What the Bible Says About Giving Thanks by Myra Kahn Adams for Town Hall
Author’s Note: Interested readers can find all previous volumes of this series here. News Flash: The first 56 volumes are compiled into a book titled “Bible Study For Those Who Don’t Read The Bible.” More details at the end. Now back to our regular programming.
Thanks for joining us today. We begin our Thanksgiving-themed Bible study with a memorable quote from my deceased sister, Andrea: “I love Thanksgiving because all you have to do is show up and eat.” Yes, true, but now her baby sister will embellish:
“I love Thanksgiving to God because all you have to do is show up, love your family, be grateful for the feast He provides and the blessings He has bestowed upon those gathered today.” Much better. Given this is a Thanksgiving week and giving thanks to God was, and still is, the real purpose of the holiday, let’s examine what Scripture says about thanking God.
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The first reading is a perfect summary of what should be top of mind every day, but especially on Turkey Thursday with the “holiday” mentioned in this Psalm:
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100).
May I suggest that before you carve the bird, ask someone to read Psalm 100? Then those magnificent, soothing words could create a loving atmosphere, reducing the intensity of family squabbles or political disagreements. On that note, over the next four days watch for all the mainstream media coverage about “how to handle political disagreements at Thanksgiving,” but I guarantee that none will mention group prayer.
Next we read part of a Psalm that puts the “T” in Thanksgiving:
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. To him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. Who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. Who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. Who made the great lights— His love endures forever. The sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. The moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever ” (Psalm 136:1-9).
