How many times do I have to tell you
Sometimes we're so thick-skulled
Have you ever thought about how repetitive some of Scripture is?
Whole stories are repeated numerous times throughout the Old Testament, starting right at the beginning when Genesis 2:4-5 retells (and fleshes out) what we just read in Genesis 1. The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles are largely a rehash of what’s already been reported in 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings.
Some of the Psalms are almost identical to other Psalms. The Old Testament prophets repeated some of the same warnings albeit to different groups of people.
In the New Testament, the gospels repeat many stories – some of them are repeated in all four gospels. Paul’s letters return to some of the same concepts repeatedly.
As a professional editor, I like to pare down the text. Say something well, but only say it once. Yet in the Bible, which is the most magnificent text ever written, God purposely chose to give us repetition. Why do you think that is?
We do get different perspectives from different re-tellings, and that’s certainly why some of the repetition is there. For example, our picture of Jesus’ life is so much richer from having four gospels.
But I think the larger reason why His Word repeats ideas is because we are a people who forget – like children who have to be told again and again. We forget the important things even as unimportant distractions fill our daily lives.
Not to mention that our nature is to focus on the wrong things anyway. We need to be told more than once – sometimes way more than once – so that we remember.
What do we need to remember?
We need to remember who we are (I wrote about that here), which involves both who we were and who we are now.
Who we were – We were spiritually broken, spiritually destitute. We had no way to save ourselves; we brought nothing to the table in our coming transaction with the Creator God. We were “poor in spirit” as Jesus said in the first part of Matthew 5:3.
Who we are now – When God graciously transformed us, granting us repentance, faith, and salvation, we were changed. Here’s all of what Jesus said in Matthew 5:3:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:3 (the first Beatitude)
I came to God a beggar; He lifted me into His kingdom. This truth alone, when mindfully remembered, should generate immense gratitude. God gives us so many gifts, everyday blessings of many kinds, but it’s easier to be thankful for those when we remember the big picture of what He’s done for us.
This also happens to be the healthiest way to approach life – brimming with thankfulness. Even the world recognizes this. A quick Google search will net you articles, all from secular press or institutions, with titles like “Giving thanks can make you happier” or “Why gratitude is good.”
Of course, God’s truth is the Truth, and God designed us to benefit from thankfulness, so it’s no surprise the world has caught on. Bonus for us – we know Who to thank! In fact, God clearly instructs us to live in gratitude. Here are just three examples of this teaching (italics are mine):
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
…be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God; even the Father… — Ephesians 5:18b-20
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with gratefulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. — Colossians 3:15-17
These three passages are so rich. I love the first one – it’s my answer when someone says “I just don’t know what God’s will is for me.” Well, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 is a great start – rejoice, pray, give thanks. That’s His will for you, me, all of us.
And in the second two passages, note who and what enable us to give thanks:
the Spirit within us (we always have that!)
the word of Christ richly dwelling within us (this comes from time in the Word)
each other, as we speak to one another, teach one another and admonish one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (this requires being with one another)
I love that the Bible refers to both “hymns” and “spiritual songs” and I think this clearly teaches that both are wonderful additions to corporate worship! Whatever worship music moves you to that place of gratefulness – make that music part of your daily experience. (At the bottom of this page I’m sharing my current favorite worship song.)
Much like worship music can help you “remember” and live in gratitude, the Psalms are powerful “memory aids” as well, turning our hearts to focus on the Giver. Any Psalm will provide meat for your mind to chew on – there are 150 of them, so dig in! But here are a few favorites:
Psalm 9 – thanksgiving for God’s justice
Psalm 19 – the works and the Word of God
Psalm 47 – God, the King of the earth
Psalm 92 – praise for the Lord’s goodness
Psalm 97 – the Lord’s power and dominion
Psalm 103 – praise for the Lord’s mercies
Psalm 118 – thanksgiving for the Lord’s goodness
Psalm 100 is perhaps my favorite psalm of thanksgiving – and a great one to memorize
Saturating your mind with Psalms is a potent corrective to our tendency to focus on ourselves and our perceived needs. The Psalms lift our eyes upward… and help us remember how the most high God stooped down to the lowliest of us – meaning all of us – in perfect love.
I came to God a beggar; He lifted me into His kingdom. We cultivate an attitude of gratitude by remembering that truth. Is it good that we remind ourselves of this? Well, that is just one of the questions asked in this beautiful song.