A Thanksgiving Reflection
From Psalm 100
I don’t have to tell you that for Christians, giving thanks is our daily perspective. Psalm 100 is all about gratitude toward God!
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, NIV
Here are eight quick thoughts about Giving Thanks from Psalm 100
1. Give Thanks Aloud! Ps 100:1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth…
The KJV says, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.”
When we give thanks aloud, we affirm what we really believe to the Lord!
When we give thanks aloud, it encourages others to be thankful!
“All the earth” - imagine the sound of all the earth shouting out thanks!
Speak words of Thanksgiving out loud!
2. Give Thanks in Worship! Ps 100:2 Worship the Lord with gladness.
When we think of who God is and how He has blessed us, we offer up worship with gladness.
Gather together with other believers each Sunday and Give Thanks!
In your private times of worship, always Give Thanks!
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people.”—2 Timothy 2:1
3. Give Thanks in Song! Ps 100:2 Come before him with joyful songs.
Allow words of praise to fill your heart and mouth with joy and thanksgiving!
Many churches no doubt will sing the Doxology this Sunday: Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
“Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!”—Psalm 147:1
4. Give Thanks for His Care! Ps 100:3 It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
1 Timothy 4:4 says, “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.”
We are His! One of the most beautiful pictures in the Bible is that of a shepherd and his sheep. A Shepherd is tender, loving, and caring. He leads his sheep, he nourishes them, he brings them back when they go astray, and he chastises them when they need it. Is it any wonder that David wrote, “The Lord is my shepherd…”?
We are grateful for the Creator’s concern and care for us!
5. Give Thanks for His Presence! Ps 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
God is not remote - he is near. We enter his gates and his courts with praise.
When God seems far away, write down the things about God that you love - things that give you comfort and strength. Here, we will find a path to His presence.
“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”—Psalm 16:11
6. Give Thanks for the Goodness of God! Ps 100:5 For the Lord is good…
The idolatrous nations around Israel didn’t think of all of their gods as good. They were feared. They seemed to be easily angered. They often did terrible things in an effort to appease their gods.
Israel could enter the temple with thanksgiving because God is Good!
He does not use and abuse people. He cares, protects, and provides.
God is good to us in so many ways - and never more than when he sent Jesus to be our Savior! As we remember this, we give thanks!
7. Give Thanks for His Love! Ps 100:5 … and his love endures forever…
Love is a bit cloudy for human beings - we say we “love” so many things! People say they fall in and out of love. But love is sure, clear, and lasting with God.
Psalm 136 emphasizes the permanence of God’s love! Over and over, the Psalm says, “his love endures forever!” It ends with “Give thanks to the God of Heaven, His love endures forever.”
God’s love lasts forever because… God is love - therefore, he loves. It is his nature to love! God chose to love us. We don’t deserve his love. Yet, He continues to love us. God’s intention is for us to live with him forever.
God’s love is settled into a plan he made to love us always.
8. Give Thanks for His Faithfulness! Ps 100:5 …his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Hebrews 13:8 tells us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
God’s love never fades and never fails. His promises don’t rust. His strength never diminishes. His commitment has no end date.
We are not faithful always … but God is unwavering!
His mind is made up. We are his people, and as he loves us now, he will love us tomorrow and will love us forever.
Conclusion
Matthew Henry was a preacher and Bible Scholar who wrote a famous commentary on the Bible. Once, while traveling to preach, he was robbed. Most people would have been very upset and despondent. Henry wrote in his diary: “I am thankful. I am thankful that during these years I have never been robbed before. I am thankful that, though they took my money, they did not take my life. And though they took all that I had, it was not much. Finally, I am thankful that it was I who was robbed and not I who robbed.”
What are you thankful for today?
