Give Thanks to the Lord

(2009 Thanksgiving)

1 Chronicles 16:1-43

Key Verse 16:34

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

Since David took over the leadership as the King of the united Israel, one of the first things he did was to institute thanksgiving to the Lord. Here we find the way for God’s people to give thanks to the Lord. 

Read verses 1-7. What did they bring? What did they present? Whom did David appoint? Why did he appoint them? To whom did David commit "this Psalm of thanks"? What does this passage indicate about giving thanks to the Lord?

** The ark of the God of Israel

The ark used to stay at Kiriath Jearim. It then moved to the house of Obed-Edom. David chose to move it to Jerusalem (1 Ch 13:6).

The ark is described as the throne of the Lord. The Lord used to speak from there above the atonement cover ( Lev 16:2, Exo 30:6).

This indicates that thanksgiving is dedicated to the Lord, done before him, rendering glory to him.

** They presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Burnt offerings denote willing devotion to the Lord, whereas fellowship offerings celebrate the opportunity to worship the Lord. 

We learn here that thanksgiving is not just a lip service, but comes with sacrificing something special on our part, giving what is valuable to the Lord. See how much we value materials such as bulls or cows. Read 16:29.  The Lord commanded the Israelites not to show up before him empty handed (Exo 23:15; 34:20; Deu 16:16).

In the New Testament Scriptures, Jesus expressed God’s sorrow, feeling sorry for people sending him away empty-handed, when the Lord sent his servants to his people to collect some fruit during the time of harvest (Mark 12:3; Luke 20:10,11). 

** David appointed some of the Levites, ten of them. They are trained people, trained to praise the Lord. 

** To minister before the ark, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. They are musicians as well as playing musical instruments. 

Thanksgiving must be in the spirit of thanks and praise, with great joy, coming with joyful music. 

** He dedicated the psalm to Asaph and his associates. 

We learn here that thanksgiving is an act of worship, making joyful sounds. It is not a random event. We do not give thanks to the Lord casually. David instituted it as the first and perhaps foremost important thing for God’s children to do before the Lord. He designed it to be a highly regimented occasion so God’s children would worship in thanksgiving in spirit and in truth, not merely based on human feelings, but filled with the spirit of thanks and praise. 

Skim through verses 8-36. What does this passage tell us about: 1) the manner in which to give thanks (8,9,12,23,24,36); 2) thanks topics (9,12); 3) reason(s) to give thanks (25,26,34); and 4) the fruit(s) of thanksgiving (10)?

** 

prayer (call on his name)

testimony sharing (make known among the nations what he has done…)

singing

remembering what he has done (see how easy it is for us to forget his grace) (the thanks topics are not only personal but national)

ascribing (or rendering) to the Lord glory and strength (we are not to say my power and the strength of my hands produced this result/wealth, cf.Deu 8:17).

bringing an offering 

worshiping 

** 1) In general: what he has done; the wonders he has done, his miracles, the judgments he pronounced; his marvelous deeds; 

Note: the judgments he pronounced represent a huge category of thanks topics for God’s children, for when God does not judge the unrighteous, we have no reason to struggle to live by faith in the Lord and serve him.

2) See vs. 13-22; as in the case of Israel as a nation, we too can find many thanks topics like these for the specific grace the Lord bestowed upon each of us as an individual and us as a nation. 

** Reasons are for who the Lord is, that is, for: 1) he is the Lord who is most worthy of praise; 2) he alone is God; 3) his holiness; 4) his goodness; and 5) his love that endures forever.

**   The ultimate fruit is the joy that comes from seeing the face of the Lord personally (16:10-11a).

Read verses 37-38 and think about “Asaph and his associates” or “Obed-Edom and his 68 associates.” What does this passage teach us about thanksgiving? 

** Thanksgiving is done before the Lord; it is done as an act of worship; it is done through his people as a community of the saved; it is done systematically singing and praising the Lord with musical instruments, with trained people praising the Lord in reverent fear and thanks. The point is that it is a holy worship, to be done in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord. 

Read verses 39-42. Consider the two classes of people serving the Lord regularly: 1) Zadok and his fellow priests; and 2) Heman and his company. What can we learn here about giving thanks to the Lord? 

** The former (Zadok, et al) reminds us of Jesus, the high priest, whereas the latter (Heman and his company) resembles Jesus’ disciples/apostles. We learn that Jesus is at the heart of the worship, for he as the high priest conducts the thanksgiving in worship of God the Father. Professionally trained people like the disciples and shepherds, must take the leadership in giving thanks to the Lord. 

Notice the expression “regularly” (repeated twice) or “every day” or “morning and evening,” which all indicate that thanksgiving is a constant act of worship, done 24/7. 

Read verse 43. What does this passage tell us about thanksgiving? 

** Worship with others at the church first, and then celebration at the individual home next. So we learn David’s priority in thanksgiving. 

The end

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