4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

There has been an undeniable surge in the level of self-satisfaction in accomplishments being enjoyed by many people. Those of the scientific community who now clone animals, find cures for diseases and so forth have (in their own minds) replaced the need for God. Even as far back as when this psalm was written, the psalmist saw a tendency for man to believe he simply ‘always was’ and therefore not a created being. He reminds us in verse 3 that this is not the case.

This is not the first time that we have been compared to sheep. Think about what a sheep is and how dependent they are on the shepherd for their welfare. When they stray from the flock, we know what happens. They get picked off.

In this day and age, while we may not have to worry about wild animals preying on us, we do have plenty of predators seeking to do us harm. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. – 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV). Of course, it’s not just the devil we need concern ourselves with. It is also all of his agents, the people around us who do his bidding and our own flesh. Remember what the Apostle Paul says in Romans:  Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. – Romans 7:20 (NKJV)

When trials and tribulations befall us, that is the time we must put extra effort into praising God and give Him thanks for all he has done for us and continues to do. I know it is not easy and certainly not always the first method I employ in dealing with adversity, but eventually I embrace it to reduce my suffering and that of those around me I might be affecting.

Let’s be careful to remember the important lessons of this Psalm and giver thanks for its eternal truth.