What a wonderful opportunity this holiday gives us to declare our thanksgiving to God for all He means and does for us. Thank you, Father!
It was President George Washington, who made the First National Thanksgiving Proclamation. His words are interesting, especially in light of the many secularists and historical revisionists who have attempted to eliminate God’s influence from this grand holiday and the early history of our country. Look at these words from the pen of our nation’s first president:
“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; Whereas, both the houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness! Now therefore, I do recommend next, to be devoted by the people of the states to the service of that great and glorious being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be, that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country.” ― George Washington, 1779
Thanksgiving has always been an expression of love for God by His people. For example, when the people of Israel completed the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, they gathered together to thank God. This is how Nehemiah 12:27 records that special day: “At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres.” Notice that their thanksgiving to God was a time of celebration.
The sons of Korah, who were the singers associated with the Temple and also writers of many of the Psalms, said this in Psalm 42:6: “These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.”
King David, in one of the key messianic Psalms, which points to Jesus wrote in Psalm 69:30: “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving, and Psalm 95:2 concludes, “Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.”
Singers and songs. The music of cymbals, harps and lyres. Shouts of joy and a festive throng gathered together. May that be part of your Thanksgiving Day. As the people of God we have so much for which to be thankful. So as you gather around the table and hold hands in prayer be sure and praise Him for all those smiling faces and special people in your lives and our incredible abundance―but most of all remember the one who made this day possible for you and your family and give Jesus all the praise due His name.
Perhaps this Thanksgiving Day prayer by Peter Marshall, a Presbyterian Pastor and Chaplain to the U.S. Senate until his death in 1949, will help us focus on the true meaning of this beautiful celebration:
“Lord, Thou hast indeed been bountiful. As we look back over the years, how gracious Thou has been, how tender Thy mercy, how warm and constant Thy love. Create within us, our Father, that true gratitude that shall make this day of Thanksgiving one of rededication, when we shall think not of how much we can eat but of how thankful we ought to be. So may we—all across this land today—act as recipients of God’s riches mercy and bountiful blessing, as we share with others. May we, in gratitude, get on with the job of creating not only a nation but a world in which all men shall have the right to seek happiness. Help us to make that dream come true in our homes day by day, in street and office and school, and so to live that Thou shalt be able to bless us and bless the nation for which we pray. In His name, who created us a nation, we pray. Amen.”
Have a happy Thanksgiving my friends.
— Pastor Don Kimbro