Sermon – “Appointed to Give Thanks”

So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. ² And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. ³ Then he distributed to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins.

⁴ And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the Lord God of Israel: ⁵ Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, and Obed-Edom: Jeiel with stringed instruments and harps, but Asaph made music with cymbals; ⁶ Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests regularly blew the trumpets before the ark of the covenant of God.

⁷ On that day David first delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren, to thank the Lord:

⁸ Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
⁹ Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
¹⁰ Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
¹¹ Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
¹² Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,

This morning outside of my message appointed to give thanks I found this just an amazing passage of scripture are going back to the Old Testament today 1st Chronicles Chapter 16 verses one through 12 hear the word of the Lord. So they brought the ark of God and set it in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God and when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings he blessed the people in the name of the Lord then he distributed to everyone of Israel both man and woman to everyone so good that to everyone every person a loaf of bread in a piece of meat and a cake of raisins how generous you know you talk you think about no church as we have in the past we’ve did food baskets around Thanksgiving to give to families.

We didn’t do it this year we’ve done some other things but you think about that everyone in Israel every man and woman he gave a piece of meat a cake of raisins a loaf of bread this was the the ultimate Thanksgiving. Basket giveaway everyone in Israel what a blessing because he was able to do it how generous when God blesses you bless others Amen

and he is talking of David King David and he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the Ark of the Lord to commemorate to thanks and to praise the Lord God of Israel so he appointed man of Levi to give thanks to God every day to give praise to the Lord. Ask the chief next to him Zachariah then jail summer mof judge he’ll match the tie up in lab but I’m not an obit eat I’m just evil with stringed instruments and harps but ask who made music with cymbals Ben anigh and the priest regularly blew the trumpets before the Ark of the Covenant of God there was the praise band they had stringed instruments they had symbols they had harps they had trumpets they were praising and worshipping the God of Heaven

what we should do every day in order that day. They did 1st to deliver the song into the hand of ask and his brother and to thank the Lord to give thanks to the Lord call upon His name make known his deeds among the people sing to him sing songs to him talk of his wonderous works glory in his name that the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord seek the Lord in His strength seek his face for evermore remember his marvelous works which he has done his wonders and his judgments and the judgments of his mouth may God and His blessings to the hearing and the reading of His Holy Word let us pray Heavenly Father we thank you and praise you for your wonderful works Father we thank you for your glorious presence in our lives toward each and every day we know that you’re with us that we know that your kingdom is come we know that your spirit is upon us and I pray your spirit or God would manifest itself today in this place that you would manifest yourself in our lives father that we would just give you the glory honor that you receive that you need to jurors are worthy of and father again just help us to be faithful to you help us to serve you up pray that your name will be lifted high today and father that we would go forth and bear witness of your glorious name in the glorious wonders of your works in Jesus name Amen you know whenever we remember the marvelous works of God Does it not cause us to give thanks.

It should cause us to give thanks What are some of his wonderous works on a Karen said name something you are thankful for but what is some of God’s wonderful wonderous works.

The Earth

is part of his wondrous works anything else.

The rain sunshine.

The church we spoke of the sun and the moon as part of his wondrous works all the creatures that have of the earth write the turtles when you think of all the things that God created

the food we eat yes gives us strength sustenance we couldn’t survive without it. Water we have so much to be thankful for

the clothes that we wear you know we think of Thanksgiving in all we we all want to make sure we are thankful that time but every day they’ve been appointed these to give thanks to the Lord every day we need to give thanks to be thankful every single day

there was a famous British poet

Rudyard Kipling

and he was a very famous writer back in his day and it said that he made a great deal of money at his trade a newspaper reporter came up to Roger one day and said Mr Kemp Ling I just read that somebody calculated that the money you make from your writings amounts to over $100.00 a word Nono an author and here is a plot of the haven’t had $100.00 for every word that are because I know how many thousands of words there are in our right but $100.00 a word Mr Kaplan raises eyebrows and said really he says I certainly wasn’t aware of that

the reporter cynically reached into his pocket and pulled out a $100.00 bill and gave it to kept playing and said Here is a $100.00 bill Mr Kaplan now you give me one of your $100.00 words

keping looked at the $100.00 bill for a moment he took it he folded it up and he put in his pocket and said thanks.

Ah and now a good one thanks is indeed a $100.00 word is it not but no it’s more like a $1000000.00 word. Thanks is a $1000000.00 word it is it is not probably spoken enough do we give thanks often enough

that’s a great example you know of any nation should be thankful to God and grateful for his goodness it is indeed the United States of America

and if any people in the United States of America should indeed be thankful it is Christians should we not be so thankful and give thanks you know as I was said in reading last night. As a poet when I’m old bibles it’s in a case it’s in one of the leather cases but as I was so looking around in the case I pulled out these little paper cut hands.

That the children at the Caribbean Christian school for the deaf gave to us all the way back I still had these and this Bible in 1996 we went there on a mission trip my family and I think there was 24 of us from Holy Cross Church but these children are meant to bring them but they signed their name on it and they put thank you on their you know to they was a so grateful you know that doesn’t do justice for the thankfulness that we was able to witness from those children they were so grateful that we came to help build their school when they were in the dorms of places they would live

and it just touched my heart on thing thanks to we say that enough do we truly have thankfulness in our hearts as often as we should and then I thought of another mission trip that I went on without the family after Hurricane Hugo. And we actually put a roof on a trailer for a couple and if you would have seen the tears in their eyes at the end of the week when we completed that job and their Thanks my friends thanks goes a long ways we have so much to be thankful for in our passage in 1st Chronicles David appointed men of the tribe of Levi to give thanks to commemorate

to commemorate means it isn’t a spell It is a special occasion it’s to be marked by an absurd to remind us of a significant significant can talk significant event well in this passage in this case David and to people were celebrating the return of the Ark of the Covenant

now this and the Ark had not been in Jerusalem for many years it was incurred job Jerome it had been there for a long time David and the people they were busy about building their houses David was billions Palace they’d neglected the ark

that symbolizes that they neglected the relationship with God because they were too busy about living their lives and not going and getting the ark and bringing it back where I belong because what does the ark represent the presence of God It is the presence of God when New York is in the temple the presence of God is there

so they were neglecting God but now they if you will came to their senses they brought the Ork back and they were celebrating they were thankful to have God’s presence but AK in the tabernacle.

When he brought it back this was actually his 2nd attempt because a few months earlier they went to bring the Ark back.

Look at the name so David either by ignorance or he just took it upon himself to do it the way he wanted to do it in his 1st attempt to bring the Ark back they placed it on a court

that’s not the way God instructed that the ark would be carried and transported from one location to another the ark had loops in had poles and God gave very specific instructions to how the ark was to be carried and transported with the Poles inserted a man only each corner care in New York David says now we’re going to put in a cart so when it came to the threshing floor charred Don’s threshing floor Souza reached out to try to grab it so that it wouldn’t fall he was struck dead.

Now you think with that’s cruel No it’s not our God is a holy God and expects us to follow his instructions if he just let it slide then it makes him not the holy God that he is

he gives us the instructions to follow are we faithful Souza was struck dead because he touched it so for 3 months David said take the ark to Obit Edam don’t bring it here but 3 months later says Ok I’m ready we’re forgive me for doing this the wrong way the 1st time so a brings the orc in the ark is

God’s presence what was in the ark

when the ark was the tablets that the 10 Commandments were written on that God gave the most it’s all Mt Sinai

so whenever they had the ark they always always had rather the priest written there they had the symbolism of the law which is God’s present that God gave to us. They also had in their demand a jar of the manna that God provided for the children of Israel while they wandered in the desert for 40 years if you remember if you’ve ever read the story when they 1st came out of Egypt and they’re wandering they’re complaining they’re like What are we going to eat remember there’s over a 1000000 of them what are we going to aide was who would like to go back to Egypt and have some of that stew that I had while I was there but God provided manna for them for 40 years so God provides for us a constant provision comes from God

always Aaron’s rod was in there

remember the story that Rod was a rod it’s a dead stick

just you know my potato it’s a dead stick it’s a piece of wood but it bloomed

so it represents life God can take these old dead lives and make us Bloom give us life can you not just

you know we think of all the things that God has done

and you think of David a point to men to give thanks to praise God It helps us understand my friends that it’s not just the material things that we want to praise God for and thank him for I know we sang that song count your blessings count your blessings name them one by one

and that’s not a bad thing is a wonderful thing I am blessed with so many things we’re blessed with family we’re all thankful for family we’re thankful for the homes that we have a place to stay warm with thankful for clothes to wear We’re thankful for our vehicles to drive we’re thankful for a job we can go I could go on and on counter blessings we can be able to clock me just name a bus and right but number one on that list of our blessings that we thank him for is his presence.

That’s what they were celebrating that’s what they were thankful for God was back my friends that should be number one on our lists every single day Father thank you thank you for your presence thank you for your Holy Spirit Soames 461 says God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble a very present help he is still a present help today

God wanted to make shoot a David one to make sure that God was receiving the thanks that he deserves the Apostle Paul made sure that the New Testament church understood that we were to give thanks also and 1st that someone Ians 516 to 18 he said Rejoice always

pray without ceasing in every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you I know I’ve heard some people say I just wish I knew what God’s will was for my life I just don’t know what God’s plan is what God’s will is why I can tell you one thing that I know for certain that it is we just read it in every thing give thanks for this is the will of God

It is God’s will that you give facts in every thing not know that this is something that some believe or struggle with what do you mean this God want me to give thanks because I just wrecked my car last week and I totaled it and now I don’t have transportation

do you expect me to give thanks because of that that bad report I just heard from the doctor well how can I give thanks whenever the bills add up to more than what my paycheck that just came this week

well he says give thanks in everything. Give thanks in everything because he will make a way where there seems to be no way trust in him I thought about trust last week trust him give thanks with we do I not rejoice because of that but give thanks in all things not for all things but in all things find a way to give thanks trust that he is in control that he can work things out the said to the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness wondering how are we going to survive but God made a way

if Asians 517221 says therefore do not be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is and do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation but be filled with the speared speaking to one another in Psalms and hands and spiritual songs singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ submitting to one another in the fear the Lord so it doesn’t say just give thanks for some things but give thanks for all things

it is impossible friends to give thanks if we do not have a grateful heart

we must have a grateful heart

a grateful person is a happier person a grateful person is a healthier person a grateful parson is a holier person because we know to whom our gratefulness is directed and is to Lord our God it’s not just good advice it’s not an option to be grateful and to be thankful it is commanded

Leviticus $2229.00 says Nyssa to move in translation the most of us at that one

when you bring a Thanksgiving offering to the Lord sacrifice it properly so you will be accepted.

And when I read that I thought of Cain and Abel

you know when you read the account of Cain and Abel we know that Cain brought his offering to the Lord his grain offering to the Lord it was not accepted by God But Abel brought his in it was accepted we know that jealousy is what led to Cain killing Abel but when you read that is says came brought some of the grain before the Lord as an offering but when he speaks of Abel’s offering Abel brought up the 1st fruit of the flock the 1st born brother of the flock so if Cain would have brought the 1st in the best before God It would have been accepted but more importantly it was a matter of the heart see Abel was grateful he was thankful to God for which he provided that he brought in the best Cain was not grateful so we need to bring our thanksgiving to God with a right heart bring our offering what is our offering what is our sacrifice a broken and contrary heart is what God desires so let’s be thankful and grateful to him Thanksgiving we celebrate it every year

for just read some of this it’s history

and this is from Peter Marshall and David manuals accounts of the pilgrims initiating Thanksgiving during the fall of $1621.00 and this is from the book entitled The light in the glory tell us how the pilgrims at Plymouth Rock endure to extreme hardship to pioneer a new plan 3 long months at sea the Mayflower and a brutal winter left them ragged Mao nourished subsets the bull to disease during their 1st 4 months that that winter nearly half of the immigrants had succumb to illness and died under the harsh strains of the Barren lifestyle.

The pilgrims daily existence was a life or death battle to overcome constant hunger sickness and exposure to the elements crudely assemble houses made of mud were their only shelter from the icy New England winners

because they were not yet knowledgeable about their new environment where the agriculture the planning of gardens the hostile conditions proved to be virtually fruitless every meal was portioned out meticulously The death toll was a constant reminder of their fraudulency and at one point only 5 men were well enough to care for the sick despite their tribulations to pilgrims thank the Lord every day was petitioning him for rehabilitation and one morning during an ordinary worship service the Lord sent tangible evidence that he had heard their prayers their church service was interrupted by an unexpected guest an Algonquin Indian chief who assessed her hopeless situation and returned with a helper name Squanto the pilgrims. Who had bored with the endurance before and lived with a continuous fear of being attacked by them were standing by their new friend’s eagerness to provide much needed assistance Squanto a Patuxent Indian who spoke English taught the pilgrims how to hunt again to trap to plant corn a staple that would eventually save their lives when the harvest you wanted more than the pilgrims could eat Governor William Bradford elected their elected leader declared a day of public thanksgiving he invited the chief of a friendly neighbor and Indian tribe to join their joint or tribute of Thanksgiving the Pilgrims were excited to celebrate with their honored guest but were completely shocked when they arrived with 90 other Indians although go although God had provided abundantly their food supply would not accommodate a group of this size they had no idea how they were going to feed the visitors despite their quandary all worries were soon to managed to their amazement the ever increasing increasing thankfulness the Indians had brought with them 5 dress diers 12 fat turkeys over time they taught the women how to make putting maple syrup which is an Indian delicacy or no the popcorn is the Indian delicacy but the pilgrims trials were far from finished their plentiful autumn was followed by a particularly treacherous winner unfortunately the weather proved to be the least of their elements in November a ship called the fortune dropped anchor in the harbor and aboard the ship were $35.00 more columnist who brought with them no provisions of food no extra clothing no equipment for survival. Additionally the oppression of the physical environment had become almost unbearable after 12 a 12 week drought dried up their crops and where they were speared the newcomers arrived had drained the already inadequate food rations and there were no obvious resources for sustenance at their lowest point the pilgrims reduced to a daily ration of 5 kernels of corn apiece in utter desperation he fell through the knees and prayed for 8 hours without ceasing

5 kernels of corn could you still give thanks

They did God heard their supplications 14 days of rain followed a 2nd day of Thanksgiving was declared than they once again celebrated with their friends

we need to teach our children to give thanks teach our children to have a grateful heart

Romans 1823 says for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness because what may be known of God is manifest in them for God to shown it to them for since the creation of the world his invisible attributes are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even as eternal power and Godhead so that we are without excuse because although they knew God they did not glorify Him as God nor were thankful but became futile wonder thoughts and their fully hearts were dark and professing to be wise they became fully and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man and birds and 4 footed animals and creeping things we have to give God the glory we have to give him praise when we praise Him we are given him thanks. There were some that knew God but yet they were not thankful we need to be thankful if we’re down to 5 kernels of corn Let’s thank him let’s praise him

thank him for his presence in our lives David gave thanks for the return of the Ark We need to give thanks to God for His presence in our lives every day to His Holy Spirit I want to read one more modern day example

of giving thanks to God in times of

great trials

during the dark days of 1929 a group of ministers in North in the north east all graduates of the Boston School of Theology gathered to discuss how they should conduct their Thanksgiving Sunday service things were as bad as bad as they could possibly get with no sign of relief the bread lines were desperately long the stock market plummeted and the term Great Depression seemed I’m apt description for the mood of the country the ministers thought that they should only lightly touch on the subject of Thanksgiving indifference to the human misery all about them after all what was there to be thankful for but it was Dr William Steiger pastor of a large congregation in the city that rallied to group

this is not the time he suggested to give mere passing mention of Thanksgiving is just the opposite this is a time for the nation to get matters of perspective and thank God for the blessings that are always present but perhaps suppressed due to the intense hardship

the ministers struck upon something the most interesting moments of thankfulness are not found in times of plenty

but they are found when difficult Tom times abound

their gratitude is not to be for something but someone

friends are we there yet. Are we there when our thankfulness is not about the something

but someone

namely God

the Father Son and Holy Spirit

is that enough

I pray that it is

I pray that we when we sit down at Thanksgiving dinner

I mean we often would do that name something you’re thankful for I pray that God’s number one on that list

because God loves us He wants a relationship with us he wants to be number one with us he wants to commune with us

he wants us to love him not for the things that he gives us but for who he is

for who he is and what he has done

that he has provided salvation that he has made a way that we can be reconciled with him that relationship was broken in the very beginning without him in a it was broken but God has made a way to restore that and that way of restoration is only through His Son Jesus Christ and the

cost that he paid on Calvary

that is the restoration

that is reason to give thanks to be thankful that we can be stored and have God’s presence in our lives today in every day and every day my friends please give thanks if Thanks to God

for him not the things I meant.