Faithful on Fridays Blog

When we demonstrate recognition for someone’s accomplishments after a great speech or concert we give them a ‘standing ovation’. It’s a way to physically show someone our appreciation and commend them. We see this enthusiastic show of thankfulness in the Bible as well.

The word is yadah which means to throw or cast, give thanks, confess, and even shoot. When we cast or shoot our praises to God with a thankful heart we’re declaring His works on our behalf: it’s all about Him.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your steadfast love in the morning, and Your faithfulness by night. Psalms 92:1-2 ESV

You can see the Hebrew word for ‘hand’ in yadah because hands throw or cast something. When we give thanks to God, yadah, we extend our hands as an expression of gratefulness for His help. Hands offer help; it’s a serving mentality and God likes it when we look like Him.

Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to Him with the harp of ten strings! Psalms 33:1-2 ESV

Songs of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord look good on us (befits).

Jesus was no stranger to thanksgiving; the Greek word is eucharistos. This is actually two words that mean good and grace; Jesus used it after the feeding of the 4,000 (Matt. 15:36) and at the Last Supper, an act of servanthood:

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you … Matthew 26:27 ESV

Jesus was our model in thanking God for His good grace, His undeserved favor, and all of His benefits. The ten lepers Jesus healed (Luke 17:15-16) were all ‘takers’ except for one:

Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks … Luke 17:15-16a ESV

Paul teaches us to give thanks when we experience His grace in a victory (1 Cor. 15:57 and 2 Cor. 2:14) and be overflowing with many thanksgivings to God (2 Cor. 9:12). However, feelings of thankfulness in the middle of a crisis seem contrary; we haven’t experienced the victory, why be thankful?

The Psalmist calls that a ‘sacrifice of thanksgiving’ (Ps. 50:14); we confess our thankfulness even in trauma. Sacrifice is giving up something for the sake of something else. We trade our defeated attitude for one of gratefulness, that’s faith and trust; you can’t see it yet but you know that God is faithful and so you wait with a song of thanksgiving on your lips.

I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. Psalms 69:30 ESV