25 November 2010

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving. Definitely the best holiday of the year. Hope you had a great one. Just wanted to pass along a thought I had yesterday. Decided I'd look up the first mention of any form of the word "thank" in the Bible. It's Leviticus 7:12 If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.

So the first mention of thanksgiving has to do with sacrifice. I thought that was interesting.

I'm glad that somewhere in our history, the leaders of this nation thought it important to set aside a special day and give thanks to God. And I'm glad that there are still those who celebrate it for what it is – a day of thanksgiving to the God who has blessed us in so many ways.

But if you think about it, the way in which we celebrate a day of thanksgiving has little to do with sacrifice. Not saying there's anything wrong with feasting. God ordained some of those for the Jews in the OT. Not saying there's anything wrong with getting together with family and friends for a meal and good times. The Lord encouraged His people to do it.

But I believe we'd do well to take note of the fact that in the Bible the giving of thanks is closely associated with the word "sacrifice." So let's be sure to include some of that, both today, and every day, as we humbly acknowledge God as the giver of so many good and perfect gifts. Happy Thanksgiving!

Psalm 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

Psalm 116:17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

Jonah 2:9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.

Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Click here to listen to an excellent lesson on Biblical Thanksgiving by Brother Wade Shiu.

2 comments:

  1. "cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried."

    Donuts? Who in their right mind couldn't be thankful for those?

    ReplyDelete