THANKSGIVING

What reasons can we find to celebrate Thanksgiving Day?  It is always valuable to be reminded of the origins of Thanksgiving Day. As President, George Washington made the following proclamation and created the first Thanksgiving Day designated by the national government of the United States of America:

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, and whereas both 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 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 and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these 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 previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and Us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

 It is important to remember that 1789 was not a boom time in the USA. The economy was severely affected by the war, thousands had been killed and countless families were displaced from their homes. There was much bad feeling between Loyalists and Patriots. Those who backed the losing side were licking their wounds and trying to save their property. Yet, in the midst of such bad times a day was to be set aside to acknowledge with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God. We can hardly do less.

Psalm 100 commands “all the earth” to “shout for joy to the LORD.” We are to “worship the LORD with gladness and come before him with joyful songs.” It is salutary to know that the whole earth worships the LORD whether the economy is bad, our finances are lousy, or elections do not go our way.

The universe is made to praise God. Every morning, despite the economic or political environment, as the sun rises in the east, the whole creation bursts forth in songs of praise whether we feel like it or not. The ocean surf roars with joy, the wind whistles for joy, the birds sing with joy, the beasts of the field cry with joy, the flowers turn their faces toward the light with joy, the streams babble and the rivers run for joy. In the midst of such a chorus of praise and thanksgiving, we dare not be grim and long faced, for we are part of creation.

“Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his.” We are part of the earth which shouts for joy to the LORD. We cannot willfully be out of step with the rest of creation. When we observe other creatures, when we tune into their chorus, when we hear their shouts of joy, when we see the beauty of nature in all its seasons, the colors and shapes of the leaves, the variety of the species, the food and drink that is provided for us, we have to acknowledge our gratitude and join in the chorus of thanksgiving. We are made for praise and thanksgiving.

But that is not all. When we know that the LORD is God our creator, we know also that “we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” He is more than our Creator. God is our Father, and our Shepherd (see Psalm 23). God established a personal relationship with us through Jesus. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me – and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:11-15)  We are thankful that we know that God is our Redeemer as well as our Creator. He suffers and dies for us so that we might be forgiven, restored to God’s favor, made whole. This is cause for thanksgiving.

We are to “enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Why? “For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” How do you know that the LORD is good and his love endures forever? What is good in your life? “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father.” (James 1:16) In every life there are good and perfect gifts. It may be life itself, health, first class medical care, a lovely place to live, the ability to do things, to play golf or tennis or bridge, wonderful books to read, movies to see, music to hear, food and drink to appreciate, arts and crafts to enjoy, the thrill of learning, study groups to participate in, a church to belong to, the gift of prayer and the Bible. The list of good things in your life can go on and on. We give thanks for all God’s goodness and gifts to us.

God’s love endures forever. That love is seen in his people. He loves us through one another: through a loving spouse or friend, through our children and grandchildren, through our pets, through working with others, through sharing in promoting a worthwhile cause, through helping the needy. We receive God’s love through many avenues: through birthday and Christmas cards, through phone calls and emails, through tokens of appreciation, through the joy of seeing others we love doing well, through learning that some seed we planted has borne fruit in the lives of others. We give thanks for God’s love which endures through good times and bad.

Why can we give thanks to God and praise his name? Because, “his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Or as William Kethe paraphrases it in the Scottish Psalter: “His truth at all times firmly stood, And shall from age to age endure.” God’s promises to us are money in the bank. He gives us meaning and purpose in life. We give thanks because we are confident that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). We give thanks because God is working out his plans for our lives, he is completing his work in us and through us. He will not abandon us. He can be depended upon to take care of us. Great is his faithfulness.

All I have needed his hand has provided.

Great is your faithfulness, Lord, unto me.

(Thomas O. Chisholm)

There are many reasons for thanksgiving. Let us be thankful in all circumstances.