Canada and the island of Saint Lucia celebrate a Thanksgiving holiday in October. Liberia sets aside a day for giving thanks at the beginning of November, while the United States and Australia mark the annual holiday at the end of the month. Other countries, including the United Kingdom, Brazil, Rwanda, and the Philippines, have unofficial days to foster gratitude.
There’s something powerful about a nation collectively expressing gratitude. It’s a picture we see when King David assembled the nation of Israel to give thanks to God for His presence, protection, and promises. The celebration marked the return of the “ark of God” (1 Chronicles 16:1). The people rejoiced that the ark, a symbol of God’s presence with them, was in Jerusalem. As David led Israel in praise, he reminded them of God’s protection as the nation conquered the land of Canaan (vv. 18-22) and celebrated His faithfulness to fulfill His promises (v. 15).
If you celebrate a Thanksgiving holiday with friends and family, consider making it a gratitude gathering and reflecting together on the ways you’ve experienced God’s presence, protection, and promises over the past year. Whether or not you live in a country that officially celebrates Thanksgiving, each of us can take time to “give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (v. 34).
How have you experienced God’s presence, protection, or promises? How can you express gratitude?
Dear God, please cultivate within me a spirit of gratitude as I remember all You’ve done.
To celebrate the return of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, David composed this worship song in 1 Chronicles 16:8-36, a “song of thanksgiving to the Lord” (v. 7 nlt). The lyrics of this praise song are also presented as two different songs in the Psalms: Psalm 105:1-15 (1 Chronicles 16:8-22) and Psalm 96:1-13 (1 Chronicles 16:23-33). In 1 Chronicles 16, to show his gratitude to God for being the God of Israel, David recalled aspects of their history where God acted favorably and mightily to fulfill His covenant promises to His chosen people (vv. 8-22). He calls on the nations to worship God because He’s the true and holy God who is Creator, sovereign King, and righteous Judge (vv. 23-36). We too have many reasons to be grateful and thankful to God. Like the psalmist, when we gratefully recall who He is and what He’s done for us, we can respond in worship and praise.
