“We have so much to be thankful for…”
The sentence is repeated again and again throughout November.
Facebook friends start a “Gratitude List” on November 1, listing one reason to be grateful for each day of the month. We open social media and it’s everywhere. Cooking channels and magazines devote their November issue to the celebrated holiday. We feel the crisp autumn air, take out heavy jackets that were tucked away in the closet and prepare our palates to taste the turkey and dressing (and, my favorite! Sweet potato casserole – another reason to be grateful for Turkey Day.)
We sit around the table, filling our bellies and hearts with comfort food and easy conversations. To some, a wonderful day to reconnect with family. To others, a bitter-sweet day, as we remember Thanksgivings past, when loved ones who are no longer with us graced our table with their laughter.
Whether we are in the mountaintop or in the valley, Thanksgiving rings as a reminder that we have indeed much to be grateful for. #Thanksgiving Click To TweetI have been studying the book of Psalms for the past many months and came across Psalm 89 this past week.
This Psalm was written by a musician called Ethan, at a time of national distress in Israel. It is uncertain when it was written. Some scholars believe it was written during the Absalom rebellion, and therefore this Ethan would be the one mentioned in the story of Solomon (1 Chronicles 15:17). Others believe it was written during the time of the Babylonian captivity, when the Holy City stood desolate and king Zedekiah was insulted and abused by Nebuchadnezzar, thus making this musician a different Ethan.
What is unique about this maskil (a psalm set to a tune of a song) is how it is formatted. Many psalms begin with complaints and prayers for rescue, and end with joy and praise. But this one flipped the equation. The psalmist starts with praise and thanksgiving for God’s steadfast faithfulness, remembering His mighty deeds, provision and deliverance, and it ends with complaints and supplication.
Ethan looks at the desolation in Israel, acknowledges the hopelessness that lingered over God’s people, but instead of starting with a prayer for deliverance, he reaches deep within his heart, and starts his song with praise.
From “I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations” … (v.1) to “How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire? Remember how short my time is!” (vs. 46-47a), the psalmist worship-turn-to-prayer culminates with an explosion of praise:
Blessed be the LORD forever! Amen and Amen.
It does not matter whether the Psalm was written during the revolt of the ten tribes after Solomon’s death, or if this psalmist penned his words while looking at the ruins of Jerusalem’s temple, the fact is, Ethan and Israel did not have much to be thankful for at the time.
Except… they could look back and remember God’s faithfulness to His people… list their blessings… cry out… and bless His Holy Name. For when they looked back, they knew it. The God of Israel would show up again. The same sentiment filled Job’s heart after losing everything:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)
It is the story of the faithful throughout the Bible.
And it should be the story of the faithful today.
Because the same God who inspired Job to trust when he lost everything… and the same God whose faithful deeds prompted distressed psalmists to praise, is alive and well today.
The same God who inspired Job to trust when he lost everything… and the same God whose faithful deeds prompted distressed psalmists to praise, is alive and well today. #Thanksgiving Click To TweetMaybe your cup is full this Thanksgiving. Maybe your psalm today looks like the beginning of Ethan’s song… “You are faithful God… thank you God… Bless you, Yahweh!”
But then again, I know many people whose song resembles the end of Ethan’s cry: A desperate plea for help.
If that’s you today…
If depression has set in, and circumstances have you bound in a cloud of doubt and despair…
If anxious thoughts and unanswered prayers make your “Happy Thanksgiving” greeting as empty as your heart feels…
If that’s you today, my friend…
How about you accept my invitation to mediate on Ethan’s song? With a nation in ruins, all hope gone, this man of God set his heart and thoughts into this inscrutable, immutable truth:
Yahweh, the God of the Covenant never changes. Just as He’s done in the past, from generation to generation, His faithful deliverance and grace will reign in your life once again. Thank Him for His faithfulness in the past. Make a list of the times He’s delivered, provided and healed. And then, by faith, rejoice in His faithfulness for your future.
Thank God for His faithfulness in the past. Make a list of the times He’s delivered, provided and healed. And then, by faith, rejoice in His faithfulness for your future. #Thanksgiving Click To TweetYou may not see it… and you may not feel it. But your deliverance, provision and grace… are certain.
“Blessed be the LORD forever! Amen and Amen!”
May that be the anthem of your faith. May it become your Thanksgiving song.
When we look back, we know.
We have much to be thankful for.
Thank you for digging into the Word and sharing its nuggets with us.
Thank you for the encouragement and for being a faithful reader, Nylse! Blessings for a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thank you Patricia your words of encouragement are timely for me.
Having a highly successful day yesterday I find my self on a low today. Human emotions do that. God does not.
You have reminded me to focus on God and His consistent Grace and Mercy – thank you
I never knew any of this about this Psalms, definitely going back and meditating over it. Such helpful information!
Thank you Patricia! Your blog spoke to my heart today. Our family is in a difficult season, but your blog brought my mind to all the times that God has delivered us from difficult circumstances, usually just in the nick of time!
As I read your reflection today, Patricia, I couldn’t help but think of all those persons affected by the hurricanes this past season, and now the devastating fires in California. Will they recall God’s past blessings and be able to still give thanks and praise? Oh, I do hope and pray so!
Happy Thanksgiving!