I have always enjoyed my family time of celebration during the fall. As we come together on Thanksgiving Day, it is a good time for reflection as we remember the blessings of the Lord. It is also a time of feasting as we cook the turkey and enjoy a delicious meal.
In the Old Testament book of Nehemiah the writer tells about an elaborate celebration. Nehemiah was given permission to leave the Babylonian exile, and return to his homeland to rebuild the shattered wall of Jerusalem. A miracle occurred. After only 52 days, the task was completed!
Nehemiah was certainly not the promised Messiah for the Jewish people, but he portrayed Christ in his ministry. He also gave up a high position in the Persian palace (Iran) in order to help his people. He lived a life of prayer with complete devotion to God. Nehemiah was thankful for all God did, so he declared a time of dedication and thanksgiving.
Nehemiah 12:31, "So I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs." Ezra's (a direct priestly descendant of Aaron) procession traveled around Jerusalem counter-clockwise and Nehemiah's clockwise, coming together at the temple square. What an amazing sight as you see the double procession for the dedication service. The thanksgiving choir celebrated with gladness and great joy!
The Hebrew meaning for thanksgiving can be:
*an extension of the hand *adoration *praise *a choir of worshippers *confession *an offering
Let us enter this season with much gratitude:
"I will praise the name of God with a song and will magnify Him with thanksgiving" (Psalm 69:30).
How can we as believers in the Lord live a life of thanksgiving, which causes us to flow in praise and thankfulness? In the Old Testament verses, the Hebrew translation for praise and thanksgiving is the same. The real meaning given by the Holy Spirit warms our hearts as we are given insight into the thoughts of God.
PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING MEANS TO:
*Declare openly, confess freely
*An extension of the hand, to revere or worship with extended hands
*An adoration (a choir of worshippers)
*Make a confession
*Give an offering
In the New Testament, Philippians 4:6 states we are to present our requests (prayers and supplications) to God with thanksgiving. Then an amazing thing happens, the power of a thankful heart brings peace and guards our hearts and minds.
Our thoughts turn to the word "thanksgiving" as we approach our national holiday of Thanksgiving. I hope we see this day not just as a calendar event, but as an opportunity to saturate ourselves with praise and thanksgiving. As we form habits to enter into thanksgiving and prayer, we tend to become people who worship God from within.
RESULTS OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING:
1. Praise Opens the Door to Effective Prayer which Results in Deliverance:
"Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me" (Psalm 50:14,15).
2. Blessing, Praising, and Seeking the Lord Brings an End to Lack:
"I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing" (Psalm 34:1-3,10).
3. Praise to God Brings Increase:
"Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him" (Psalm 67:5-7).
4. Praise with a Pure Heart Brings God's Salvation:
"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God." In the Hebrew translation, the word "salvation" means: liberty, deliverance, prosperity, safety (to be safe), to preserve, to get victory.