Come ye thankful people, come
Raise the song of harvest home
All is safely gathered in
Ere the winter storms begin
God our maker doeth provide
For our wants to be supplied
Come to God’s own temple, come
Raise the song of harvest home.
Well, that’s a good Thanksgiving hymn for your, huh? Happy Thanksgiving Day, friends.
You know Psalm 84 is a wonderful Scripture for Thanksgiving Day. It says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in You!”
I learned those verses from Psalm 84 when I was a teenager. And I tell you I really delighted in that thought that “No good thing does he withhold.” The way I figured it, all I needed to do was just finish my homework, complete my chores, keep myself from spats with my sisters, be nice to Aunt Kitty, go to church, say my prayers… and… and…. I assumed that if I kept my nose clean, God would then give me then good grades, good friends, a good college to attend, and good knees to last me through field hockey season. We think that if we are obedient, God will give us financial blessings or at least trials that can be easily managed. If we do our part, God will dole out the good. Won’t he?
Well, on Thanksgiving Day it might be helpful to remember that sometimes our idea of “good” might be a little different from God’s. So how do we read Psalm 84 from His perspective? Well, if our walk is blameless, God will not withhold peace. He will not withhold virtue or faith or courage. He will give grace when we come to him in need. We will be able to run spiritually and not grow weary; we’ll be able to walk in faith and not faint. He won’t withhold opportunities to sow his seed, to shine his light, and to shake salt into our thirsty world. He will give patience; he’ll give endurance or he’ll give the favor of his nearness and sweetness. He will not withhold any gift, especially the gift of heaven-sent joy. None of these things will he hold back from those whose walk is upright. And that, my friend, are reasons enough to give praise and thanksgiving to God on this special day – for truly, no good thing – all that peace and joy and virtue and courage and faith – no good thing has He withheld.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 93176
© Joni and Friends