Sunday serves as a reboot spiritually, mentally, and physically. Last week is done. We’re resting; celebrating what God has done and continues doing in our lives. Some of us have heavy burdens that we need to lay down at His feet. Others of us are experiencing great victories for which we need to give God the glory.
It’s Christmastime and our minds travel back to those childhood memories of long ago when we still dared to dream and weren’t afraid to believe. Christmas renews our spirit, refreshes our hearts, and rekindles our minds. Sure, life may be tough right now. But we’ve got SO much to be grateful for, don’t you agree?
In the book of 1 Chronicles, we find an early church hymn sung during a time of great thanksgiving after David and his men have returned the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. It serves as a great model for us as we consider the breadth of our magnificent Maker and the many blessings He has showered down upon us, including the special gift of His Son, Jesus.
1 Chronicles 16:7-36 (NET2)
7 That day David first gave to Asaph and his colleagues this song of thanks to the Lord.
8 Give thanks to the Lord!
Call on his name!
Make known his accomplishments among the nations!
9 Sing to him! Make music to him!
Tell about all his miraculous deeds!
10 Boast about his holy name!
Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
11 Seek the Lord and the strength he gives!
Seek his presence continually!
12 Recall the miraculous deeds he performed,
his mighty acts and the judgments he decreed,
13 O children of Israel, God ’s servant,
you descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen ones!
14 He is the Lord our God;
he carries out judgment throughout the earth.
15 Remember continually his covenantal decree,
the promise he made to a thousand generations –
16 the promise he made to Abraham,
the promise he made by oath to Isaac!
17 He gave it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as a lasting promise,
18 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as the portion of your inheritance.”
19 When they were few in number,
just a very few, and foreign residents within it,
20 they wandered from nation to nation,
and from one kingdom to another.
21 He let no one oppress them,
he disciplined kings for their sake,
22 saying, “Don’t touch my anointed ones!
Don’t harm my prophets!”
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Announce every day how he delivers!
24 Tell the nations about his splendor,
tell all the nations about his miraculous deeds!
25 For the Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise,
he is more awesome than all gods.
26 For all the gods of the nations are worthless,
but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Majestic splendor emanates from him,
he is the source of strength and joy
28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the nations,
ascribe to the Lord splendor and strength!
29 Ascribe to the Lord the splendor he deserves!
Bring an offering and enter his presence!
Worship the Lord in holy attire!
30 Tremble before him, all the earth!
The world is established, it cannot be moved.
31 Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be happy!
Let the nations say, ‘The Lord reigns!’
32 Let the sea and everything in it shout!
Let the fields and everything in them celebrate!
33 Then let the trees of the forest shout with joy before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth!
34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
and his loyal love endures.
35 Say this prayer: Deliver us, O God who delivers us!
Gather us! Rescue us from the nations!
Then we will give thanks to your holy name,
and boast about your praiseworthy deeds.”
36 May the Lord God of Israel be praised,
in the future and forevermore.
Then all the people said, “We agree! Praise the Lord.
This thanksgiving hymn is a medley of several psalms and probably one of many that God’s people sang to celebrate on these types of occasions. The song expresses the hopes and thoughts of the Israelites gathered that day to worship and give thanks to the Lord.
It shows us the important role songs play in our worship of our God and emphasizes the salvation that can only come through Him. Our Lord is sovereign and He is always looking out for us, those who love Him and have received His Son as Lord and Savior.
So as you gather in your house of worship today, be grateful. You and I have so many reasons to give thanks.
Blessings,
The Devotional Guy™
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