The Book of Psalms, a collection of sacred songs and prayers, is a profound expression of the human heart in its relationship with God. Among its many themes, thanksgiving for God's goodness to the righteous stands out as a central motif. This theme is woven throughout the Psalms, reflecting a deep acknowledgment of God's benevolent nature and His faithful provision for those who walk in His ways.

Divine Favor and Protection

The Psalms frequently highlight the divine favor and protection granted to the righteous. Psalm 5:12 declares, "For surely You, O LORD, bless the righteous; You surround them with the shield of Your favor." This verse encapsulates the belief that God's goodness manifests as a protective shield around those who live according to His statutes. The righteous are assured of God's encompassing presence, which serves as both a refuge and a source of strength.

Provision and Abundance

Thanksgiving for God's provision is another recurring theme. Psalm 23, perhaps the most well-known of all the Psalms, begins with the affirmation, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1). This imagery of God as a shepherd underscores His role as a provider who meets the needs of His people. The psalmist expresses gratitude for the abundance and care that God bestows, leading to a life without lack.

Deliverance and Salvation

The Psalms also celebrate God's deliverance and salvation as acts of His goodness. Psalm 34:17-19 states, "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all." Here, the psalmist acknowledges that while the righteous may face trials, God's goodness ensures their ultimate deliverance and salvation.

Joy and Praise

Expressions of joy and praise are natural responses to experiencing God's goodness. Psalm 92:1-2 proclaims, "It is good to praise the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High, to proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning and Your faithfulness at night." The psalmist emphasizes the importance of daily thanksgiving, recognizing God's steadfast love and faithfulness as reasons for continual praise.

Justice and Righteousness

The Psalms affirm that God's goodness is intrinsically linked to His justice and righteousness. Psalm 37:28 assures, "For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off." This verse highlights the moral order upheld by God, where the righteous are preserved and the wicked face consequences. The psalmist's gratitude is rooted in the assurance that God's goodness is just and fair.

Conclusion

The theme of thanksgiving for God's goodness to good men in the Psalms is a testament to the enduring relationship between the Creator and His faithful followers. Through divine favor, provision, deliverance, and justice, the Psalms offer a rich tapestry of gratitude that continues to inspire believers to acknowledge and celebrate God's unwavering goodness in their lives.Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 34:1
I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 36:1
The transgression of the wicked said within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 91:1
He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 100:1
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all you lands.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 103:1
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 107:1
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 117:1
O praise the LORD, all you nations: praise him, all you people.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 121:1
I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from where comes my help.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 145:1
I will extol you, my God, O king; and I will bless your name for ever and ever.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 146:1
Praise you the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
Nave's Topical Index

Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving
... thankful," and adds, "admonishing yourselves in psalms and hymns ... in prayer, and watch
in the same with thanksgiving.". ... for this is the will of God concerning you ...
/.../bounds/the essentials of prayer/iv prayer praise and thanksgiving.htm

The Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts
... Table of Contents. Title Page. THE PSALMS OF DAVID. PSALM ... resurrection. HYMN 111
Thanksgiving for victory; or, God's dominion and our deliverance. HYMN ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/

Thanksgiving Versus Complaining
... you never knew before "how perfectly splendid God is ... The last verse of the Book of
Psalms, taken in ... friends, became bright, and happy, and full of thanksgiving. ...
/.../smith/the god of all comfort/chapter 15 thanksgiving versus complaining.htm

The Exile --Continued.
... Whilst the usual order in the psalms, as the usual ... its elements must be "supplication
and thanksgiving." The prayer of ... if he had not trusted in God, and leaves ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/vi the exilecontinued.htm

Ephesians v. 15, 16, 17
... For they who sing psalms are filled with the ... disasters, then let us increase our
thanksgiving; thanksgiving, I mean ... difference between the love of God and that ...
/.../homily xix ephesians v 15.htm

David's Gratitude
... In many of the Psalms later than this prophecy we ... call it so, between Israel and
Israel's God, in that ... Thus steadily does this model of thanksgiving climb up ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/davids gratitude.htm

Knowledge. Worship. Gratitude.
... to some place of worship regularly, and sing psalms and hymns ... If we are grateful
to God, we shall feel that ... of our substance an offering of thanksgiving to the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 30 1884/knowledge worship gratitude.htm

Blessedness and Praise
... It is produced even while these last; the psalms of thanksgiving are not all reserved
for the end of the book. ... It is the perfection of God's praise. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/blessedness and praise.htm

The God of Nature (Preached During a Wet Harvest. )
... Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon ... Because the men who wrote
these Psalms had faith ... and confidence, and thankfulness to that God who crowns ...
/.../kingsley/the water of life and other sermons/sermon xx the god of.htm

What Sort of Prayer the Gnostic Employs, and How it is Heard by ...
... Now thanksgiving and request for the conversion of our ... my hands as the evening
sacrifice," [3574] say the Psalms. ... Him God helps, by honouring him with closer ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter vii what sort of prayer.htm

What are the psalms of lament? | GotQuestions.org

What are the different types of psalms? | GotQuestions.org

What are the imprecatory psalms? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus