Why We Celebrate Thanksgiving

WHY WE CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING Spring Valley Mennonite; November 21, 2021; Psalm 65 To say it was a rough winter would be an understatement. No one expected such cold and snow, and the result was over half of those who arrived on the Mayflower in the fall of 1620 did not survive the winter. The dream of establishing a protected sanctuary to worship freely began to fade as the Pilgrims fought the cold, disease, hunger and discouragement. Then Spring finally arrived, and crops were planted. Substantial housing was able to be built, and those who had weathered the winter aboard the Mayflower were able to come ashore. Friendly contact was made with the natives, and they learned from the Indians how to harvest the fish and game of the region. The corn crop was especially abundant. Governor William Bradford set aside a three-day period of prayer and giving thanks to God for His mercy in providing food and sustaining life. There also was a feast, which was an exercise in faith, considering the starvation of the previous winter. It is instructive that we remember the feasting and have forgotten that they focused more on prayer and giving thanks. This was the beginning of the custom of our country of taking time in the fall of the year to give thanks for the blessings of the past year. What memories do you have of Thanksgiving? Our family often traveled from Missouri to Louisiana to celebrate the holiday with my mother's sister. This was usually the only trip we took during the year. In recent years all our children have gathered at Thanksgiving, usually the only time when all the family is together-twelve adults and eleven grandchildren make for a lively time! I think it is important that we spend time this Sunday before Thanksgiving to refocus on the reasons we can truly be thankful as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. An interesting most and insightful fact regard the Psalms is that of the different categories into which the Psalms may be divided, a greater number of them are classified "Psalms of Thanksgiving" than of any other category. By one count, 30 Psalms, one out of five, make us aware of God's blessings and express thanks. This morning we'll focus on one of these Psalms, Psalm 65. I find in this Psalm that King David tells us to thank and praise God for three ways God relates to us: first as Redeemer, second as Creator/Sustainer of His creation, and thirdly as our Provider. "Redeemer, Creator, and Provider." I. WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD OUR REDEEMER VV. 1-4 (Read vv. 1-4) While the NIV version, along with the New King James translates the first phrase of verse 1 as "Praise awaits (or is awaiting) You O God" the Hebrew text has the word for silence along with praise, which explains the translation I read. I like the idea of silence associated with praise. Often, we associate praise with using our voices with words or singing, which is, of course the usual way we express praise. But we can also deliver praise by silently acknowledging that God is God, and we are human. As one commentator suggests, "It may be the height of worship to fall silent before God in awe of His presence and in submission to His will." The vows of verse 1 are most likely those made in time of need. How often in a crisis we say something to the effect of "Lord, if You will help me here, I will do so and so." This tells us that God takes such vows seriously, --and that such vows are common. Although there is nothing wrong with making such vows, we need to be sure we fulfill them. In verse 2, we observe that we are to thank God for hearing our prayers, but more than that, it is implied that our Heavenly Father is the ONLY ONE Who can hear our prayers, and we are reminded that there will be a time when every person will acknowledge that the Son of God is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. To God alone all must come. There is salvation in no one else. I love the thought expressed in C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia which expresses this truth. In this passage, the young girl Jill meets Aslan, the massive Lion who is Lord of Narnia, and the Christ figure: "Are you not thirsty?" said the Lion. "I'm dying of thirst," said Jill. "Then drink," said the Lion. "May I-could I-would you mind going away while I do?" said Jill. The Lion answered this only with a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience. The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic. "Will you promise not to-do anything to me, if I do come?" said Jill. "I make no promise," said the Lion. Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer. "Do you eat girls?" she said. "I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the Lion. It didn't say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it. "I daren't come and drink," said Jill. "Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion. "Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer. "I suppose I must go and look for another stream then." "There is no other stream," said the Lion. People spend their lives attempting to quench the inner thirst which only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will satisfy. But-there is no other stream. Life abundant and overflowing comes only as we yield our lives to Christ and allow Him to take control. Only Christ offers that living water which quenches our inner thirst for forgiveness of sin, and fulfillment in life. God not only hears our prayers, but He answers them; not always as soon as we might wish, and not always in the terms in which we ask, but always in a way that brings glory to Him and according to His will. And, we can be thankful that God gives us what we need, not always what we want. In verse three, the psalmist echoes the experience we so often face-that of feeling overwhelmed by sin. We remember King David was guilty of adultery and murder. But look! What does God do with our sins? As we confess them and repent, He forgives them! What a joy it is to know that our sins are forgiven! Psalm 32 states, "How blessed is he whose transgressions in forgiven, whose sin is covered." We give thanks for Christ our Redeemer Who paid the penalty for our sins. I was praying one morning this last week and was thanking God for my wife, children and grandchildren, for health, and for the church. The thought came to mind that I was not thanking God for His greatest gift of my salvation, and for eternal life. Surely Jesus is the greatest love-gift from God. "But God demonstrates His great love in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us." Verse 4 summarizes the thankfulness we should feel for our redemption: "How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You to dwell in Your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house Your holy temple." In the Old Covenant, people could come into the courts around the Temple, but only the priests were allowed in the Temple itself, and the Holy Place where God localized His presence above the Mercy Seat was open only once a year, and only to the High Priest. It was if there was a "buffer zone" between God and the people. But today, each of us who have been chosen as trophies of His grace have confident access into the presence of God through the blood of Jesus. And, we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever! We are taught here that the first thing for which we are to thank God is our salvation, and for Christ our Redeemer. Make that the first thing you remember on Thanksgiving Day. The second thing for which we are to be thankful is seen in verses 5-8: II. WE ARE TO THANK GOD FOR HIS SUSTAINING POWER OVER ALL CREATION Read vv. 5-8. God's character is always revealed in His answers. The God of our salvation answers by awesome deeds in righteousness. If He answers, what is the question? One of the most basic questions we ask is "What are you like, God?" Romans 1:20 states, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen being understood through what has been made..." Through creation God has revealed that He is a God of order and infinite power, and of unbelievable creativity. With awe we behold the glory of the sunrise and sunset, the beauty and variety of meadows and forests and of fields of grain. We look at the night sky and see the multitudes of stars, and we say, "My Father merely spoke, and those stars came into being!" The incredible complexity of creation and the interrelatedness of all things speak of our awesome God, and our hearts burst with praise at God's glory revealed in creation. He further reveals Himself through awesome deeds to His people. He parted the Red Sea and the Jordan River, and His people walked across both on dry land. He stopped the sun in its tracks for Joshua in a battle to eliminate Israel's enemies. He demonstrates His love and power not only in the past to Israel, but today also. Is it not a miracle that Israel exists as a nation in spite of the opposition of all the countries around her? Is it not an awesome deed that through the internet inquirers in closed countries are able to access the Gospel? It is clearly a miracle that, according to one source, the fastest growing Church in the world is in Iran! Is not God's awesome power of salvation evident today to the "ends of the earth" as verse 5 states? As God established the mountains and seas, and controls both by the power of His hand, He calms the turbulence of our lives and says, "Peace, be still" to us when our lives threaten to fly apart. We can have confidence that the God Who created all things is fully in control, even though many nations rage against Him and the Lord Jesus. Psalm 2 tells us that God just laughs at their efforts. The Psalmist has praised God for His salvation, for His sustaining power over what He created and now lastly, God is praised, and thanks given to Him for His daily provision for us. III. WE THANK GOD FOR HIS ABUNDANT PROVISION We who live here in rural Kansas have a great advantage over those living in metropolitan areas. Listen to the description of how God prepares the earth to yield its grain (Read vv. 9-13.) What farmer does not recognize the hand of God in bringing his crop to harvest? Farmers have no control over so many things: rain, storms, drought, and only limited control over insects and disease. There are so many factors that go into a successful harvest. Even the best machinery maintenance cannot prevent wear and tear and breakdowns. For good harvests, we are indebted to God alone. We can prepare the soil and plant the seeds, but God causes the growth. God feeds the world! How has God personally sustained you this year? Have you missed any meals or gone hungry? Have you spent the night without shelter? You all seem to be wearing warm and adequate clothing! Has God kept you healthy this year? Have you experienced healing? Have you been able to pay your bills? And for those who have encountered calamity and crisis, has God not brought you through it? Hasn't He been a very present help in times of trouble? It is good for us to give thanks and praise to God for His goodness. Allow me to close with three benefits of thankfulness: first, giving thanks focuses our attention upon God and off ourselves. We are always better off thinking about God than about ourselves. Second, Giving Thanks makes us think of what we have and not what we lack; it enables us to focus on the positive. And thirdly, being thankful brings glory to God. I will close with a legend, written by Mildred M. North: Two angels, so the legend ran, came to earth as day began. One carried a basket deep and wide, --the other a small one by his side. Then spoke one of the heavenly pair, "Oh, but this world is wondrous fair! If it were not for Heaven, I'd be content-- to dwell on earth beneath the firmament. My basket is large, I'll soon begin-- to gather men's thanks, and pack them in." Said the other, "I'll help you when I get done;-- I'm to gather their wants in this little one, And the sighs and murmurs of those who pout-but it's large enough, without a doubt. God's bounties are scattered on every side; You'll need your basket deep and wide." Away they sped, and as darkness came, they met again, but not the same. Both were weary, both were sad; they'd found so little to make them glad. Said he with the basket wide and deep, "My heart is heavy, it makes me weep. Look in my basket-You'll discover-- the thanksgivings scarcely the bottom cover!" "While I," said the other, "(To heaven and back) Have made three trips-- with the wants and complaints from the people's lips!" Only a legend-yes, and yet-If the angels came, what would they get? Wants and complaints, or praises and thanks? We thank God our Redeemer, our Creator/sustainer and our Provider. 2