For What Shall We Give Thanks?

I. God’s people are a thankful people

A. Psalm 92:1-2: “ It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,”

B. Thankful prayers

1. Philippians 4:6-7 - We should pray with thanksgiving.
   • Notice that it is linked with supplication-appealing to God to grant a request
   • We should not be afraid to bring our requests to God but we must remember to thank Him for listing, for His wisdom in answering, and for the answer we receive.
2. Colossians 4:2 - Be vigilant in prayer (implies diligence and watchfulness) with thanksgiving to God

C. David’s Song of Thanks in 1 Chronicles 16 when the ark was put in the tabernacle in the city of David provides a great template of thanksgiving praise to God.

II. Give thanks for His great works for His people

A. 1 Chronicles 16:7-13

1. Israel of old could remember the great deliverance from the bondage of Egypt and conquest of the Promised Land
2. As the song suggests, it is important to teach others of God’s great works.

B. Deuteronomy 3:24: “‘O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours?”

C. Ephesians 1:15-23 – Greatness of God through Christ

D. Defeated our greatest enemy, Hebrews 2:14-15

E. Psalm 111

III. Give thanks guiding us with His wisdom

A. As the end of Psalm 111 teaches, when we consider the great works of God, we can be thankful for the great work in revealing His wisdom to guide our lives

1. Psalm 92:5-6: “How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep! The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this.”

B. 1 Chronicles 16:14-17

C. The old and new covenants reflect the love of a caring God for our souls

1. Even the strictness of the Old Law was to emphasize the importance of obedience and when evil was allowed to go unpunished, it resulted in the corruption of the people.

D. 2 Peter 1:3-11

1. Gave us all things that pertain to life and godliness
2. Through obedience to this law we can have a good life here and eternal life with God.

IV. Give thanks for His salvation

A. 1 Chronicles 16:18-24

B. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 – thankful for the call of salvation and establishing us in truth

C. The Christian can be thankful for so many things related to salvation

1. That He sent Jesus to die for us when we were unworthy of it, Romans 5:8
2. He provides a way of escape from temptation, 1 Corinthians 10:13
3. He provides a way home when we repent, 1 John 2:1 and prodigal

D. It is thanksgiving that should be shared with others

1. Telling to one another: the fellow saved
2. Telling to those who do not know God

V. Give thanks that our God is great and one to be praised

A. 1 Chronicles 16:25-33

B. Who is like God? Psalm 113

C. His greatness and power is able to save and protect us and prepare an eternal home for us.

VI. Give thanks for His steadfast love that endures forever

A. 1 Chronicles 16:34

B. There are over 30 instances in the Psalms alone where the sentiment of God’s love enduring forever is mentioned and several times in the rest of the Old Testament.

1. It was an important theme for Israel to remember in the good and bad times
2. Regardless of what happened they could remember God’s goodness and love.

C. In Psalm 136 it is a refrain that the audience likely repeated or singers answered to the companion lines.

D. There is comfort in God’s abiding love for us

1. John 3:16 – God so loved that He sent Jesus
2. 1 John 3:13 – What kind of love God has shown that we are His children

VII. Give thanks that He has provided protection and a home for us

A. 1 Chronicles 16:35-36

B. 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

VIII. We could continue to count our blessings and find much to be thankful for. Let’s do that.