"Thanksgiving"

When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Daniel 6:11 HCSB

Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God.

Daniel 6:12 HCSB

So they approached the king and asked about his edict: “Didn’t you sign an edict that for 30 days any man who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “As a law of the Medes and Persians, the order stands and is irrevocable.”

Daniel 6:13 HCSB

Then they replied to the king, “Daniel, one of the Judean exiles, has ignored you, the king, and the edict you signed, for he prays three times a day.”

Daniel 6:14 HCSB

As soon as the king heard this, he was very displeased; he set his mind on rescuing Daniel and made every effort until sundown to deliver him.

Daniel 6:15 HCSB

Then these men went to the king and said to him, “You as king know it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or ordinance the king establishes can be changed.”

Daniel 6:16 HCSB

So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”

Daniel 6:17 HCSB

A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing in regard to Daniel could be changed.

Daniel 6:18 HCSB

Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No diversions were brought to him, and he could not sleep.

2. Jonah’s tight thanksgiving

Jonah 1:17 HCSB

Now the Lord had appointed a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah 2:1 HCSB

Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish:

Jonah 2:2 HCSB

I called to the Lord in my distress, and He answered me. I cried out for help in the belly of Sheol; You heard my voice.

Jonah 2:3 HCSB

You threw me into the depths, into the heart of the seas, and the current overcame me. All Your breakers and Your billows swept over me.

Jonah 2:4 HCSB

But I said: I have been banished from Your sight, yet I will look once more toward Your holy temple.

Jonah 2:5 HCSB

The waters engulfed me up to the neck; the watery depths overcame me; seaweed was wrapped around my head.

Jonah 2:6 HCSB

I sank to the foundations of the mountains; the earth with its prison bars closed behind me forever! But You raised my life from the Pit, Lord my God!

Jonah 2:7 HCSB

As my life was fading away, I remembered Yahweh. My prayer came to You, to Your holy temple.

Jonah 2:8 HCSB

Those who cling to worthless idols forsake faithful love,

Jonah 2:9 HCSB

but as for me, I will sacrifice to You with a voice of thanksgiving. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation is from the Lord!

Jonah 2:10 HCSB

Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

3. Hannah’s thoughtful thanksgiving

1 Samuel 1:19 HCSB

The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to bow in worship before the Lord. Afterward, they returned home to Ramah. Then Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.

1 Samuel 1:20 HCSB

After some time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, because she said, “I requested him from the Lord.”

1 Samuel 1:21 HCSB

When Elkanah and all his household went up to make the annual sacrifice and his vow offering to the Lord,

1 Samuel 1:22 HCSB

Hannah did not go and explained to her husband, “After the child is weaned, I’ll take him to appear in the Lord’s presence and to stay there permanently.”

1 Samuel 1:23 HCSB

Her husband Elkanah replied, “Do what you think is best, and stay here until you’ve weaned him. May the Lord confirm your word.” So Hannah stayed there and nursed her son until she weaned him.

1 Samuel 1:24 HCSB

When she had weaned him, she took him with her to Shiloh, as well as a three-year-old bull, half a bushel of flour, and a jar of wine. Though the boy was still young, she took him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh.

1 Samuel 1:25 HCSB

Then they slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli.

1 Samuel 1:26 HCSB

“Please, my lord,” she said, “as sure as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:27 HCSB

I prayed for this boy, and since the Lord gave me what I asked Him for,

1 Samuel 1:28 HCSB

I now give the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.” Then he bowed in worship to the Lord there.

4. Paul’s turbulent thanksgiving

Acts 27:33 ESV

As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing.

Acts 27:34 ESV

Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.”

Acts 27:35 ESV

And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.

Acts 27:36 ESV

Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves.

Acts 27:37 ESV

(We were in all 276 persons in the ship.)

Acts 27:38 ESV

And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

5. Jesus’ telling thanksgiving

Matthew 14:13 NIV

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.

Matthew 14:14 NIV

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Matthew 14:15 NIV

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

Matthew 14:16 NIV

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

Matthew 14:17 NIV

“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

Matthew 14:18 NIV

“Bring them here to me,” he said.

Matthew 14:19 NIV

And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

Matthew 14:20 NIV

They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

Matthew 14:21 NIV

The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Jesus’ transcendent thanksgiving (3x)

Luke 22:14 ESV

And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him.

Luke 22:15 ESV

And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

Luke 22:16 ESV

For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

Luke 22:17 ESV

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves.

Luke 22:18 ESV

For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

Luke 22:19 ESV

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Luke 22:20 ESV

And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

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