Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary defines “thanksgiving” as giving thanks, a prayer expressing gratitude, and a public acknowledgement or celebration of divine goodness and mercies. In other words, thanksgiving is the expression of gratitude to God for what He has done, what He is doing and what He will do.
Classes of Definition
The above definition groups Thanksgiving into two: private and public. The first category, which is private, has no definite time and place for its expression. It can be done at any time and anywhere, whenever the need arises. God’s people are called to be thankful to God, considering what the Lord has done for them; the Lord is worthy of praise and thanksgiving.
Furthermore, the latter classification is a public acknowledgement or celebration of God’s goodness and mercies upon His people. Consequently, some institutions, religions, organizations, denominations, and churches have designated an annual day tagged “Thanksgiving Day”. It is a day appointed for giving thanks for divine goodness.
For example, the United States of America and Canada commemorated this day and observed the fourth Thursday in November and the second Monday in October as legal holidays respectively since 1957.
Harvest of Thanksgiving
All the Nigerian Baptist Convention churches set aside November for the annual harvest and thanksgiving. It is a day that is always expected and longed for by every true Baptist. It cannot but give thanks to God Almighty for the gifts of life (2Cor. 9:15), salvation (Eph.2:8-9), provision(Gen 22:14), and protection (Ps .61:3; 62: 6)throughout the year.
However, the paper’s focus is not on the day of celebration, because there are some Baptist churches especially, those in the rural areas who prefer to celebrate theirs in December and not in November.
The reason is because that is their most convenient and result-oriented target period. God is the God of all times and seasons. He receives the praise due to Him from His genuine people, irrespective of the time and date.
Focus of Thanksgiving
This article, which focuses on “the biblical foundations of Thanksgiving”, posits that Thanksgiving is more than a holiday or time for fundraising in the church.
This is an expression of gratitude unto God, a way of life which every child of God understands and engrafts into every day, every action, every thought and every activity of his or her life.
Biblical Concept of Thanksgiving
For clarity, a few passages from the Testaments discuss the biblical concept of thanksgiving. First is David and Israel’s grand ceremonial procession of thanksgiving in Chronicle 16. The Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant and remained with them for seven (7) months. It was sent back to Israel at Kiriath-Jearim- 10 miles northwest of Jerusalem.
Davidic Thanksgiving
Having established Jerusalem as the national capital, King David assembled all of Israel to bring the ark back to Jerusalem. David thanked God and the congregation appropriated the worship leader’s prayer for themselves through public oral response “Amen-Praise the Lord!” (16:8-36).
David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving is a compilation from the Book of Psalms. Verses 8-22 are from Psalms 105:1-15; verses 23-33 are the entirety of Psalm 96; and verses 34-36 are from Psalm|06:1, 47-48.
Thanksgiving to God
These verses reveal a beautiful song of gratitude to God, praising God as Sovereign over history and creation (vvl2,31-33). As faithful to the covenant He chose to make with Israel. Furthermore, thanksgiving centres on God’s actions and attributes; it leads to a renewed petition for God to act in the present situation as He had in the past.
Secondly, after the return of the exiles, the Jews rebuilt the temple which was destroyed during the Babylonian captivity (Ezra 3). Completing the foundation for the temple required great efforts from all involved. But no one tried to get praise for himself and his hard work.
In verse ll, it was said that with raise and thanksgiving the Israelites sang endures forever. The people’s participation in rebuilding the temple’s physical structure was an expression of thanksgiving unto God from whom flows all human talents, abilities, strength, and leadership.
This passage, therefore, underscores that God alone deserves all the thanks for what He alone has done in and through His people.
The reality of God’s goodness
Thirdly, Psalms 100:4-5 states unequivocally that God is the one who ultimately deserves our thanks. The reason for that is the reality of God’s goodness and love and steadfastness of His everlasting mercy unto His children and the reality of God’s ever-abiding truth.
So, the message is not delivered. Consequently, to neglect thankfulness to God is to forget His benefits and fall prey to the antithesis of covenantal faithfulness, namely, idolatry (I Cor 10:1-16).
Thanksgiving in the New Testament
Thanksgiving is considered a New Testament theme. Its derivation is from Israel’s covenantal tradition, where thanksgiving and praise were nearly equated as the necessary posture (attitude) of a people blessed by divine grace. Jesus set the example of thanksgiving unto God when He fed the 5000 people.
In the New Testament, the transliterated Greek verb Eucharistic and its cognate noun Eucharistic describe thanksgiving as directed towards God in light of His benefits and blessings. Willaim D. Mounce asserts that those words of thanksgiving are often found in the introduction of Paul’s letters, even when a strong rebuke is about to follow (p.121).
Paul most often uses nouns in his epistolary thanksgiving and emphasizes the posture of gratitude in the life of the Church (Phil. 4:6; Col.2:7; 4: 2; 1 Tim.2:1). Thanksgiving Centers on God (Theocentric)
Biblical Foundation of Thanksgiving (Thanksgiving centres on God).
It centres on God’s actions and attributes, not on ourselves and our abilities. Thanksgiving is directed to God in the light and the memory of God’s goodness and mercy over humanity and all He had created.
David acknowledged this foundation by leading his congregation to recognize by keeping in remembrance the wonders (miracles, judgment pronounced, and salvation). It publicizes the marvellous deeds (IChro.16:8-12.
Gratitude to God
Christians express their gratitude towards God for the past work of Christ on our behalf (Col.1 13-14). For the present as reflected in obedient lives of faith (Rom(2:1), and for the future in the hope of the consummation of all God’s blessings in Christ(Rev.11:17).
Again, thanksgiving defines the covenant community as God-centered. God alone is worthy of our thanks and worship. David highlighted communicable and incommunicable attributes of God respectively. It elicited worship of thanksgiving among His people.
About the History and Creation of God
He is the sovereign God over history and creation. This God surrounds His presence with splendour and majesty and in whose dwelling presence Christians find strength and joy (I Chro.16:27). Subsequently, God is “God of remembrance.” He is ever faithful to the covenant made with Israel.
This mental communicable attribute of God means that He is ever faithful and true and that all His knowledge and words are true and the final standard of truth (Grudem,195). This is why David called Him reliable God, who remembers the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (I Chrol6:15-18).
The Reasons for Thanksgiving
This is the reason thanksgiving is expounded in the Scriptures. It is a matter of worship unto God (Ps. |07:22); it is to be rendered to our heavenly Father (Col.I:12). It is to be an abounding expression (Col. 2:7); and lastly, thanksgiving is the will of God in everything (I Thess.5:17.
Thanksgiving challenges believers that the standing ovation goes to God alone. Thanksgiving unto God, therefore, causes the Church to focus on what God has done, depend on what God is doing, and rejoice in what God will do.
Thanksgiving is a Divine Command
Giving thanks is not a matter of feelings but a matter of obedience. Amid economic hardship, insecurity, corruption and a collapsed system of operation in our country, God expects His children to return thanks to Him. IT IS NOT AN OPTION IN HIS EYES.
In I Chronicles 16:28-35 David, through soft entreaty, sets for us biblical admonition for thanksgiving thus: “Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength” (vv28,34) for it is in His nature to be good and faithful. “Bring an offering{gift, sacrifice} due to His name” (1Chro.16:29)for all we are and have come from Him.
“Worship {reverence} the Lord in the wisdom of His holiness”(I Chro.16:29); for all we have are from Him. “Tremble {shake} before Him (v30) who laid the foundation of the world and sustains it by His rule and reign and will come to judge the earth. Finally, “Cry out for deliverance”(v 35) to the God of our salvation for He alone can gather and redeem His own from their enemies.
Thanksgiving is a Lifestyle
It is a positive attitude worthy of emulation. One must come from the heart. One chooses to be thankful and express gratitude for the rich blessings God received or grumbled, murmured and complained about one’s circumstances. Gratitude transcends circumstances. A Thanksgiving is not an annual event; it is a life routine.
Thanksgiving has a Conduct
It is an expression of an attitude towards God. It can be expressed towards God and to others. One can thank God through prayer, expressing gratitude to Him, calling upon Him, having communion with Him and worshipping Him in the beauty of His holiness.
Another means of expression of thanksgiving is through performance. This can come in praise like Asaph and His fellow Levites ministered in the temple “Sing unto Him”(I Chron 16:34b).
It can be done by offering one’s substances, like money, talent, gifts etc. Or even one’s body as a living sacrifice (Rom.12:1-2).
Thanksgiving Opens Up the Door of the Heart towards God
It opens up the door of the heart towards God in such a way that the individual is freed for true worship of God. After David, psalms of thanksgiving unto the Lord. The people’s hearts were opened and they responded affirmatively to the worship leader’s prayer for themselves through public oral response-“Amen” {Let it be so}- “Praise the Lord” {Hallelujah}.
True worship of God comes from grateful hearts. Feelings such as bitterness, envy, hostility, and pride obstruct genuine worship. Everywhere in the Scriptures, this spirit of thanksgiving is revealed as vital to our worship experience (2 Chron. 7:3; Ezr. 3:10-11; Ps 100: 4; Eph.5:19-20; Heb. 12:28). May God grant us the enablement to come with a grateful heart as we gather in His presence this year for our annual thanksgiving.
Conclusion
Exploring thanksgiving in the Bible reveals its deep roots in faith and daily living. Whether it was through offerings, songs, or simple acts of faith, thanksgiving served as a powerful reminder of God’s nature and actions towards humanity.
The examples cited in the paper are not mere historical accounts; they are challenges on how gratitude can transform our lives today. Cultivating a heart of gratitude can strengthen our faith and enrich our relationship, making every moment an opportunity to give thanks. Every Christian must teach their children about thanks.
