We just celebrated Thanksgiving on Thursday and today we are going to look at some people in scripture who were thankful for what God had done for them. We set aside one day each year to give thanks to God for what he does for us each and every day, yet we need to learn to be thankful every day. We need to thank God every day for all aspects of our lives even the things that are not good in our eyes. God has a purpose and plan for even the bad things in our lives. We need to learn to trust in God in everything and not just the good things and learn to thank God every day including the fact that he gave us another day to live. We live in a violent sin sick world and people are dying every day so we need to rejoice when God lets us breathe for another day.
The first person from scripture that we will look at is an unnamed individual. We will know his name when we get to heaven. We see from this example that God knows who they are, but we need to just learn from their thankfulness. Even the unnamed are important to God. This unnamed man was one of the ten lepers that were healed by God. Ten lepers had cried out to Jesus asking him to heal them. They all left as Jesus said to go to the priest and they were cleansed when they left, but only this man returned after seeing he was healed to thank Jesus for healing him. This man was a Samaritan which were enemies of the Jews yet he gave thanks to God whereas the other nine which were most likely Jews did not. Some people are never grateful. Jesus even said to the leper where are the other nine. Jesus said only this stranger returned to give thanks. Because this leper was truly thankful Jesus not only cleansed his leprosy, but he also cleansed and saved his soul so that one day we will see him in heaven. Leprosy was a dreaded disease to get as you had to avoid all people and yet the other nine remained in their sins as ungrateful men. (Luke 17:11-19 11 ¶ And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.)
The next person we will look at is Elisabeth who was the mother of John the Baptist. John the Baptist would go on to prepare the way for Jesus and his ministry. Elisabeth and her husband Zacharias who was a priest were unable to have a child as Elisabeth was well past child bearing age. In those days it was a disgrace for a woman to not be able to have a child and women especially wanted a child hoping they would give birth to the Messiah. Godly women would pray for a child especially a son unlike many women of today who quickly try to find a way to kill their child by abortion. Zacharias had seen an angel who said Elisabeth would have a son who would prepare the way for Jesus. Elisabeth was thankful when God blessed her with a son. (Luke 1:7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.) (Luke 1:24-25 24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.)
Elisabeth’s cousin Mary was also thankful to God when she found out she was going to give birth to the Messiah Jesus who would come to earth as the God-man to save mankind. Mary had been given the special privilege to give birth to the Messiah. All Jewish women had always wished they would be the one, but it was the young girl Mary who was chosen. Mary did not know how it would happen, but she trusted the Lord to make it happen just as she was told her cousin Elisabeth had become pregnant in her old age. (Luke 1:46-49 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.)
The unknown author of Psalm 111 starts off the psalm by praising God and praising God with his whole heart. This shows this man was sincere and thankful for all that God had done for him in his life and what he knew God would continue to do in his life. (Psalm 111:1-10 1 Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
2 The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
3 His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.)
Following the crossing of the Red sea by the Israelites, God closed the sea upon the Egyptian army killing all of them including pharaoh. Miriam the sister of Moses was thankful for what God had done and so she began to dance and sing to God to give him praise and thanks. Her show of thankfulness to God rubbed off onto the women around her who joined her in giving thanks and praise to God. Oftentimes when people see us thanking God then it will encourage others to do the same. We need to influence people in godly ways rather than sinful ways. (Exodus 15:20-21 20 ¶ And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.)
Hannah was another woman who was left barren by the LORD. She desperately wanted to have a son hoping just like Elisabeth did and all the Jewish girls to be the one to give birth to the Messiah. Hannah had gone before the LORD in prayer at the temple praying and asking for a son. This is the first thing we need to do is pray. That shows that we trust God to be in control and are thankful that we can pray to him. Hannah promised to give her son to God to serve him all his life if God would give him a son. Hannah was obedient in doing this and so God blessed Hannah with three more sons and two daughters. The child she loaned to God was Samuel who was the great prophet and first judge of Israel. When Hannah brought Samuel to the temple to live there and serve God she gave thanks to God for giving her a son that she could loan to God. (I Samuel 2:1-2 1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.) The prayer continues to verse 11.
David in the fifty one verses of the entire chapter of II Samuel 22 gives thanks to God and praise for his victory over Saul and the Philistines and other of his enemies who had tried to prevent his ruling as king. Saul’s own family as well as others had attacked David and he had just defeated Philistine giants and so David was very thankful to God. He put the thanks in the right place as it belongs to God. (II Samuel 22:48-51 48 It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,
49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
51 He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.)
Paul and Silas had been preaching in Philippi when they cast a devil out of a woman that had brought much money to the people. This angered the people so they beat Paul and Silas with stripes using whips that cut into the skin and put them into prison with their feet in stocks that locked the feet into place. They would not even have been able to move their feet. They were most likely in a cold damp cell yet these two godly men still thanked God for the situation they were in that they could have this happen to them for serving God. At midnight they sang praises to glorify and thank God. Most people would have been bitter and angry and not thinking about thanking and praising God for their current situation, but not Paul and Silas. Because these two men thanked God instead of being ungrateful, the Lord used these two men to lead the Philippian jailor to salvation along with his whole house. God gave them freedom for honoring him. (Acts 16:25-26 25 ¶ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.) (Acts 16:34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.)
Paul gave thanks to God for the Philippians who partnered with him in helping to spread the gospel. (Philippians 1:3-5 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;)
Jesus himself gave thanks to God on many occasions. He himself is God yet as a man he set the example as always for us to be thankful to God in everything and for everything. Here are just a few times that Jesus gave thanks to God. Jesus often gave thanks for food just as we should. Jesus gave thanks for the food before he fed the five thousand. This thankfulness allowed a small lad’s lunch of five barley loaves and two fishes to feed five thousand. (John 6:11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.) When Jesus instituted the Lord’s supper he gave thanks both for the cup and the bread prior to distributing them. (Luke 22:17-19 17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
19 ¶ And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.) Jesus thanked God the Father for hearing him when he prayed to bring Lazarus back from the dead. He thanked God for hearing him and said he knew he would hear him. God will always hear the prayer of those who are walking with him and Jesus always walked with God. (John 11:41-42 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.)
This was just a few examples of godly individuals who gave God thanks for the situations they were in or for what God had done for them. We too need to learn to be thankful to God in all situations and for all that he does for us and not take God for granted the way the heathen do. Here are a couple of verses about giving thanks. (I Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.) (Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.) (Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.) For those of us who are saved we need to thank God for sending his Son to die on a cross for us and rising again on that third day so that we might have everlasting life. Jesus bore our sins on the cross so that we would not have to. Let us learn to be thankful all the time unlike the unsaved who are rarely thankful. For those who are not saved, call upon Jesus today and thank God for saving you. Thank God that he has allowed a way for us as wretched sinners to not spend eternity in the lake of fire. Remember to thank God every day and not just on Thanksgiving.
