Thanksgiving, Week 2
by Cody Anderson Corinth Missionary Baptist Church
Last week, we began our Thanksgiving series by looking at Psalm 100. We saw that giving thanks goes far deeper than simply being grateful for the good things in life. True thanksgiving is worship. It is expressed through joyful praise, glad service, and a desire to draw near to God. Our gratitude isn’t based on changing circumstances, but on the unchanging character of God. We are thankful for a job, car, and family. Yet, we remain thankful to God for His goodness, His steadfast love, and His faithfulness to every generation. We were challenged to lift our focus above material blessings and give thanks to the One who is eternally worthy of our praise.
Now we are looking at another passage that is rich in thanksgiving. In 1 Chronicles 16, we have the recording of when David had the ark of God set inside the tent. They had just defeated the Philistines and David had a place made for the ark to rest. Once it was placed, David offered sacrifices and offerings, blessed the people in the name of the Lord, and distributed provisions to the people of Israel. Then David appointed Levite ministers to invoke, thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel. He first appointed thanksgivings to be sung.
The remainder of chapter 16 is a song of thanks and worship to God. The song spotlights the faithfulness of God’s covenant with His people, His sovereignty, and His worthiness to be worshipped among all the nations. The worship is prescribed in verse 41. The priest and those chosen are to “give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever,” (NASB).
The song is a call to worship and a reminder to the covenant people. The word “invoke” has an urgency to remember things, such as the mighty works of the Lord. He works in mighty ways through His miracles, judgments, and promises. These are the basis of their thanksgiving found in verses 12-18. To invoke is not just an intellectual recall, but also an intimate recognition that God’s faithfulness is their heritage.
The people recall that the covenant first made with Abraham was confirmed with Isaac and grounded again with Jacob. God has been faithful throughout the generations. Israel was nothing to look at, small and weak, yet God called them to be His people. As they wandered from nation to nation, the Lord protected and provided. These truths stimulate worship and thanksgiving because Israel recognizes their whole being and success isn’t based on their strength and merit, but in the Sovereign One’s steadfast love.
David continues in the song to express a universal call to praise in verses 23-34. Once David has called God’s people to worship, he quickly calls all people to worship. All creation is to worship its Creator. All other idols are useless. Lifeless idols do not deserve worship. Only the Creator who clothes Himself in splendor and majesty is to be glorified and showered with offerings. The One who controls the sea and all that is in it, along with the forest and its trees is to be exulted for His will to come to judge it. All creation will worship and give thanks in light of His holiness.
We may find it hard to just offer thanksgiving without petitioning God. In verses 34-36, David shows that oftentimes thanksgiving leads to asking God to continue in who He is. Because of the goodness and enduring love of God, David finds himself pleading for God to save them once more. Since God has displayed His provisions and promises, David requests God to continue His mighty work of salvation in the life of Israel. They will return thanks and praise in the Holy name of the Lord. Upon the end of the psalm, all the people agree by way of “Amen” and continue in praise of the Lord.
What David exemplifies in 1 Chronicles 16, we should set out to do on a daily basis. During this season when we are hurrying to get the dinner ready, rushing to a sporting event, or waiting on a phone call from a loved one, remember what God has done for you. Thank God for the provisions of the past. Praise Him for who He is. Plead for God to simply remain exactly who He is and bless His name.
