A Life of Thanks-GivingSample

An Early Thank You Song 

When David was building up Jerusalem, long before there was a temple, he decided to bring the ark of the covenant and the tabernacle to his new capital city. On this occasion David danced and leapt for joy, earning the scorn and ridicule of his wife, but the pleasure of his Heavenly Father. 

It was during this time that David appointed a group of Levites to be responsible for giving thanks and he also wrote a special song of thanks giving. This song is our reading today. 

It is a long reading, but here are some thoughts and highlights: 

1. This song has elements found in a variety of the Psalms and in many ways serves as a "overture", precursor or prototype of the Psalms. 


2. There is a clear sense that our thanks to God should also be shared with the nations - People need to hear how good God is. 


3. "Songs", "rejoicing", and consciously "remembering" what He has done are the ways in which we draw near to Him. 


4. Then David remembers his forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and recalls how God watched over them and over Israel as they wandered through the wilderness. 


5. Then he considers some of God's attributes (Saviour, glorious, great, majestic, strength, joy, and many more) and suggests some of our postures and attitudes (sing, declare, bring an offering, ascribe, awe, come before and worship). 


6. Then all of creation gets in on the  act: Heavens, earth, sea, fields and trees. Look at the verbs used: Tremble, rejoice, be glad, resound, be jubilant and sing. 


7. David brings it all together in the final stanza:
   
   Give thanks to God for He is good - His love endures forever. 


8. And then surprisingly he goes straight from thanksgiving to a request: "Save us, O God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name, that we may glory in Your praise."  But for David this is a logical consequence of his theology: When we ask God to do what only He can do, we are bringing Him praise - we're admitting our need for and dependence on Him. 


9. And thanksgiving happens best when a crowd can say "Amen!" 

Now read this beautiful song and give thanks!