“What Is Thanksgiving?”
Psalms 30:4
2025
The Days of Thanksgiving can be traced before 1536 during the Reformation time with Henry VIII on the throne.
When the Puritans left in 1620 for the New Land they discovered great hardship and lost many of the families the first winter. They met the local tribes and formed a great friendship while learning new skills of survival.
That following year the harvest was great and they invited their new friends to a multi-day festival in 1621. Food and games were the order of the days, with plenty to go around.
From that humble beginning the New America has seen many changes for a day of Thanksgiving. As the first President of the United States, George Washington proclaimed the first nationwide thanksgiving celebration in America marking November 26, 1789, "as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God"
Abraham Lincoln made it a national holiday in 1863, the date of observance varied from state to state. The final Thursday in November had become the customary date in most U.S. states by the beginning of the 19th century. In 1941, federal legislation by the United States Congress formalized Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November.
Many countries of this world have a designated day of thanksgiving that recognize the workers of the land but it is America and other “Christian” nations who set a day aside to thank God for His provisions and blessings.
34 times “give thanks” is found in our Bible.
It might be important if it is said so many times.
I would like to look at just on verse about this great subject.
Psalms 30:4 “Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”
I. A Day Of Song
The first thing we see is a call to “sing.”
David is rejoicing because of the blessings of MERCY that the LORD has shown David.
Such is the case for you and me as well.
I am so glad I do not get what I deserve, but I do receive forgiveness not because of me, but because of Christ.
So if that is you… SING!!
So if that is you… Shout a praise
So if that is you… Testify of His grace
Psalm 32:11 “Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.”
Psalm 33:1-3 “Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. 2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. 3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.”
II. A Day Of Relationship “…O ye saints of his…”
I love the idea of being adopted.
Adoption is a choice
Adoption is forever
Adoption is equality in God’s family (as if I was always HIS child.)
Revelation 19:5-6 “And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”
III. A Day Of Gratitude “…and give thanks…”
Noun - The quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful.
Words that try to help us understand “gratitude.”: acknowledgment, obligation, recognition, thanks, appreciativeness, grace, gratefulness, honor, indebtedness, praise.
Psalm 97:12 “Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”
When was the last time we stopped to thank the LORD for ALL that He has done?
IV. A Day Of Remembrance “…remembrance of his holiness.”
Isaiah 6:3 “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”
Remembrance - memorial, to remember,
I remember the day that I was confronted with my life and discovered that without a Saviour I was lost and had no hope.
I remember my heart pounding in my chest as I admitted that I could not save myself
I remember when I raised my hand with a desire to be saved.
I remember the invitation and responding to that invitation.
I remember the change that happened in my life that day and I will forever remember that Jesus saved me!
I could not save myself, but a holy God did for me what I could not do for myself.
God is Holy and deserves our “praise and worship.”
Conclusion:
Thanksgiving is more than just a day of family and feast.
It is a day to thank the Lord for His grace and mercy that has been shadowing us throughout the year.
Enjoy the day YES, but remember who gave us the gift of life.
