In Sacrifice

This is the time of the year when we think about being thankful, grateful, feeling blessed.

We reflect upon all that God has given: Family, Home, Job, the necessities of life, food, the church, salvation, etc.

I thought that we would spend the next few weeks talking about thanksgiving and what the Bible can teach us.

Let us read Chair Bible pg. 408 Psalm 107:17-22

Psalm 107:17–22 NASB 2020

17 Fools, because of their rebellious way, And because of their guilty deeds, were afflicted. 18 Their souls loathed all kinds of food, And they came close to the gates of death. 19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them from their distresses. 20 He sent His word and healed them, And saved them from their destruction. 21 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy, And for His wonders to the sons of mankind! 22 They shall also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, And tell of His works with joyful singing.

Are you ready for the message God has for us today?

Cool let’s dig in!

The United States and Thanksgiving

The Library of congress can be a very powerful tool if we are willing to dig and do research.

During the Revolutionary war the Continental Congress wanted to thank God Almighty for His help in the war against Britain.

In the Journals of the Continental Congress we find such a tradition and wording that might seem surprising.

This is the how the first such thanksgiving began.

Friday October 31, 1777 - Read blue highlight

Saturday November 1, 1777 - Read ll blue

Several times following this proclamations of days of fasting asking for God’s help and days of thanksgiving thanking God happened.

Continuing this tradition George Washington decreed Thursday, November 26, as a day of public thanksgiving, but, in the years that followed, the holiday bounced informally from month to month and date to date.

The last Thursday in November became the norm in 1863 with a declaration by Pres. Abraham Lincoln.

President Ulysses S. Grant passed a law, declaring Christmas as a federal holiday in the District of Columbia.

The law was signed on June 28, 1870. Additionally, the law also named New Year’s Day, July 4th, and Thanksgiving as federal holidays.

This is why the last Thursday of November we celebrate a national day of Thanksgiving.

Not as much because of the pilgrims but more as thankfulness for God’s provisions for our nation that at least is the tradition.

Thanksgiving in the Old Testament

However, the idea of national thanksgiving is much much older that the United States.

In the Old Law there were different types of offerings and sacrifices for separate occasions, festivals, for celebrating what God has done, or asking God for forgiveness or intervention

In the list of peace offerings is the thanksgiving offering mentioned in the Psalm we read.

A peace offering was a sacrifice that was intended for alliance and friendship with God.

It was associated with promises and vows.

We find this in Leviticus 7:11-17

Leviticus 7:11–17 NASB 2020

11 ‘Now this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which shall be presented to the Lord. 12 If he offers it by way of thanksgiving, then along with the sacrifice of thanksgiving he shall offer unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of well stirred fine flour mixed with oil. 13 With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving, he shall present his offering with cakes of leavened bread. 14 Of this he shall present one of every offering as a contribution to the Lord; it shall belong to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings. 15 ‘Now as for the flesh of the sacrifice of his thanksgiving peace offerings, it shall be eaten on the day of his offering; he shall not leave any of it over until morning. 16 But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice, and on the next day what is left of it may be eaten; 17 but what is left over from the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned with fire.

This particular sacrifice of thanksgiving was called the “todah” it was offered according to Psalm 107 by one who has recovered fro illness, been rescued from danger or returned safely from a journey.

An example Psalm 107:1-3

Psalm 107:1–3 NASB 2020

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His mercy is everlasting. 2 The redeemed of the Lord shall say so, Those whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy 3 And gathered from the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.

The sacrifice was also accompanied by prayers of thanksgiving, proclaiming to all present the benefits of God enjoyed by the one offering.

The thanksgiving offering was also accompanied by cakes and wafers, one of each type is presented to the officiating priest.

The meat in this offering was to be eaten by the following morning.

Over time the attitude of the people changed it became more mandated than by happy circumstance.

How sad that their tradition made this something some one must do, rather than being motivated by an attitude of thanksgiving to God.

Thanksgiving Sacrifice in the New Testament

There is a New Testament sacrifice tied to this Old Testament Sacrifice - Hebrews 13:15

Hebrews 13:15 NASB 2020

15 Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name.

You need to dig but here is how this passage is tied to Leviticus, in comes through the Septuagint.

A Greek version of the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament, made for Greek-speaking Jews in Egypt in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC.

This is the translation Jesus and his disciples quoted from, because the uneducated didn’t speak Hebrew they spoke Greek the common man’s language.

It is also where the sacrifice of praise in our passage of Hebrew’s comes from

Leviticus 7:11–12 NASB 2020

11 ‘Now this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which shall be presented to the Lord. 12 If he offers it by way of thanksgiving, then along with the sacrifice of thanksgiving he shall offer unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of well stirred fine flour mixed with oil.

Here is the Septuagint - This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offering, which they shall bring to the Lord.

If a man should offer it for praise, then shall he bring, for the sacrifice of praise, loaves of fine flour made up with oil, and unleavened cakes anointed with oil, and fine flour kneaded with oil.

Hebrew Old Testament Verse 12 - the sacrifice of thanksgiving

Note the translation is different.

The greek word praise in the Septuagint translation is the same as Hebrews 13:15.

So the sacrifice of praise then is the same a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Psalm 107:29–32 NASB 2020

29 He caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 Then they were glad because they were quiet, So He guided them to their desired harbor. 31 They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy, And for His wonders to the sons of mankind! 32 They shall also exalt Him in the congregation of the people, And praise Him at the seat of the elders.

Psalm 107 is full of reminders for the people of Israel for the various ways God has guided his people through various difficulties.

This is what the writer of Hebrews is reminding us

Thanksgiving sacrifice and praise sacrifice that we offer thtough the fruit of our lips are intended to give praise and thanksgiving to God for what he has done and provided for us.

The same intent of our tadition of a national thanksgiving.

Hebrews 13:11–16 NASB 2020

11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the Holy Place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood. 13 So then, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. 15 Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name. 16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

We present to God Almighty as an act of worship homage continually without interruption an offering of praise, thanksgiving, the product of vocalizing our praise to His name!

This offering is ongoing and should never stop!

The passage of Hebrews 13:15 is not a command, we do this not because we have to but because we want!

Our motivation is thanksgiving and praise, just as the original intent under the Old Law!

Conclusion:

So let’s consider within ourselves what thanksgiving is truly about.

Thanksgiving is not about the turkey, unfortunately the pies, the family traditions, oh they have their place!

Why not offer this season to God as an offering of thanksgiving, of praise to God!

Let’s offer to God a sacrifice of praise right now and sing together I’m forever Greateful!