Give Thanks... To the Lord

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;

For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Give thanks to the God of gods,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Give thanks to the LORD of lords,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

To Him who alone does great wonders,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

To Him who…

For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

To Him who…

Psalm 136 caught my attention today. It’s the Thanksgiving week – and giving thanks is on many of our minds regardless of whether we believe in God or not. Expressing gratitude for the wonderfully diverse common grace we all enjoy  is a universal good, that transcends times and cultures.  You don’t even have to believe in God – you can be an atheist - and still celebrate Thanksgiving!  And nobody has to wait until fourth Thursday in November to be grateful.

But what sets God’s people apart during this season of Thanksgiving is – a syntax!

Everyone can give thanks.  God’s children give thanks to the Lord.  Their thanksgiving has an address, specific GPS coordinates that zero in on one person - the Lord. The LORD of Lords. The God of gods. In human shorthand, Jesus Christ and, of course, God the Father.  And so, saying ‘thank you’ becomes an opportunity to enter deeper into a personal relationship of love - given, received, returned - with our Creator, Redeemer and Lord.  For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Because He alone is worthy.  Because of who He is… Because of what He does… Because of… you fill in the blanks.

And in the process of unwrapping each generous gift with expressions of our gratitude, to our surprise we discover that in the midst of them stands the best gift of all – which is the Giver Himself.

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.  Psalm 136:1