Give Thanks, With a Grateful Heart

In just a few days, you will celebrate a great holiday. Regardless of who you’ll spend it with or what will be on your table, the act of giving thanks is most appropriate at this time of year.

Yet, it is human nature to spend the other 364 days dwelling on the negative and being in despair. It was the 19th century English novelist Charles Dickens who stated:

“Reflect upon your present blessings- of which every man has many- not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”

The Psalms are filled with thanksgiving. The 17th century Anglican Jeremy Taylor said:

“From David learn to give thanks for everything. Every furrow in the book of Psalms is sown with the seeds of thanksgiving.”

Today, we want to look at a passage that I have read, but never preached on before today. Psalm 136:1: "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever."

Just a few observations regarding this Scripture. We are not given the name of the author. But it is obviously someone who is well acquainted with Biblical history and the history of Israel in particular.

Throughout Psalm 136, there is the repetition of the phrase: “…to him.” This reminds us that our giving thanks always has an object: The Lord. It is to God that our thanksgiving should be directed.

It is divined up into four sections:

that which deals with creation in verses 4-9

that which deals with God’s deliverance of His people in the Exodus in verses 10-16

that which deals with the Conquest and Israel’s military victories against enemy kings in verses 17-22

that which deals ongoing provisions in verses 23-26.

This Psalm tells us to give thanks to the Lord and lists one reason 26 times, that functions much like a congregational response: “…for His steadfast love endures forever.” REO White said:

“This psalm is a review of God’s actions in nature and history, calling for thanksgiving and recited responsively. The familiar refrain, in which ‘love’ means covenant, steadfast, unchanging loyalty, reiterates the central theme of Israel’s faith and experience.” (R.E.O. White, “Psalms,” in Evangelical Commentary on the Bible, 396).

When we press into that further, we known that on the one hand, you and I have done nothing to deserve His love. Rather, we’ve done things to deserve His displeasure and disappointment.

And yet, we are reminded of such great love, that is not reckless, but purposeful, intentional and full of wisdom and grace and truth. I want to encourage you to give thanks to God for a number of things. First...

Thank God He created you.

Verses four to nine deal with creation. We are told in Hebrews 11:3 that it was by

Hebrews 11:3 ESV

3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Furthermore, we are told in Proverbs 3:19-20

Proverbs 3:19–20 ESV

19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; 20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.

Certainly we see the wisdom in creation, how the gravitational pull is at such a setting that if it were a bit more or a bit less, life could not exist. That there are some 18 conditions that make life on earth possible and that we are positioned such as we are in the galaxy that we can observe so much around us.

But it was all created as an evidence of His great love. That is sometimes lost in the conversation. But Psalm 136:5-9 tells us that it was because of The Lord’s steadfast love.

Psalm 136:5–9 ESV

5 to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; 6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever; 7 to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever; 8 the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever; 9 the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;

Today, I want you to give thanks to God for your life. You are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” as David said. There is no one like you among all of the human beings ever created. No one has your distinct shade of eye color. No one has your fingerprint or your DNA.

No one has your unique personality or gifting. You are truly, one of a kind. And in the gospel, God has made known to you His love and grace, if you respond. He does not want you to go through life aimlessly alone and without love. But He desires a relationship with you.

Maybe you have heard of Laken Riley, the Georgia college student whose life was taken in February.

What I did not know is that Laken was a devoted Christian lady. It was said of her:

“She was smart, hardworking, kind, thoughtful, and most importantly, she was a child of God,” Riley’s mother Allyson Phillips said in court. “She had a personal relationship with Jesus, and she loved being His hands and feet in this world.”

About two months before her death, she wrote a letter to her future husband sharing how she wished to embody what she described as a faithful Christian life and carry it through the rest of her life.

“I pray God is the center of our relationship as it is a gift from him. I thank him for you before I even know you, and can’t wait to love you in the best way I know how for the rest of our lives,” Riley wrote in a journal entry that her stepfather John Phillips read in court. (found at Caring daughter, good friend and devout Christian: Heartbroken loved ones paint portrait of Laken Riley after her killing, accessed 22 November 2024).

Next, Thank God that He redeemed you.

But we also must thank Him for His redemption. The story of God rescuing His people from Egyptian bondage is a foretaste what what Jesus does for the Christian But as God single-handedly put the greatest army in the world and the most powerful king on their ears, freeing His people after 400 years of slavery, the psalmist chooses to give thanks to God. Psalm 136:10-15

Psalm 136:10–15 ESV

10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever; 11 and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever; 12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever; 13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever; 14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever; 15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever;

Jesus said in John 8:34-36

John 8:34–36 ESV

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Revelation 1:5–6 ESV

5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

If you are a Christian, always remember that Jesus has freed you from the guilt and power of sin. Therefore, it is your calling to walk in the newness of life, as Romans 6:4 states:

Romans 6:4 ESV

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

It could be that you have lost sight of the fact that Jesus has freed you from the bondage and guilt of your sins. Jesus is The Liberator; Jesus is Your liberator.

What’s more is that we must...

Thank God because He protected you.

Psalm 136:16–22 ESV

16 to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever; 17 to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; 18 and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; 19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever; 20 and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever; 21 and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever; 22 a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever.

What’s more is that God’s people had to be led through the wilderness and helped Moses and the Israelites prepare to take the land that God had promised them, which would come to fruition under Joshua.

Numbers 21 tells the story of the people of God traveling through the land of the Amorites. Permission was requested for safe passage, but the king came out with an army and made war with the Hebrews. Now, if you were a part of God’s people back then, you have no doubt felt vulnerable. But God told Moses in Numbers 21:34-35

Numbers 21:34–35 ESV

34 But the Lord said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” 35 So they defeated him and his sons and all his people, until he had no survivor left. And they possessed his land.

The kings mentioned: Og and Bashan, were evil and needed to be done away with. And, if you were an enemy of Israel, you were an enemy of God. Sometimes God’s provision means another’s demise. This was the case among the kings of Canaan. God, in His mercy, allowed them to reign for a while. But at the proper time, God said: “Enough,” and removed them.

The God of the Old Testament is a God of love. But His love is never to be trifled with, nor questioned.

What is thanksgiving?

It is a decision.

It is a heart condition.

It is an aspect of worship and prayer.

“His steadfast love endures forever.” this is the reason we can and should give thanks to the Lord.

We are told to “give thanks to the Lord.” four times;

In each of these times, the Hebrew הוֹדוּ ydh, which means “to praise; confess, take confession.”

Here, it is a command listed four times. And notice that thanksgiving is to be given to the God of gods and the Lord of Lords. Jesus is mentioned in a similar way in the New Testament in Revelation 19:16

Revelation 19:16 ESV

16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Jesus had much to say about giving thanks. For instance, in the parable of the ten lepers, we find that only one returned and gave thanks to God. Luke 17:11-19

Thank God that He has engaged with your life.

And finally, God’s ongoing grace, mentioned in Psalm 136:24-25

Psalm 136:24–25 ESV

24 and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever; 25 he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.

It is good to reflect on what God has done in your life and to given thanks for it. Why are you to give thanks?

Because it is not our first inclination. We are prone to selfishness or believing in luck.

Because it is a characteristic of a renewed mind and heart. Remember it was the Samaritan leper that turned around and gave thanks for the healing he received. Luke 17:15-16

Luke 17:15–16 ESV

15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.

Because it is right, it is God’s will. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Because it is a sign of maturity and intelligence. Every one of us had a parent or a mentor that taught us the rightness in thanking others for their gifts, their kindnesses, and their generosity. Henry Vaughn said:

“And then be thankful; O admire his ways Who fills the world’s unempty’d granaries! A thankless feeder is a thief, his feast a very robbery, and himself no guest.”

What are you thankful for?

How would you answer that question (pass the mic around?)

Hiroyuki Sanada once said:

“There are those who want a swimming pool in the house, while those who have one barely use it.

Those who have lost a loved one feel a deep sense of loss, while others who hold them close often complain about them.

Those who do not have a partner yearn for him, but those who have, sometimes do not value him.

The hungry would give anything for a plate of food, while the well-fed complains about the taste.

The one who doesn’t have a car dreams, while the one who has one is looking for a better one.

The key is to be grateful, look carefully at what we have and understand that somewhere, someone would give everything for what you already have and don’t appreciate.”

“I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.”

― Helen Keller