Giving Thanks: Understanding the Biblical Emphasis of Thanksgiving

GIVING THANKS: UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLICAL EMPHASIS OF THANKSGIVING [Excerpts]

It may be a curious reflection on our Western culture, but the “thank you”of normal social interchange does not have a counterpart in the Bible. The declining custom of writing thank you notes has some implied connection to the biblical emphasis, but those social manners are more related to our sense of reciprocity than is reflected in Scripture.

Please do not misunderstand. It is a good custom to respond to someone’s gift or help, and all of us should express our pleasure for the effort extended to us from another person—even if the necktie is “strange” or the flowers make you sneeze. The old cliché still applies—it’s the thought that counts. The custom of “thanksgiving” is helpful, both as acknowledgement and as encouragement. But the emphasis in Scripture is much more specific...There are two Hebrew terms translated with the English word “thanks” in the Old Testament. Towdah is most often connected with sacrificial thanksgiving “offerings” (Leviticus:22:29And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will.
See All..., 2 Chronicles:29:31Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.
See All...). Yadah is used more frequently and is most often translated “praise” (Psalm:18:49Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
See All..., Isaiah:25:1O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
See All...).

Both of these terms are built around the idea of “confession”—as in listing or acknowledging sins committed and forgiveness granted. Both terms are used of private as well as formal occasions, and they consistently imply vocal expression (speaking out loud), repeated communal expression (as in corporate worship), and often formal celebration, as demonstrated in the following passages: "And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me” (Joshua:7:19And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.
See All...).

"I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. (Psalm:26:6-7 [6] I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: [7] That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
See All..., emphasis added)
And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps" (Nehemiah:12:27And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.
See All...).

Obviously, the attitude of thanks is more important than the act of thanks. God’s evaluation of our hearts has not changed since the creation. When the Old Testament prophet Samuel was surprised at God’s selection of young David, God told Samuel, “The LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel:16:7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
See All...). Our instructions are just the same—“look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians:4:18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
See All...).

America’s official celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday is good policy and surely should be observed by our nation. Most churches practice some form of public thanksgiving in weekly worship services. Most Christian organizations acknowledge God’s call and provision for their ministries. It is likely that most Christian families “say grace” at meals. Those are all good practices.

However, far more important is the issue of how God’s people practice thanksgiving all the time. At the core of our hearts are the firm beliefs of our mind, and at the core of our actions are the attitudes of our hearts (Matthew:15:19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
See All...). Foundational to all of that is how we approach the text of Scripture—and undergirding that approach is how we treat the information in Genesis....

Thanksgiving—the attitude as well as the act—is enriched by both the knowledge of and confidence in the authority and accuracy of the Word of God.

http://www.icr.org/article/giving-thanks-understanding-biblical/