This is the final part of the Covenant Theology Conference Prayer Series, Part 6- Praying to Prayers of Thankfulness. See part 1 and part 2 and Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5 here. This is a ministry of Trinity Presbyterian Church of Norman.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 136
2 Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever;
17 to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever.
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.
As believers in Christ, we have so much for which we are to be thankful. Psalm 136 is instructions for our souls on praying thankful prayers, particularly because we experience God’s love as steadfast. Usually, the first thing that comes to mind when we consider prayer is that of intercessory prayer, those prayers that present our needs to God. The bible instructs on this type of praying, of course, but it often reflects prayers predominated by thankfulness. This is seen in Psalm 136’s description of God’s steadfast love. Let us join the psalmist in meditating upon God’s steadfastness with thankful prayers.
How can God’s love be steadfast toward sinners like us? How can He be faithful to love and forgive us, when we are unfaithful to Him? One of the benefits of covenant theology is that it frames the work of Christ for sinners. Christ’s mediating work is founded not on vacillating frames of human feeling. It is founded, rather, upon the eternal loving heart of the Heavenly Father and regulated and revealed as steadfast as it is dispensed to us according to the covenant of grace. As John Owen in Communion with God describes the steadfastness of God’s love in comparison to human love:
The love of God is like himself – equal, constant, not capable of augmentation or diminution; our love is like ourselves – unequal, increasing, waning, growing, declining. His, like the sun, always the same in its light, though a cloud may sometimes interpose; ours, as the moon, has its enlargements and straightenings…So much as we see of the love of God, so much shall we delight in him, and no more.
John Owen, The Communion of God
Delights and everlasting joy is found in the heart of God revealed in His covenant of grace. When we see God’s love unfolded in the covenant of grace, we drink from a fountain that quenches our thirst.
Let us consider how God has, once again, brought us to the precipice of a great weekend of worship and fellowship. Let us pray and name particularly all the ways He has provided according to his steadfast so that we could further our enjoyment and glorying of our Lord this weekend through the covenant theology.
A word of caution…following the conference’s conclusion on Sunday afternoon, one of the most destructive things to its end and to our souls would be for us to not number the blessings the Lord gives to us in his steadfast love. Let us make it our aim to sandwich the conference with prayers of thankfulness prior to and following.
Schedule:
Saturday:
5:15-5:30 pm- Registration.
5:30-7:00 pm Lecture and Q&A on Saturday at the Memorial Union, 2nd Floor, 700 Asp.
Park in the garage just North of the building or on the street to the east of the building. There are elevators and stairs inside the building to take you to the meeting space. Following the lecture, all are invited to walk over with us to Pepe Del Gado’s on campus corner for informal conference activity.
Sunday:
Sunday School with Dr. McDowell, 9:30-10:15 428 W. Lindsey.
Worship with Dr Mark McDowell preaching, 10:30-Noon.
Lunch at 428 W Lindsey, following the service.