Thanksgiving in the Bible
by Owen Borville
November 21, 2018
Bible
Thanksgiving is found throughout the Biblical scripture during times of joy and praise of great events and this modern celebration has its roots in the Bible.
One recording of thanksgiving in the Bible is when the Jewish nation rebuilt its holy temple that had originally been built by Solomon. The original temple was destroyed in the 6th century B.C. by the Babylonians and was allowed to be rebuilt under the rule of the Persians. The Book of Ezra describes the rebuilding of the new temple:
When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David king of Israel. With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: “He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.” (Ezra 3:10-11)
The walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt by Nehemiah in the 5th century B.C. following the destruction of the city, as the Book of Nehemiah (11:17) explains: Mattaniah son of Mika, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the director who led in thanksgiving and prayer.
The Book of Nehemiah also describes the celebration for the new wall of Jerusalem:
At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. (Nehemiah 12:27)
The Book of Psalms also discusses mentions thanksgiving several times, including Psalm 69:30, where we read: "I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving." In Psalm 95:2, we read: "Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." In Psalm 100:4, we read: "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."
The prophet Isaiah discusses thanksgiving for the nation of Israel: The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing. (Isaiah 51:3).
In the Book of Jeremiah 30:19, we read of the return of the people of Israel and restoration of their homeland as they were led Israel to repentance from their idolatrous practices: From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honor, and they will not be disdained.
The Apostle Paul also talks about thanksgiving in his letters to the Corinthians:
I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. (1 Corinthians 1:4)
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:16)
...because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4:14-15)
Paul continues references to thanksgiving in the letters to the Philippians.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
by Owen Borville
November 21, 2018
Bible
Thanksgiving is found throughout the Biblical scripture during times of joy and praise of great events and this modern celebration has its roots in the Bible.
One recording of thanksgiving in the Bible is when the Jewish nation rebuilt its holy temple that had originally been built by Solomon. The original temple was destroyed in the 6th century B.C. by the Babylonians and was allowed to be rebuilt under the rule of the Persians. The Book of Ezra describes the rebuilding of the new temple:
When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David king of Israel. With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: “He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.” (Ezra 3:10-11)
The walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt by Nehemiah in the 5th century B.C. following the destruction of the city, as the Book of Nehemiah (11:17) explains: Mattaniah son of Mika, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the director who led in thanksgiving and prayer.
The Book of Nehemiah also describes the celebration for the new wall of Jerusalem:
At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. (Nehemiah 12:27)
The Book of Psalms also discusses mentions thanksgiving several times, including Psalm 69:30, where we read: "I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving." In Psalm 95:2, we read: "Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." In Psalm 100:4, we read: "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."
The prophet Isaiah discusses thanksgiving for the nation of Israel: The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing. (Isaiah 51:3).
In the Book of Jeremiah 30:19, we read of the return of the people of Israel and restoration of their homeland as they were led Israel to repentance from their idolatrous practices: From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honor, and they will not be disdained.
The Apostle Paul also talks about thanksgiving in his letters to the Corinthians:
I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. (1 Corinthians 1:4)
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:16)
...because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4:14-15)
Paul continues references to thanksgiving in the letters to the Philippians.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)