Enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving in our countries is a day set apart annually to give thanks unto God for bountiful harvests and national mercies received and enjoyed. This act of our government is praiseworthy and has been adhered to by all of our churches even as we have agreed in Article sixtyseven of our Church Order. May it be upheld by all in our beloved country (D.V.) again this year. Oh, that our government, people, and churches would keep this day in the true spirit of thanksgiving.

It is our solemn calling and duty to do so. God Almighty who reigneth supreme in heaven and upon earth enjoins it upon everyone. The exhortation in Psalm 100, verses 1, 2 and 4, bids us to “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing.…Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His Name.” The Lord exhorts “All ye lands”— therefore, “our land” is also included.

The principle embodied in this psalm is praise. The manner is manifest that it should be done cheerfully or freely and readily. We must go into His courts before His presence to show our gratitude. It is not at the recreation stadiums and seasonable football games, nor in the kitchen preparing a feast for the belly, while neglecting to put in our appearance before God’s presence in the sanctuary. No, my friends, such conduct is a most ungrateful act before God, our bountiful Benefactor. How must we appear before His presence? Singing! Does this mean with vocal chords strained with music? Not at all! It implies a readiness, such a gratefulness of heart that we cheerfully or willingly (not grudgingly) gather ourselves within His gates and into His courts, there to thank Him and bless His name. For what? Because He is good!

“His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth from generation to generation” (verse 5). What is His truth? “The LORD He is God! it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves” (verse 3)—this is His truth. This magnifies God above all things and we are exhorted herein to take particular notice thereof. When we do observe this by His grace, then we are brought low at the feet of God as a worm and no man. Well, that is real thanksgiving. A sinful worm of the earth not worthy of the breath he inhales, yet blessed of God in His mercy and goodness, to know that God made us and not “we ourselves.” So, man is ever dependent upon God for everything. Every person then is dependent upon God. Should not we all then bless His name? Do not we all owe thanks unto God? Yes, we do.

Think upon His mercies and goodness. He grants us life instead of death, health instead of sickness; if we have an ailment, He yet extends our life in this day of grace. He gives us sound minds where others of our fellow-mortals are sorely afflicted in their minds. What makes us to differ? Only God’s goodness, not ours. He has fed us, clothed us, given us rain and sunshine, the seasons, the fruits of the field, bountiful harvests in our barns, fuel in our homes, (or His promise to supply it, which He will surely fulfil for everyone to whom He so promised). He has thus far granted peace as a nation; wherein do we differ from Ukraine, Lybia, Morocco, Syria, and other nations where death and destruction reign? Only God’s goodness, not ours. In the face of all our national sins and wickedness, and God’s judgments upon us in measure, as yet we still continue to harden our hearts and provoke Him to wrath. It is only His mercy that we are yet enjoying peace. Why are we privileged to worship with our children unhindered and without such dreadful fear of bombardment and persecution even unto death? Why are not our children blown to pieces at school by air raids? Why are our mothers and babes spared from such unmerciful murder? Surely because of God’s forbearance only.

Now look into the church in our countries. Is it not sorely divided into parties and bands? Where can one find love in exercise? Where does the church deny and crucify herself unto all manner of sin and wickedness? Where are the burning lights to be found? Where is the Truth today? Is it in the pulpit? No, it is trampled upon there and cast into the streets! Liars, talebearers, backbiters, false accusers are now claiming the seats which were at one time occupied by dear, humble, faithful, upright, sincere, childlike Godfearing servants. Why is there yet a remnant left that seeks after God? Because His mercy in Christ Jesus is everlasting. and His truth endureth to all generations. So it is, “the LORD! He is God!” and to Him belongeth all thanks for His mercy and truth.

Well, my friends, may the Lord lead us to Jesus, the Fountain of all sources from which we derive all our mercies. May the Spirit of the Lord humble us in holy gratitude before God for all His harvest blessings wherewith He has again stored our barns and our lives. Oh, that we might be granted eyes to see and hearts to realize our utter dependency upon Him for everything, and for our national mercies received because He is God and there is none else beside Him.

Manifold are our mercies if we could and would but count them. May we be so favored that we may name them one by one and be filled with amazement and holy adoration so that our hearts may truly rejoice and be glad in the Lord, bowing humbly before Him singing:

For gracious and good is the Lord,

His mercy to us never ends;

His faithfulness, true to His word,

Thro’ ages unending extends.

—Psalter 269:4

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