’t wanna be lonely, or even take care of my haters. No the situation here was much more dire. I don’t mean to sound like the Lord does not pay attention to those kinds of request, but right here , they are saying: “I had a near death experience and he saved my life when I called on name. Read Ps 116:3-11

Psalm 116:3–11 NLT

3 Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. 4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Please, Lord, save me!” 5 How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! 6 The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and he saved me. 7 Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me. 8 He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. 9 And so I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth! 10 I believed in you, so I said, “I am deeply troubled, Lord.” 11 In my anxiety I cried out to you, “These people are all liars!”

The psalmist’s feelings were formulated by experience. It was David’s experience that caused him to speak to the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said, Ps. 18:1

Psalm 18:1 NASB95

1 “I love You, O Lord, my strength.”

I believe the Lord, allowed the psalmist to share this experience with us today to point out that in too many instances we put to much emphasis on human relationships at the expense of the one that we should cherish with him. Because when it gets right down to it, only the Lord can save us from death, our eyes from tears, and our feet from stumbling .

I feel a preach coming...

Whenever, we talk about loving the Lord, we need to confess I Love Him because “I’m still here”. And we are still here because He loved us. Didn’t he love…suffered, bleed, died.

1 John 4:19 KJV 1900

19 We love him, because he first loved us.

FAITHFULNESS (v 2B)

It is here that the psalmist decides that his/her gratitude must be expressed in more than just words. To say “l love you” is simply not enough. How many of you here today knows that “love isn’t love until you’ve given it away? You can sing and shout and talk real loud…It still isn’t love. The psalmist makes up his/her mind that their love would take on the form of commitment (faithfulness).

Commitment is

The avowed or inferred binding dedication to a relationship based on a willful promise. Commitment is maintained by a moral obligation to loyally persist in spite of obstacles, costs, or alternative possibilities. Whether in love, friendship, marriage, work, career, moral life, or religion, commitment is a profoundly important human activity. While it is certainly related to love, it is not the same as love.

Commitment may stem from internal factors, such as feelings of respect, affection, and liking. It may stem from shared interests, mutual obligations and responsibilities or religious convictions. Or it may stem from such external factors as family expectations, pressure from friends, social considerations, or business or financial interests and concerns.

Beloved, I have a strong suspension in my sanctified soul today that the many of you have disregarded the issue of commitment all together in these recent days. I feel the Lord saying do you remember what you said when I saved you? See Ps 116:2

Psalm 116:2 NASB95

2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.

Calling upon suggest putting ones trust in him and living in accordance with His will. The Psalmist says that I am committed to do that. But, I just can’t help feeling like there is something else that I should be doing. I know I could never repay Him for all of his benevolent blessings and magnanimous mercies. Not feeling that what he has proposed already is adequate enough, he ponders...

FLATTER

flatter is defined as to Praise too much…Is that even a possibility?

After he had been delivered, the psalmist wanted to express his gratitude to the Lord, and he did so in four ways. First, he brought a thank offering to the Lord at the sanctuary (v. 17; Lev. 3; 7:11–21). Second, part of this sacrifice, the priest would pour out a portion of wine on the altar as a symbol of the worshiper’s life poured out to serve the Lord. This was indeed a “cup of salvation” for the psalmist whose life could have been destroyed by the enemy. Third, the priest kept back part of the offering for a feast held after the sacrifice, and there the worshiper shared his food and his joy with his family and friends. At that feast, the psalmist called on the Lord and publicly thanked Him for His mercies. Fourth, following the ceremony and feast, the psalmist began to keep the promises he had made to the Lord during his time of great suffering and danger (vv. 14, 18).

Can anybody relate to the psalmist and ask how do I say thanks for all the things you have done?