It is a great poverty to receive no gifts and have nobody to thank and feel grateful to. It is a wonderful thing for the soul to offer thanksgiving. It is a wonderful thing that a whole nation may offer thanksgiving to God.
There are no nations other than Israel and America that celebrate their beginning by thanksgiving for deliverance to God. Many nations of course, such as Britain, cannot remember their beginning, Most nations were made in the 20th Century of secularism. The American nation holds in reverence a group of people who, for the sake of seeking religious freedom, endured the death of half of their brethren from starvation, yet upon their first harvest hold a 3 day feast with the natives who had helped them, in thanksgiving to God in October 1621.
In October 1789 George Washington issued a proclamation calling for the national day of thanksgiving.
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor…. For the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed. And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions … to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed … and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord, to promote the knowledge and practice of the true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and Us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best. Lathan Watts Quoting George Washington.
May indeed all search for the true religion! What a blessing if it may be granted that a government facilitates that search and the search for truth in science! But most of all how radical it may seem today 230 years later to give thanks to God for all national benefits and peaceful governance! What can humans unaided do? How radical is it that a leader says that God is the Ruler of Nations!? How many today think humans rule their own nation and fate!
One of the first Hebrew words I learnt was todah. It means 'thanks, thankyou' and also thanksgiving. It is from yadah which literally means to extend the hand out, as in homage or worship to a great one. The word begins its life when Israel is to be a nation in the land in its first occurrence in the Bible it is an optional, voluntary peace offering.
If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour soaked. With cakes of leavened bread he shall present his offering with the sacrifice of his peace-offerings for thanksgiving. (Leviticus 7:12-13)
Bread is from grain which requires land ownership to grow. Oil is from an Olive tree, again which requires land to grow it. Before Israel acquired the land of Canaan their fathers had been nomadic herdsmen. This Leviticus law was given before they had won this land, while they like their fathers were wanderers. What may be noted is that before this acceptable offerings were always animals. The God of the Bible so loved Noah's offering of one of each of the saved clean animals, as a “sweet savour” (Genesis 8:21) that He made a covenant with – not just Noah- but us! But there was no offering of fruit of the ground then, and in fact it had been rejected at the hands of Cain (Genesis 4).
After the time of King David national thanksgiving was also in the song of the Levites, the law givers. Imagine a huge massed choir on opposing ancient city walls, so the whole city was awash with the music of voices.
So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me: (Nehemiah 12:40)
King Hezekiah and a reformed King Manasseh both are recorded as leading the people in giving national thanksgiving offerings, both in times of revival after an era of national idolatry. Both in times of national deliverance from enemies.
Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psalm 50:14-15)
Imagine a modern generation at Plymouth in that bitter winter complaining about the death of half of the people. Like the American founding settlers at Plymouth, the faithful people of old saw beyond the struggles of this life to eternal deliverance, but also saw they needed to seek help in the struggles of this life. Notice in the following that the Psalmist both thanks God for mercy given now and seeks for mercy for their soul in future.
For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked. I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. (Psalm 26:3-11)
Thus thanksgiving is part of a continuum from the past to the Eternal future; for past mercy, for present help and future salvation.
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. (Psalm 107:19-22)
The preservation of all life is a great work of God! Yes, our very life, hour to hour. How much more so in the midst of the foolishness of human activities. Did God ask us to sail the seas and fly in the sky? May those who travel to thanksgiving, rather than complain for a slow drive, snow or a rough flight consider that it is only by God's grace were they able return home. What else may those who gather about a table be thankful for: Peace in the nation that allows a feast without fear, possession of fertile land that grows food, preservation of life and the plenty of food to eat to preserve life.
A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. (Psalm 100:1-5)
If we might seek it, but even for those who don't, God has preserved our lives to this moment. Let us think a bit wider, and deeper:
O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, (Psalm 95:1-7)
The very soil of the earth and all things.
Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. (1Chron. 29:13-15)
In fact we can give nothing but praise to God, all is his: the turkey, the mash, the roof, the souls under the roof. Do we need to be rich to give praise? Do we need to be happy for thanksgiving? No!
But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God. For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners. (Psalm 69:29-33)
Do we need to be secure in this life to give thanksgiving? no.
Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word. In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living? (Psalm 56:8-13)
Yet many think they can do what they wish and take all of the gifts given without giving thanks.
Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God. (Psalm 50:22-23)
Those that Forget God, may not be given deliverance now and will lose salvation in the future. Why should God work hard to preserve the life of those that hate Him in a world of stupid and evil humans and stupid human inventions from buildings that kill, to cars that slay and planes that fall from the sky?
One reason for the joy in hope of the true Christian is the future centred in Jerusalem, in the restoration:
The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down. (Jeremiah 33:11-12)
The sacrifice of praise is the same word, todah. A thing given voluntarily out of joy!
Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof. And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.(Jeremiah 30:18-19)
Now we may note that as yet this cannot be possible- no person Jewish or otherwise on the planet can bring the thanksgiving offering, yet!
And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD. (Jeremiah 17:26)
It is perhaps of note that in the era where Europe was persecuting Jews that Columbus opened the new world. America still remembers Columbus Day in October.
For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. (Isaiah 51:3-6)
The ultimate thanks we might give is for the certain hope here and now of a Perfected Eternal Life
I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God. When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. (Jonah 2:6-9)
Jonah was resurrected from death. He was as dead. For those in Christ with a sure hope, we have in baptism been associated with His death in water as Jonah was, and have the cup of salvation.
For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living. I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: I said in my haste, All men are liars. What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. (Psalm 116:8-17)
Lastly we end with Psalm 147, where as the snow falls after the end of harvest, the children are called a blessing, as bread. And yet the great thanksgiving for all the world will be when God finally builds Jerusalem and the world will be given true peace and plenty.
Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly. He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow. He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD. (Psalm 147:1-20)
