Why Thanksgiving?

The book of Psalms ends with a crescendo of praise to God found in the final psalms. I don't know that the human compilers of the psalms purposefully arranged the psalms in this order, but I believe God did. As one studies through the book of Psalms, a great God is revealed to him. It is entirely fitting to end this collection of psalms with praise to that great God.

It is too easy for believers to take God's blessings for granted. The Thanksgiving season is a reminder to take note of God's goodness and thank Him for it. The reality is that God's blessings are too numerous to count; the challenge is to have eyes open to recognizing those blessings. While it is good to thank God on a daily basis, this season allows believers to pause in a special way to lift their hearts in praise to God.

Psalms 145-150 provide a long list of things for which God is worthy of thanks and praise. Some of these go beyond the traditional Thanksgiving statements and can lift one's praise to a higher level than that of the standard testimonies. The following characteristics give praise to God both for who He is and for what He has done.

God deserves praise because He is great (145:3). He has unmatched power (145:11) and He is abundant in strength (147:5). He has used that power to do many mighty acts (145:4) and to perform countless wonderful works (145:5).

God's greatness includes His splendor (145:5). His kingdom is full of glory (145:11). God executes judgment on the wicked (149:7), and someday will do that in the ultimate judgment of making all things right and establishing His eternal kingdom.

God's greatness includes His understanding, which is infinite (147:5). God was wise enough to make the heavens and earth (146:6), including every amazing part of creation. He knows and controls every star (147:4).

God's greatness includes His care of the earth. God is the one who provides rain (147:8) and causes vegetation to grow (147:8). He supplies food for all the creatures of earth (145:15). He controls the weather (148:8). He sends and then thankfully melts the snow (147:16-18).

God deserves praise because He is abundantly good (145:7). This goodness is seen through many of His character qualities: righteousness (145:7), graciousness (145:8), mercy (145:8), longsuffering (145:8), lovingkindness (145:8), and kindness (145:17).

God's goodness is expressed as He meets the physical needs of His people. God gives food to the hungry (146:7). He supports the orphans and widows (146:9). He executes justice for the oppressed (146:7). He protects the strangers (146:9). He sets the prisoners free (146:7). He opens the eyes of the blind (146:8). He builds up Jerusalem and gathers Israel (147:2).

God's goodness is expressed as He meets the emotional needs of His people. God sustains those who fall (145:14). He raises up those who are bowed down (145:14). He heals the brokenhearted (147:3). He supports the afflicted (147:6).

God's goodness is expressed as He meets the spiritual needs of His people. God is near to those who call on Him (145:18). He hears their cry (145:19). He saves them (145:19). He keeps them (145:20). God keeps faith forever (146:6). He gives peace (147:14). He gives His words to His people (147:19).

God's goodness causes Him to go beyond meeting needs. God blesses His people (147:13). He takes pleasure in them (149:4). He favors those who fear Him (147:11).

All of these are wonderful reasons to praise God. How many of these things has God done for you? Take some time to ponder these qualities and to add them to your praise and thanks this year.

"Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and praise is becoming." Psalm 147:1 (NASB)