A Song of Thanksgiving

Many of the Psalms include the invitation to give thanks, or praise God.  In honor of our Thanksgiving holiday, let’s take a brief look at a couple of the lessons we can learn from the Psalms with regard to the “how” and “why” of thanksgiving.

Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones; praise is becoming to the upright.  Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.  Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.  For the word of the Lord is upright, and all His work is done in faithfulness.  He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord. (Psalm 33:1-5)

Let’s take a quick look at five “how’s” and five “why’s” of thanksgiving from this passage:

1. Sing – music is a language that connects with our soul on a different level than words alone.  We can all sing or “make a joyful noise” to God.  It may not be a sweet sound to our ears, but a song of thanksgiving is always a sweet sound to God’s ears.
2. Shout – sometimes when we think of what God has done for us we feel an overwhelming sense of joy, and the best way to let it out is with a joyful shout.  We often see this with less important things like sporting matches, so why not practice it with the greater things?  Also, we can choose to shout for joy even when we don’t fee like it, as this shout will often help to repel the enemy and his distractions.
3. Use your talents – the psalmist emphasizes the musical talents, but we can apply this more broadly to our own lives.  Do you have a creative talent (drawing, sculpting, wood-working, building, refurbishing, baking, running a business, balancing budgets, teaching others, writing, cleaning, sports, etc.)?  Be creative and think of ways to express thanksgiving through that.
4. With Excellence – “play skillfully”.  As Christ-followers, we should endeavor towards greatness in all things.  Not only can our excellence – cultivated through ongoing dedication, hard-work and sacrifice – be a form of worship, but also an expression of thanksgiving.
5. Live Righteous – it’s not enough to simply be excellent and express thanksgiving through our songs, shouts and talents, but we ultimately express our thanksgiving to God in the way we live.  Practice righteousness at all times and in all situations – worship God in spirit and in truth.

Because (of):

1. It is Becoming – as God’s righteous ones in the earth, it is appropriate, becoming, and natural for us to regulate our lifestyle to the rhythms of thanksgiving.
2. His Word – “The Word of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul” (Ps. 19:7) See also Psalm 119.  God has chosen to uniquely interact with us, in part through the written witness of His Word.  Here we find the “words of life”, the good news of the gospel of the kingdom of God – and that is much to be thankful for.
3. His Faithfulness – “Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’” (1 Sam. 7:12)  When we recall the Lord’s faithfulness, we should be filled with thanksgiving, joy, and continued hope.
4. His Love – “God proves His love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8) Never lose the wonder of your salvation.  Never lose the joy of your daily walk with God.  His infinite yet personal agape love provides endless inspiration for our thanksgiving.
5. His Kindness – not only is God good and loving, but He is also personal and kind.  Think of the examples in Jesus’ ministry when we paused in the masses to recognize and engage with an individual in healing or teaching.  Think of His radical messages on inclusion and kingdom living.  Think of when He defended those who were condemned by others.  And think of the many kindnesses He has given to you.