A God-Glorifying Thanksgiving

Psalm 116 is a psalm of David which was written toward the end of his life. It was written when, because of his own guilt, he was banished from the temple and fleeing from his son Absalom. In that fleeing he became so low before God that when the enemy cursed him, David could say, “Let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.” The Lord did look upon His servant. It went through a deep way, for Absalom his son lost his life upon the battlefield. David came back to his home where, once again, he could go up to God’s house. There, a broken, humbled man was given true thanksgiving. “What shall I render unto the LORD for all His benefits?”

Here we see a man who does not know what to do with all of the goodness of the Lord. What a wonder when one may have Thanksgiving as a broken, humbled person. There is never any good in me, but He, my God, is worthy to receive all honor and glory. “What shall I render unto the LORD?”

In looking back upon the season which has passed, we see that it was the Lord who extended the day of grace for each one of us. It was the Lord who blessed our families so that there was food and clothing in abundance. It was the Lord who spared our lives when the pandemic raced through our country and communities. Many lives were taken, but we were spared. May you also say today, “What shall I render unto the LORD” for my restless heart which cannot miss the Lord anymore; for desires that cling to His throne of mercy and to have Him say in my heart that the way outside of me is open unto Christ? Is there longing to come into that spiritual ark and hear Him say, “Come unto the blood, unto the saving of your soul”? Oh, I want to hear my Saviour say once again, “I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands.” I want to approach God to thank Him in a right way.

Does David really not know what to do with all the goodness of his God? Oh yes, by the grace of God he may know what he wants to do. David says, “I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.”

In our Bible the Lord speaks about the cup in different ways and at different times. There is the cup of suffering which Christ took in His holy hands. That cup was filled to the brim with our sins. When Christ took that cup in His hands, the precious Saviour was overcome by its awful contens, and He prayed, “Father, let this cup pass from Me, but not My will, but Thy will be done.” It was the Father’s will that the Mediator would empty that cup of salvation for all of God’s children. It is as if David says, “I will take that cup and praise the name of my God for the wonder of His grace.” With my empty hand will I take it up and taste the wonder of salvation obtained by Him who forever will be my Lord and Saviour. He may call upon the name of the Lord with the cup in his hand to draw near to the Lord.

Is there ever a time for God’s children when they may draw near to the Lord—when they may bow before Him in holy adoration and call upon His name, and they may hear that the Lord will hear them because of Him who emptied that cup of sorrows? He is able to speak to my soul that He is my God for time and eternity.

The season is passed; do you know of that cup of salvation? May you lift it up with empty hands and a hungering heart? Now, do you want a Thanksgiving which ends in the Lord? “I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all His people.” Here we find a guilty, unworthy sinner but one who lies for God’s account. I will pay those vows because my Saviour paid for me, and God is satisfied with that offer. What a blessing if your Thanksgiving Day may be, “I will take up the cup of salvation and bring to the Lord what belongs to Him, a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and deep sorrow for the greatest blessing of all—the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ.”

Here the devil has nothing to say, and the world makes no demands. Here a child of God may stand among all of God’s children and vow unto the Lord that He is my God for time and eternity. It is not because of anything in me, but because He came to seek a miserable rebel, one who never sought Him.

We do not know what the past season has been for you, but we do know that the greatest riches are those which make us poor and needy at the throne of a wonder-doing God. It is hoped that your Thanksgiving may be a day where you may lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord, a God who has never sent away any of these beggars.

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