To the chief Musician, Altaschith, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. We give thanks to You, O God; we give thanks, for Your Name is near. The people declare Your wondrous works.
*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3034
Thanks: to throw, to cast;
In this verse, the word thanks is rendered from the Hebrew word 'yadah', which is pronounced yaw-daw' and means to confess, to glorify, to give praise while throwing one's hands or arms up.
This word yadah is used 114 times in the Old Testament.
And why are we to give thanks in such a manner to God? FOR YOUR NAME IS NEAR.
>Psalm 145:18
The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.
>Deuteronomy 4:7
For what nation is there so great, who has God so near unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon Him for?
>Acts 17:27
God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.
>Psalm 34:18
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.
>Psalm 85:9
Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.
>Psalm 119:151
You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are true.
Knowing God is near to us, let we ourselves draw near to Him as James writes in James 4:8 "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
As the prodigal son drew closer to home, his father, who had been daily watching for his son's return, ran to meet him when he saw his son coming home. So, too, has the prodigal spirit within each one of us who has returned to God seen God run to meet us as we drew near Him in our brokenhearted appeal at the cross. "Lord, save me."
>Psalm 26:6, 7
I wash my hands in innocence that I may go about Your altar, O LORD, to raise my voice in thanksgiving and declare all Your wonderful works.
Of all His wondrous works for which we give God thanks, the one too wonderful for words is the salvation He made possible when He sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross in our place.
>2 Corinthians 5:21
God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
That's the best Wonderful Work of God right there.
Let us pray.
Dear God,
Thank You God for being my God. Thank You for being a 'near to me God' and not a far away God. Thank you for saving me and calling me Your own. Thank You for bringing me into Your marvelous kingdom and giving me a job to do for You. Thank You, Lord, for saving a wretch like me. You are too wonderful for words and I know that Your Spirit helps me to pray when I can find no words to speak. Thank You for that blessing, too.
In Jesus' Name, I pray,
Amen.
