Give Thanks!

Psalm 136

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:

The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:

The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:

And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:

With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:

And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:

But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:

And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:

And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:

Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:

And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

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Today we have just a short list from the psalmist of things that the people of God were or at least should have been thankful for. There is all of that and so much more.  

Around the holidays and especially thanksgiving we are reminded to be thankful for the gifts that God has given us. What are we thankful for?  Are we thankful for friends and family? How about the food that we eat even it may seem meager at times.  In the wilderness God provided the Israelites with  manna that fell from the sky when they were without enough food. At first they were thankful; but, then they complained because they were tired of the same old thing. Are you bored with the provisions that you have been given so that you are no longer thankful for the food you eat? Maybe you just don't like the kind of food that you are being served? House not big enough or fancy enough?  Let us be thankful for whatever shelter we have been provided with.

God has given us much to be thankful for. But, most of all He has given us His Son to live and die and live again for us and with us and through us. 

Let us be thankful that although we have sinned against Him and deserve nothing, He loves us enough to reconcile us to Himself and to one another through the blood of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good and his mercy endures forever!

God's Peace - Pr. J.