Praise In Thanksgiving Series

1 Chronicles 29:10-20. [10] Therefore David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: "Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. [11] Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. [12] Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. [13] And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. [14]"But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. [15] For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding. [16]O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. [17]I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. [18]O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. [19] Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision." [20] Then David said to all the assembly, "Bless the LORD your God." And all the assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers, and bowed their heads and paid homage to the LORD and to the king. (ESV)

It seems quite strange right now to talk about Thanksgiving. Not only does it seem like we just finished summer, but at this time last year, medical officials did everything they could to discourage thanksgiving gatherings. This year they outlined factors to consider in gathering. If the last year and a half has taught us anything, we should certainly appreciate the brevity and preciousness of life. None of us can presume upon another day, yet alone another year. If we see each day as a gift from God, we will live in such a way, even this Thanksgiving, as if it would be our last: Giving thanks and praise to God for all His good gifts.

In 1 Chronicles 29:10-20 these are David’s final words—his last address to his people and last official word to his son Solomon (Sailhamer, J. (1983). First and second Chronicles. Everyman’s Bible Commentary (63). Chicago, IL: Moody Press.). In his words to Solomon he directs him, in the presence of the assembly, to give thanks for the real source of blessing, God Himself. He (declared) the LORD as worthy of all honor, exalted as head over all, and as the Source of all riches and honor. He acknowledged that he and his people were unworthy to give to God, and that what they gave had come from Him anyway. He prayed that the present devotion (an upright heart, v. 17) of his people would become a permanent trait (a heart fixed on God [v. 18]), and that his son would have a loyal heart (v. 19) in building the temple (MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments (A. Farstad, Ed.) (1 Ch 29:10–19). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.).

It is all too easy for thanksgiving to be a moment of self congratulation. The moment we mistakenly believe that it is because of our own resourcefulness, hard work, or good fortune that we have what we do, we misunderstand ourselves, and our place in the cosmos.

Today as we praise God in thanksgiving, it is a wonderful opportunity to recognize and celebrate that corporately in worship, we can approach God in three thankful ways. We can approach Him first through a 1) Thankful Pronouncement (1 Chr. 29:10–12), 2) Thankful Praise (1 Chr. 29:13–17), and a 3) Thankful Petition (1 Chr. 29:18–20).

We can have “Praise in Thanksgiving” by approaching God with a:

1) Thankful Pronouncement (1 Chr. 29:10–12)

1 Chronicles 29:10-12 [10] Therefore David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: "Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. [11] Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. [12] Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. (ESV)