Let the Thanks Come Out! #1

 As we begin this month of Thanksgiving, one of the things I find amazing is how little mention of giving thanks we find in the earlier books of the Bible.  Except for a few references to the commandments about thank offerings, nothing is said until the time of David. In I Chronicles 16, David has established the capital of Israel in Jerusalem and brought the ark of the covenant there and made a temporary house of worship. v.7 says:

Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the Lord by Asaph and his brothers.

8 Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;

    make known his deeds among the peoples!

9 Sing to him, sing praises to him;

    tell of all his wondrous works!

10 Glory in his holy name;

    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

David said: "Let the Thanks Come out!" Let them come out in songs, prayers and testimonies. "Give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name!"  For David, this was very real. During his lifetime he had been kept away from the house of the Lord for long periods of time, on the run from Saul and the Philistines. Now, he could settle down and worship, and the first thing on his mind is "Thank you, Lord." In David's mind, there are two most basic reasons to give thanks: the Lord's name, and His deeds. God's name reveals His character - what He is like deep down to the core. Get to know God and you will say: "Thank you, God. You are so good."  Then step back and see what God has done - things you take for granted; things you have missed while caught up in the drudgery of life - things that make you step back and say: "Thank you, Lord." Let the thanks come out, in songs, in prayers, in praises and testimonies: "Thank you, Lord."