A Look at Psalm 119:62
Thanksgiving...
Psalm 119:62 “At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.”
David would rise to give thanks. Thanksgiving is one of the most spiritual acts we can involve ourselves in because it is the only thing we can actually offer God. We have nothing to offer God other than this one simple thing. It was David who taught us to “enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
It’s humbling to be able to do nothing more than thank God for His goodness to us. We naturally would like to do something “significant.” In God’s eyes, thanksgiving is most significant. The kingdom of God comes to those who ask for it, not to those who try to earn it. Having done nothing to earn it, all we can do is humble ourselves and give thanks for it.
David would rise from his sleep to give thanks. Sleeping is one of the more carnal things we do. Nothing nurtures the flesh like sleeping. However, sleeping is not an evil activity because God created each of us with a basic need for it. Not only is giving thanks a spiritual activity, but to deny yourself of one of your fundamental needs, in order to give thanks reveals a little of David’s heart.
We often think of midnight as the middle of the night. Actually, it is the beginning of a new day. David had a heart that wanted to put God before everything. At the beginning of each new day, David would rise to thank God for His righteous laws.
When I was courting my wife-to-be, I willingly missed some sleep just to be with her. Why? Because I wanted to be with her. If I could have arranged to meet her each night at midnight, I would have done that also. Just as we each have these same desires; we should also have a longing to be with God.
Take some time to let this verse sink in and consider: did I thank God today? Don’t let another midnight come and go without telling Him, “Thank You!”
Continued
