“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” – Colossians 4:2
The purpose of celebrating Thanksgiving yesterday was to remind us to be thankful today and every day. What was worth being thankful for yesterday is still with you today!
If Christianity is true, this is not “being a Pollyanna” or seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. Live like it is true by making thanksgiving a habit, not a holiday.
Often the writers of the Psalms aren’t just trying to teach us about God, but they are trying to share their experience of Him. As in Psalm 96 and 100, included in earlier posts, Psalm 136 opens with encouragement, or even instructions, to join the Psalmist in thanksgiving:
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever” – Psalm 136:1-3
All 26 verses of this Psalm end with the phrase “for his steadfast love endures forever,” following something about God that is worthy of praise and thanksgiving. This constant repetition is a reminder that it is “his steadfast love” for His people that drives His acts of creation, His works in history, and ultimately His death on the cross. His works are all done by a person, for a people. What God really desires is relationship with us. We are not alone in the universe.
Giving thanks only makes sense if someone exists to thank, who is good, and has the power to provide what we are thankful for. If creation is a mere accident, if wicked acts are never corrected and righteous acts are never rewarded, and if mankind can only hope in themselves, there is no reason to give thanks to someone, or something, else. Many religions seem to acknowledge this, giving personality and reverence to created things – trees, the sun, the harvest, and so on – but in Christ we can know the Person who is behind it all, and who actually is a Person that loves us.
Therefore, today give thanks to the Lord who is good, and is above any god or lord of this world. As we celebrate Thanksgiving today in the United States, be thankful above all else that Someone exists to thank, that He is good, and that He has the power, and love, needed to care for His people. Now and forever.
Amen.
Earlier posts on Participating in the Psalms are here, here, and here.
Psalm 100 is “A Psalm for giving thanks.” Yesterday’s post focused on the first three verses, and today’s covers the last two, which continue the Psalmist’s encouragement to personally join them in thanksgiving.
Psalm 100:4 reads:
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!”
Verse 3 ended describing us as God’s sheep, and as our Shepherd, He guides us into His presence. At the time the Psalm was written, this would probably be in His temple, but for us it is whenever we worship in public or in private. Does our worship involve willing and joyful giving of thanks, praise, and blessing to God? Or do we sometimes worship reluctantly? Do we feel we don’t measure up to what God expects? In case we need encouragement, the Psalmist continues with verse 5:
“For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.”
Like verse 3 covered yesterday, this verse is a list of things to be thankful for. A list of reasons we can enter His gates and courts with thanksgiving and praise:
“For the LORD is good” – We can approach God and worship Him because He is good
“his steadfast love endures forever” – We can approach Him because His love is steadfast
“and his faithfulness to all generations.” – We can approach Him because of His faithfulness
It is His characteristics that make Him love us, and His character endures forever. If we have lacked goodness, love, or faithfulness since we last met with God, His love for us in Christ overcomes it all. His nature is 100% reliable, and worthy of our thanksgiving!
Take a moment and ask Him how you might participate in the Psalms, being thankful for His character regardless of how your day is going, or how you feel. He wants to walk through it with you. Be thankful!
When reading the Psalms we should keep in mind that the writers aren’t just trying to teach us about God, but they are trying to share their experience of Him. Some Psalms give us instructions like “sing to the LORD a new song” in Psalm 96. Psalm 100 is “A Psalm for giving thanks,” and like Psalm 96, spells out ideas for doing it. Today will focus on the first three verses, and tomorrow on the last 2.
Psalm 100 begins with:
“A Psalm for giving thanks.
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
First, the Psalmist wants the whole earth to make a joyful noise, but notes that singing and making a joyful noise are not the only part of giving thanks. We are encouraged to thank God by serving Him, not reluctantly, but to serve with the same gladness we have when we sing in worship.
The third verse reads like a list of things to be thankful for. When we feel like there’s nothing to be thankful for, or no motivation to serve, consider:
“Know that the LORD, he is God!” – Our Lord is not powerless, He is God!
“It is he who made us, and we are his” – We are not accidents of a mindless nature, we are His!
“We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture” – We do not have to wander aimlessly through life, not knowing where we are going, we belong to a flock and our Shepherd provides us pasture!
Take a moment and ask Him how you might participate in the Psalms, carrying these instructions into your daily circumstances.
Since 1942, the United States have celebrated a holiday for Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of every November. For Christians the holiday is a time to remember the source of their blessings, regardless of how large or small those blessings seem. In Ecclesiastes 5:18-19, the Preacher recommends celebrating and enjoying our material things, and recognizing God as the Giver of them all, including the work needed to produce and prepare them:
“Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.”
However, as the Preacher wrote, even those with good jobs and plentiful possessions may find it difficult to truly enjoy them. It is “good and fitting”, but it is also “the gift of God” to find joy in the now instead of chasing things we don’t already have. It does not come naturally.
For many, time and events make each Thanksgiving different. The company around the table may have changed. The meal may be different. The means of providing the meal may be different. The familiarity of tradition may have been shaken by the pandemic and other circumstances. Much has changed, and much will change.
Therefore, focus on the Giver behind the gifts you have, and seek contentment with thankfulness that He has provided everything you need. For now, and in eternity. You are in good company.
Driving Toward the Morning Sun 