Thanksgiving in the Psalms
During November, we here in the United States focus on giving thanks for our many blessings. So many of the Psalms offer words of thanksgiving and praise. What do we learn about thanksgiving in the Psalms?
Psalms of Thanksgiving
The Psalms of thanksgiving include: 9, 18, 30, 40, 66, 107, 116, 118, 124, and 138. Each are characterized by gratitude for God’s goodness, steadfast love, and deeds.
“The Book of Psalms, a central component of the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament, is a collection of religious songs, prayers, and poems. Among its many themes, thanksgiving stands out as a significant expression of worship and devotion to God. Thanksgiving in the Psalms is characterized by heartfelt gratitude for God’s goodness, mercy, and mighty works. It serves as a model for believers to express their appreciation and reliance on the Lord.” Topical Bible: Psalms: Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is both for individual prayer and communal prayer. We are called to join with others in worship, giving thanks to our God. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.” (Psalm 100:1, 4)
The psalmists called upon God in times of trouble and God heard their pleas, reason for giving thanks. In Psalm 56, “the psalmist acknowledges God’s past deliverance as a reason for present thanksgiving, even amid ongoing challenges.” Topical Bible: Psalms: Thanksgiving
“I am under vows to you, my God; I will present my thank offerings to you.
For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.” (12-13)
Gratitude
There are many reasons for gratitude. The writers of the Psalms thank God for who God is and all God has done.
“Theologically, thanksgiving in the Psalms underscores the relationship between God and His people. It is an acknowledgment of God’s providence and a response to His covenantal faithfulness.” Topical Bible: Psalms: Thanksgiving
They thank God for his enduring steadfast love (Psalm 136:1); God’s goodness (Psalm 100:5, Psalm 118:29); and God’s mercy and faithfulness (Psalm 100:5, Psalm 105).
The psalmists were grateful for hope: “As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.” (Psalm 71:14)
For what God has done: “Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.” (Ps. 107:22)
For God’s Word: “Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous laws.” (Ps. 119:164)
For the gift of life: “From birth I have relied on You; You brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise You.” (Ps. 71:6)
For bearing our burdens: “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” (Ps. 68:19)
For God’s goodness: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.” (Ps. 136:1) “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever” (Psalm 107:1).
In Psalm 107, the writer describes times where God intervened, warranting gratitude for all God has done, “from rescuing the lost to satisfying the thirsty and filling the hungry with good things.” Topical Bible: Psalms: Thanksgiving
They thank God for creation (Psalm 92:1, Psalm 100:3) and God’s faithfulness, recounting God’s promises and faithfulness to Israel through multi-generations (Psalm 105).
Sacrifice of Thanksgiving
Psalms 50 and 116 speak of a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving – “The thank offering, a voluntary act, symbolizes the worshiper’s acknowledgment of God’s blessings and their commitment to Him.” Topical Bible: Psalms: Thanksgiving
“Offer to God a thanksgiving sacrifice, and pay your vows to the Most High.” (Ps. 50:14)
“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me.” (Ps. 50:23)
I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.” (Ps. 116:17)
While it could denote a physical offering, it also indicates an attitude.
“Scripture uses the phrase not only in reference to literal Old Testament sacrifices but also as an invitation to an ongoing attitude of gratitude. “Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High” (Psalm 50:14) highlights the call to approach God in humble thankfulness, whether through physical offerings in the Old Testament or spiritual devotion in modern times.” https://www.biblehub.com/q/what_is_the_sacrifice_of_thanksgiving.htm
A sacrifice costs us something.
“When the Old Testament Jews would take sacrifices to the temple, it was a sacrifice of something important to them. It was not a light matter to sacrifice to God. It took preparation, time, effort, money, and ended in the loss of something that could have otherwise been used for personal gain. If thanksgiving, then, is described as a sacrifice, then biblical thanksgiving costs. It isn’t an overflow of the extra.” https://engagemagazine.net/starting-blog/worldview/what-is-the-sacrifice-of-thanksgiving/
What do we sacrifice? Our complaints, fears, and wants.
Complaints, fears and wants keep us from appreciating all our God has given us. To be thankful, we need to focus on what we have rather than what we don’t have. The reverse is also true; it’s hard to complain when focusing on all our blessings and reasons for thanksgiving.
It costs us to do this, but it is so worth the price! (for more on Sacrifice of Thanksgivng see https://patriciamrobertson.com/sacrifice-of-thanksgiving/)
Thanks in Advance
Another aspect of thanksgiving found in the Psalms, is giving God thanks in advance for what God is about to do. I love this concept. Based on his past experiences of God’s providence, David thanks God ahead of time for God’s protection during times of crisis.
In Psalm 3, David is surrounded by his enemies yet sleeps, trusting in God. He ends the psalm in praise of God for the deliverance he expects. “From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.” (Ps. 3:8)
In Psalm 28, the author is begging for his life but suddenly breaks into joyful thanksgiving in the very next breath. “Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.” (v. 6-7)
The writer is still in danger, but their faith makes the future rescue a certainty. We see the same dynamic in Psalm 56-57, where David praises God though still in danger. It’s a wonderful reminder that everything doesn’t have to be perfect, we don’t even have to have an answer before thanking our God.
Praise and Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving in the Psalms is often found in combination with Praise. “Praise and thanksgiving are integral aspects of Christian worship and devotion, often intertwined yet distinct in their focus and expression. Praise is the act of extolling the attributes and deeds of God, acknowledging His greatness, holiness, and sovereignty. Thanksgiving, on the other hand, is the expression of gratitude for God’s blessings, provision, and acts of kindness.” Topical Bible: Praise and Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving gives way to praise, and praise leads to thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving in the Psalms
There are so many reasons for thanksgiving in the Psalms. The book of Psalms is a great teacher on giving thanks. We can thank out God anywhere and everywhere, even when on the run, fleeing danger or in the midst of dark times. We can praise and thank our God just for being God, for the gift of relationship with God, for the gift of life.
With all the reasons for giving thanks, which one speaks to you? What other reasons can you find?
Wishing all a thankful heart this November.
For more on giving thanks, check out my article, The Thankful Mysteries, on my article page, or my booklet, Season of Gratitude.
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
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