Song of Thanksgiving

If you’re looking for a heart-song to sing this Thanksgiving, or an appropriate Scripture to read around the dinner table, I have a suggestion for you. Often times we feel the gratitude somewhere deep inside, but it’s difficult to find the words to express it. We know we should be thankful, for God has blessed us in abundance, but how can we say thanks?

One of the greatest psalms of thanksgiving and praise to God is found in 1 Chronicles 16. The setting is upon the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. You’ll remember that the Ark was the primary symbol of God’s presence and power among His people Israel. Because of the faithless superstition of Eli’s wicked sons, the Hebrew tribes were defeated in battle and the Ark was captured by the Philistines. Later, when David was king over Israel his army struck down the Philistines and eventually the Ark was brought back to Jerusalem with much great celebration and rejoicing.

Friend, if you’ve experienced the power of God or have been blessed by His presence in your life, then you have a heart-song to sing. If you know what it is to enter into the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, if you’ve drawn near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, and if your heart has been cleansed from a guilty conscience because of the work of Christ Jesus on the cross, then you have a song of thanks to sing!

So if you’re looking for the words to express your thanksgiving, try offering these as your heart-song to God (1 Chronicles 16:8-36):

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples.

Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; speak of all His wonders.
Glory in His holy name; let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.

Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually.
Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth, O seed of Israel His servant, Sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!

He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth.
Remember His covenant forever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations, the covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac.

He also confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan, as the portion of your inheritance.’

When they were few in number, very few, and strangers in it, and they wandered about from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people, He permitted no man to oppress them, and He reproved kings for their sakes, saying, ‘Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.’

Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.

Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and joy are in His place.

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come before Him; worship the Lord in holy array.

Tremble before Him, all the earth; indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; and let them say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns.’

Let the sea roar, and all it contains; let the field exult, and all that is in it.

Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord; for He is coming to judge the earth.

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Then say, ‘Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us and deliver us from the nations, to give thanks to Your holy name, and glory in Your praise.’

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting.

Then all the people said, ‘Amen,’ and praised the Lord.”