Thankfulness: Expressed in Psalms
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Thankfulness, a profound expression of gratitude and acknowledgment of God's goodness, is a recurring theme throughout the Book of Psalms. The Psalms, a collection of songs and prayers, often reflect the heart of the believer in various circumstances, emphasizing the importance of giving thanks to God.

Psalms of Thanksgiving

The Psalms frequently call believers to express thankfulness to God for His enduring love, faithfulness, and mighty works. Psalm 100 is a quintessential psalm of thanksgiving, inviting all the earth to "Shout for joy to the LORD" and to "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise" (Psalm 100:1, 4). This psalm highlights the joy and reverence that accompany a thankful heart.

Psalm 136 is another prominent example, where the refrain "His loving devotion endures forever" (Psalm 136:1) punctuates each verse. This psalm recounts God's mighty acts in creation and history, encouraging the faithful to remember and give thanks for His unchanging love and mercy.

Thankfulness in Times of Trouble

The Psalms also teach that thankfulness is not limited to times of prosperity but is equally vital in times of distress. Psalm 34, attributed to David when he feigned madness before Abimelech, begins with a declaration of praise: "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips" (Psalm 34:1). This psalm illustrates that thankfulness can be a source of strength and comfort, even in adversity.

Similarly, Psalm 42, a psalm of lament, expresses a deep longing for God amidst despair. Yet, the psalmist resolves to hope in God and praise Him, demonstrating that thankfulness can coexist with sorrow and longing.

Thankfulness for God's Creation and Provision

The Psalms often express gratitude for God's creation and provision. Psalm 104 is a poetic celebration of God's creative power and sustaining care for the world. The psalmist praises God for the beauty and order of creation, acknowledging His wisdom and provision: "How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures" (Psalm 104:24).

Psalm 65 also reflects thankfulness for God's provision, particularly in the context of a fruitful harvest: "You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your paths overflow with plenty" (Psalm 65:11). This psalm recognizes God's hand in the natural cycles and His blessing upon the land.

Thankfulness for Deliverance and Salvation

The theme of deliverance and salvation is central to many psalms of thanksgiving. Psalm 18, a song of David, gives thanks for God's deliverance from his enemies: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer" (Psalm 18:2). This psalm recounts God's intervention and protection, inspiring gratitude for His saving acts.

Psalm 118, often associated with the Passover celebration, is a communal expression of thanksgiving for God's salvation: "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever" (Psalm 118:1). This psalm celebrates God's steadfast love and deliverance, encouraging the faithful to trust and give thanks.

Conclusion

The Psalms provide a rich tapestry of expressions of thankfulness, teaching believers to cultivate a heart of gratitude in all circumstances. Whether in times of joy or sorrow, abundance or need, the Psalms remind us to acknowledge God's goodness, faithfulness, and provision with thankful hearts.
Nave's Topical Index
1 Chronicles 16:7
Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brothers.
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Library

Blessedness and Praise
... of all the devout hearts and lives whose emotions are expressed in the Psalms. ... The
stained thankfulness of our poor hearts is accepted by Him who inhabits ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/blessedness and praise.htm

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
... In "longsuffering" we have the thought here and there expressed by God in the Psalms
and elsewhere ... "Thankfulness" here may be taken in either of two senses ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/fifth sunday after epiphany.htm

A Young Man's Wise Choice Op Wisdom
... thousand burnt offerings meant devotion and thankfulness, therefore He ... than his father's,
as may be expressed by calling them 'songs,' not 'psalms.'. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a young mans wise choice.htm

The Exile --Continued.
... confident cleaving of soul to God is expressed (ver.1 ... The analogy of the other psalms
of this period ... of confidence, this is the morning hymn of thankfulness. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/vii the exilecontinued.htm

The Tears of the Penitent.
... ever been drawn, than is found in the psalms of this ... The same intensity of feeling
expressed by the use of ... ready for all joyful service of thankfulness, and so ...
/.../maclaren/the life of david/xiii the tears of the penitent.htm

The Royal Jubilee
... One of the Psalms ascribed to David sounds like the ... and public life of our Queen,
for the thankfulness of this ... against the will of the people, expressed by its ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the royal jubilee.htm

The Three Last Parables of the Per??an Series: the Unrighteous ...
... that, with the exception of the Psalms for the ... Thus, his words expressed what his
attitude indicated; and both were the expression, not of thankfulness, but of ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xix the three last.htm

Man's True Treasure in God
... here (as in common conversation it is often expressed) by the ... for souls, is also
one of the psalms which has ... able to look at the past with thankfulness, nor at ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/mans true treasure in god.htm

A Practical Discourse on Some Principles of Hymn-Singing
... an excuse as he that forbears from singing psalms because he ... JOY in the mind: such
JOY AND THANKFULNESS to God ... head of what is proper to be expressed, and we ...
/.../a practical discourse on some.htm

Introduction
... of John, then the Gospels, the Psalms, &c., as ... his affectionate auditors the conviction
expressed in the ... make the utmost effort to express his thankfulness. ...
/.../the epistle of paul to the philippians practically explained/introduction.htm

Resources
Why is giving thanks to God important? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? | GotQuestions.org

What should be the focus of Christians on Thanksgiving? | GotQuestions.org

Thankfulness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Thankfulness

Thankfulness of Hypocrites, Full of Boasting

Thankfulness: Abound in the Faith With

Thankfulness: Anna

Thankfulness: Come Before God With

Thankfulness: Commanded

Thankfulness: Daniel

Thankfulness: David

Thankfulness: Enjoined

Thankfulness: Exemplified

Thankfulness: Expressed in Psalms

Thankfulness: Habitually offer

Thankfulness: Jesus Set an Example of

Thankfulness: Jonah

Thankfulness: Levites

Thankfulness: Magnify God By

Thankfulness: Ministers Appointed to offer, in Public

Thankfulness: Naomi, to Boaz

Thankfulness: Offer Sacrifices of

Thankfulness: Paul

Thankfulness: Resolve to offer

Thankfulness: Saints Exhorted To

Thankfulness: Saul, to the Kenites

Thankfulness: should Always Accompany Praise

Thankfulness: should Always Accompany Prayer

Thankfulness: should be Accompanied by Intercession for Others

Thankfulness: should be offered for all People

Thankfulness: should be offered for all Things

Thankfulness: should be offered for Appointment to Spiritual Service

Thankfulness: should be offered for Christ's Power and Reign

Thankfulness: should be offered for Deliverance from Indwelling Sin, Through Christ

Thankfulness: should be offered for Faith Exhibited by Others

Thankfulness: should be offered for Love Exhibited by Others

Thankfulness: should be offered for the Conversion of Others

Thankfulness: should be offered for the Gift of Christ

Thankfulness: should be offered for the Goodness and Mercy of God

Thankfulness: should be offered for the Grace Bestowed on Others

Thankfulness: should be offered for the Nearness of God's Presence

Thankfulness: should be offered for the Reception and Effectual Working of the Word of God in Others

Thankfulness: should be offered for the Supply of Our Bodily Needs

Thankfulness: should be offered for the Triumph of the Gospel

Thankfulness: should be offered for the Zeal Exhibited by Others

Thankfulness: should be offered for Victory Over Death and the Grave

Thankfulness: should be offered for Willingness to offer Our Property for God's Service

Thankfulness: should be offered for Wisdom and Might

Thankfulness: should be offered in Everything

Thankfulness: should be offered in Private Worship

Thankfulness: should be offered in Public Worship

Thankfulness: should be offered in the Name of Christ

Thankfulness: should be offered: Always

Thankfulness: should be offered: As the Remembrance of God's Holiness

Thankfulness: should be offered: Before Receiving Food

Thankfulness: should be offered: On Behalf of God's Servants

Thankfulness: should be offered: Through Christ

Thankfulness: should be offered: To Christ

Thankfulness: should be offered: To God

Thankfulness: should be offered: Upon the Completion of Great Undertakings

Thankfulness: should Enter God's Gates With

Thankfulness: Simeon

Thankfulness: The Heavenly Host Engage In

Thankfulness: The Israelites, to Joshua

Thankfulness: The People of the Island of Melita (Malta), to Paul

Thankfulness: The Spies, to Rahab

Thankfulness: The Wicked Averse To

Thankfulness: To Barzillai

Thankfulness: To God of Abraham

Thankfulness: To God of Abraham's Servant (Eliezar)

Thankfulness: To God of David

Thankfulness: To God of Deborah

Thankfulness: To God of Eve

Thankfulness: To God of Hannah

Thankfulness: To God of Hiram

Thankfulness: To God of Isaac

Thankfulness: To God of Jacob

Thankfulness: To God of Jehoshaphat's Army

Thankfulness: To God of Jethro

Thankfulness: To God of Joseph

Thankfulness: To God of Leah

Thankfulness: To God of Lot

Thankfulness: To God of Melchizedek

Thankfulness: To God of Miriam

Thankfulness: To God of Moses

Thankfulness: To God of Noah

Thankfulness: To God of Rachel

Thankfulness: To God of Samuel

Thankfulness: To God of Sarah

Thankfulness: To God of the Jews

Thankfulness: To God of the Levites

Thankfulness: To God of the People of Israel

Thankfulness: To God of the Queen of Sheba

Thankfulness: To God of the Sailors

Thankfulness: To God of the Shepherds

Thankfulness: To God: Before Receiving Food, by Jesus

Thankfulness: To God: Blind Bartimaeus

Thankfulness: To God: One of the Ten Lepers Whom Jesus Healed

Thankfulness: To God: Paul

Thankfulness: To God: The Demon-Possessed Man Who Was Exorcized

Thankfulness: To God: The Lame Man Healed by Peter

Thankfulness: To God: The Man Who Was Paralyzed

Thankfulness: To God: The Roman Centurion for his Boy

Thankfulness: To God: The Woman Who Was Bent Over for Eighteen Years

Thankfulness: To Hanun

Thankfulness: To Onesiphorus

Thankfulness: To Phoebe

Thankfulness: To the Men of Jabesh-Gilead

Related Terms

Acceptable (48 Occurrences)

Accept (106 Occurrences)

Gratitude (6 Occurrences)

Insisting (5 Occurrences)

Firstfruits (37 Occurrences)

First-fruits (45 Occurrences)

Thanking (4 Occurrences)

Thankful (15 Occurrences)

Thankfully (2 Occurrences)

Thankless (1 Occurrence)

Encouragement (25 Occurrences)

Everywhere (53 Occurrences)

Excellent (52 Occurrences)

Denounced (3 Occurrences)

Partake (19 Occurrences)

Partaken (2 Occurrences)

Cherish (20 Occurrences)

Acknowledge (61 Occurrences)

Acceptation (2 Occurrences)

Assurance (16 Occurrences)

Sacrifice (300 Occurrences)

Slandered (8 Occurrences)

Thank (68 Occurrences)

Noble (61 Occurrences)

Always (186 Occurrences)

Grace (277 Occurrences)

Felix (11 Occurrences)

Calah (2 Occurrences)

Meal (288 Occurrences)

Thanks (151 Occurrences)

Places (610 Occurrences)

Intercession (12 Occurrences)

Offer (403 Occurrences)

Dial (2 Occurrences)

Abstinence (2 Occurrences)

Philippians (2 Occurrences)

Service (317 Occurrences)

Ahaz (42 Occurrences)

Eucharist

Supper (17 Occurrences)

Woman (4043 Occurrences)

Lord's (548 Occurrences)

Discomfiture (6 Occurrences)

Israel (27466 Occurrences)

Religion (23 Occurrences)

Thankfulness: Exemplified
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