Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. (Psalm 100:2-5)
OUR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY IN AMERICA gets its background from Psalm 100 and other Old Testament references to thanksgiving and praise, and the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. It is a time of thanking God for a harvest of food and survival of the pilgrims, aided by friendly Indians in the early colonies.
SOME AMERICAN MONEY CRUNCHERS ARE ESTIMATING that Americans will spend “$991 million dollars on turkeys this year” (2018). That sounds high for just the turkeys and may include the whole turkey-centered meal. The average family is projected to spend $175.00 for Thanksgiving food. Most American money for Thanksgiving is spent on travel and then food. Our financial recovery is boosting travel and celebration of Thanksgiving. Football games and Thanksgiving parades, televised nationwide, have become a staple of stimulation for this much-loved holiday. National celebrations were God’s idea in the time of Moses and it has continued to this day.
IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW MUCH OF THE CELEBRATION has anything to do with thanking God or worshiping Him in Spirit and in truth. Probably, very little, except among the true believers in Christ who take the celebration seriously. Americans have been scattered all over the map all year long and are ready for returning to their roots and hearths for renewing of family ties and a bit of feasting.
OUR JEWISH CONNECTION TO AMERICAN THANKSGIVING can be summarized as written by Kevin L. Howard and Marvin Rosenthal, in their book: “The Feasts of the Lord,” (Thomas Nelson, Pub. C.1997). “The seventh and final feast given to Israel by the Lord is known as Sukkot or “The Feast of Tabernacles.” It is the most joyful and festive of all Israel’s feasts. It is also the most prominent feast, mentioned more often in Scripture than any of the other feasts. This feast also served as the historical backdrop for the important teaching of the Messiah in John, chapters 7-9.”
PSALM 100 IS IN THE SETTING OF THE JEWISH TEMPLE in Jerusalem and is a service manual for public, corporate, worshipping of God. I had first written as a title: The Attitude of Thanksgiving, and then changed it to “instruments of Thanksgiving.” Whoever the writer of the Psalm, (David?) he charges into his writing by using such words as “gladness,” “singing,” “thanksgiving,” “praise,” and “bless his name.”
THE UNDERGIRDING OF THANKSGIVING is honest and sincere praise of God from the heart. That is the attitude. The reason for those things is that the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Those who know nothing or not much about the Lord, may not be impressed with such high and lofty words. McGee summarizes it:
“THIS IS THE WAY GOD WANTS YOU TO COME INTO HIS PRESENCE. Someone told me the other day that he attended the services of one of the great churches of the past and had never witnessed a place that was so dead. Do you know what the problem was? People were not coming to church with praise in their hearts. They did not come to the service with thankfulness in their hearts to God. They did not enter His gates with thanksgiving. If you go to church on Sunday to worship, make sure you go with thanksgiving and praise in your heart. If you fail to do that, you are not going to be very helpful to your church.”
YOU MAY WANT TO FOLLOW THIS LINK to read Chas. Spurgeon’s comments on Psalm 100: https://www.christianity.com/bible/commentary.php?com=spur&b=19&c=100
NOVEMBER 21, 2018 - WEDNESDAY
A.M Ezekiel 24-26 P.M James 3
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
Good Verse to Memorize:
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (Psalm 100:4)
Song for Today:
Great Is Thy Faithfulness (2:09) (Calv.Christian Sch. 1st & 2nd Grade)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va2X6fJRVY4
You may have to adjust the volume and delete Ad.
You will want to hear these 1st and 2nd grade children sing this old hymn.