“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!”

Did you know that . . . .?

 

The Supreme Court in 1963 banned prayers in public schools. The following prayer by kindergarten children was declared illegal:

 

“We thank you for the flowers so sweet;

We thank you for the food we eat;

We thank you for the birds that sing;

We thank you God for everything.”

 

George Washington’s final remarks to the nation in 1796 were, “Of all the habits that lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would men claim the tributes of patriotism who would work to destroy these great pillars of human happiness.” ^[1]

 

I wonder just how much thanksgiving to God will take place this Thanksgiving. There’s so much we should be thankful to God for. In Psalm 136 the Psalmist records many of the reasons we should be thankful to the LORD.

Psalm 136 is what is called an antiphonal psalm; it was sung with back and forth responses between the worship leader and the congregation. When it was sung in the congregation there would be a responsive back and forth between the worship leader and the congregation. It is a Psalm of thanks to God for his goodness and enduring mercy.

Psalm 136

¹     Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

²     Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!

For His mercy endures forever.

³     Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!

For His mercy endures forever:

The phrase “Oh, give thanks” (Hebrew yawdaw) ix grammatically in the imperative; this is a must not a maybe; this is essential and necessary. The phrase itself means literally to hold out the hand to – in submission and thankfulness, to revere, to worship, to confess, or praise, give thanksgiving. It means to give a praising thankful testimony. It’s an exhortation repeated three times for emphasis in these opening verses of the psalm.

We’re exhorted to give thanks “to the LORD” (Hebrew Yehovaw ) which translates the Tetragrammaton, the holiest name of God. Elsewhere it is translated “I Am” (Ex. 3:14) and it means the Self-Existent Eternal One; the One Who is all He ever needs to be to do Whatever He purposes to do. We are to give thanks to our High and Holy God.

The word “for” here and throughout the psalm substantiates or gives us a valid reason to do what it says. One commentator states of “for” – “but taking the psalm as a whole, we may better understand the first word not as ‘for’, but as the emphatic ‘truly, indeed’.”^[2]  

Why give thanks to God? The rest of this psalm provides a litany of reasons to give thanks “to the LORD”:

1.      “for He is good!” – “Good” (Hebrew tobe ) is a word that means good in the widest sense; beautiful, best, better, gracious, kind, loving, pleasant, prosperous. Every good gift comes from God (James 1:17). For that we should give Him thanks.

 

2.      “For His mercy endures forever” – This phrase is repeated in every verse of this Psalm’ 26 times! What do you think the people singing this psalm would be impressed with? That God’s mercy endures forever. Why this emphasis? Because Satan wants us to think we have sinned beyond God’s mercy. That’s a lie! God’s mercy endures forever and He will forgive the one who repents and confesses their sin to Him asking forgiveness.

 

“Mercy” (Hebrew chesed ) is one of the richest words in the OT. “Mercy” means in the fullest sense of the words: Kindness, faithfulness, devotion, beauty, merciful, goodness; steadfast love; grace.

 

Chesed emphasizes the relationship God has with His people; with us. God voluntarily and in great grace and generosity obligated Himself to His people in love. His beauty is enveloped in His kindness, goodness, grace and love.

 

And this mercy “endures forever” (Hebrew olawm ) or goes to the vanishing point; beyond what we can conceive; eternity; always; everlasting; eternal. Thank the LORD His mercy never ends!

 

3.      “to the God of gods” – The LORD is unique; holy. There is none like Him (Is. 46:9). For that we should thank Him.

 

4.      “to the Lord of lords!” – The LORD is the Master over all other leaders whether they be kings, judges, religious leaders, presidents, senators, congressmen, or any other person that falls under the heading of “lord.” God is Sovereign and LORD of all (Josh 3:13; Is. 66:20; Zech. 6:5; Acts 10:36). For that we should bow and give the LORD thanks.

Instead of repeating “Oh, give thanks to the LORD” the Psalmist simply continues each verse “T Him” from this point until the final verse. What else should we give thanks to the LORD for?

⁴     To Him who alone does great wonders,

For His mercy endures forever;

5.      We should give thanks to the LORD because He is able, willing and does perform great “wonders” (Hebrew pawlaw ) or distinctive acts that instill wonder. For that we give Him thanks.

⁵     To Him who by wisdom made the heavens,

For His mercy endures forever;

6.      God is omniscient or all knowing. His “wisdom” (Hebrew tawboon ) or intellect is higher than all other intelligence (cf. Is. 55:8-10). He knows everything about us and just what we need in ever circumstance. For that we give Him thanks.

⁶     To Him who laid out the earth above the waters,

For His mercy endures forever;

⁷     To Him who made great lights,

For His mercy endures forever—

7.      He is our Creator and for that we should thank Him.

⁸     The sun to rule by day,

For His mercy endures forever;

⁹     The moon and stars to rule by night,

For His mercy endures forever.

8.      The LORD has created in an orderly way (cf. 1 Cor. 14:33, 40). He is not one who is haphazard, capricious, or chaotic. That is a comfort to us and for that we give Him thanks.

¹⁰     To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn,

For His mercy endures forever;

¹¹     And brought out Israel from among them,

For His mercy endures forever;

¹²     With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm,

For His mercy endures forever;

¹³     To Him who divided the Red Sea in two,

For His mercy endures forever;

¹⁴     And made Israel pass through the midst of it,

For His mercy endures forever;

¹⁵     But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,

For His mercy endures forever;

9.      God is able and does deliver us from the greatest most powerful worldly enemies. He is our Deliverer and Advocate (e.g. 1 John 2:1-2). If God is for us it doesn’t matter who is against us (Rom. 8:31-32). Thank You LORD for that!

¹⁶     To Him who led His people through the wilderness,

For His mercy endures forever;

10.  God is our Sustainer. Just as He sustained His people in their wilderness wanderings, He sustains us throughout our life. For that we thank Him.

¹⁷     To Him who struck down great kings,

For His mercy endures forever;

¹⁸     And slew famous kings,

For His mercy endures forever—

¹⁹     Sihon king of the Amorites,

For His mercy endures forever;

²⁰     And Og king of Bashan,

For His mercy endures forever—

11.  God is able to defeat the biggest giants in our life; like Sihon and Og who were very possibly over 12 feet tall! No giant is too big for God to defeat. For that we thank Him.

 

Thanksgiving might not be celebrated in the United States today, were it not for a patient, persistent woman named Sarah Hale.

 

It is well-known that the first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated by the Pilgrim Fathers in 1621 to give thanks for their winter in the New World.

 

In 1789, President George Washington issued a Thanksgiving Day Proclamation to commemorate the first Pilgrim celebration. But Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States discontinued it, calling Thanksgiving, “a kingly practice.”

 

After this, Thanksgiving was observed by some individual states, and on whatever date suited their fancy.

Then in 1828, Mrs. Hale, the editor of the magazine Godey’s Lady’s Book and author of the poem “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” began campaigning for the restoration of Thanksgiving as a national holiday.

 

She wrote letters and sought appointments with national leaders from the President down. Time after time she was politely rebuffed, sometimes being told it was “impossible” and “impractical,” and sometimes being dismissed with a this-is-none-of-your-business scolding.

 

Finally in 1863 President Lincoln listened seriously to her plea that North and South “lay aside enmities and strife on (Thanksgiving) Day.” He proclaimed the fourth Thursday of November to be the official “National Thanksgiving Day.” This day was finally ratified by the U. S. Congress in 1941. ^[3]

 

Even when there are giant discouraging obstacles, God is able to help us overcome.

 

²¹     And gave their land as a heritage,

For His mercy endures forever;

²²     A heritage to Israel His servant,

For His mercy endures forever.

12.  God fulfills His promises. He is faithful. We can depend on Him. For that we thank Him.

²³     Who remembered us in our lowly state,

For His mercy endures forever;

²⁴     And rescued us from our enemies,

For His mercy endures forever;

13.  God is thinking about us; looking for ways to bless us (e.g. Luke 11:13). He rescues us when needed. He never forgets us. He loves us so much He can’t get His mind off of us (ef. Psalm 139:17-18). Thank You LORD for always thinking of me.

²⁵     Who gives food to all flesh,

For His mercy endures forever.

14.  God feeds us; He meets our practical needs. Every need we have is met in and through Jesus (Phil. 4:19). For that we thank Him.

It was on Thanksgiving several years ago that Helen Hayes cooked her first turkey. Before serving it she announced to her husband, Charles MacArthur, and their son James: “Now I know this is the first turkey I’ve ever cooked. If it isn’t right, I don’t want anybody to say a word. We’ll just get up from the table without comment, and go down to the hotel for dinner.” Then she retired to the kitchen. When she entered the dining room, bearing the turkey, she found her husband and son seated at the table—wearing their hats and coats. ^[4]

 

Be thankful for the food God puts on your table, (or in a restaurant if need be).

 

²⁶     Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!

For His mercy endures forever.

Yes, for all of this we should be thankful.

About the year 125 A.D. a Greek by the name of Aristeides was writing to one of his friends about the new religion, Christianity. He was trying to explain the reasons for its extraordinary success. Here is a sentence from one of his letters: “If any righteous man among the Christians passes from this world, they rejoice and offer thanks to God, and they escort his body with songs and thanksgiving as if he were setting out from one place to another nearby.” ^[5]

 

Being thankful to God is a testimony to a unthankful world.

Are you thankful to the LORD? Are you thankful for those around you? I came across a poem of thanks that I’d like to conclude with:

I Thank God For You

 

THANK GOD FOR YOU,

Good friend of mine.

Seldom is friendship such as thine;

How very much I wish to be

As helpful as you’ve been to me—

THANK GOD FOR YOU.

 

Of many prayer guests, one thou art

On whom I ask God to impart

Rich blessings from His storeroom rare,

And grant to you His gracious care.

THANK GOD FOR YOU.

 

When I recall, from time to time,

How you inspired this heart of mine:

I find myself inclined to pray.

God bless my friend this very day—

THANK GOD FOR YOU.

 

So often, at the throne of Grace,

There comes a picture of your face:

And then, instinctively, I pray

That God may Guide you all the way—

THANK GOD FOR YOU.

 

Someday, I hope with you to stand

Before the throne, at God’s right hand;

And to say to you—at journey’s end:

"Praise God, you’ve been to me a friend—

THANK GOD FOR YOU.”

—Joseph Clark^[6]

 

Have you pondered all that God has done, is doing and has promised to do for you? I hope so. The LORD deserves our thanks. Will you say, “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!”

Hold that thought.

Think of the worst thing that has ever been done to you. Think of your bitterness and resentment,

your hurt and pain, the deep scars all of it. Now think of the worst thing you have ever done, the darkest, most despicable, and deeply sinful shameful thing you’ve ever done. Now remember, God’s mercy endures forever to the repentant offender and the repentant bitter victim. And key to unlock the floodgates of God’s mercy from heaven is Jesus. Jesus is the One through whom God’ mercy is poured out. The blood of Jesus can wash away and all sin for the repentant confessing sinner. The water of God’s word can cleanse us from impurities and the blood of Jesus washes us from all our sin. God’s mercy endures forever and it endures through Jesus Christ.

 

Now again I ask, “Will you be able to say with the psalmist, “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!”

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^[1]Tan, Paul Lee: Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and Christian Workers. Garland TX : Bible Communications, 1996, c1979

^[2]Eaton, John: The Psalms : A Historical and Spiritual Commentary With an Introduction and New Translation. London; New York : T&T Clark, 2003, S. 452

^[3]Tan, Paul Lee: Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and Christian Workers. Garland TX : Bible Communications, 1996, c1979

^[4]Tan, Paul Lee: Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and Christian Workers. Garland TX : Bible Communications, 1996, c1979

^[5]Tan, Paul Lee: Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and Christian Workers. Garland TX : Bible Communications, 1996, c1979

^[6]Tan, Paul Lee: Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and Christian Workers. Garland TX : Bible Communications, 1996, c1979