Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praises on the harp to our God, who covers the heavens with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the mountains. (Psalm 147:7-8)

Thanksgiving In Song

Music has been in the fabric of society since the beginning of time. A few generations removed from Adam and Eve, Moses tells of Jubal, the father of all those who play the harp and the flute. Laban rebukes Jacob for stealing away secretly before he could send him away with joy and songs, timbrel and harp. God created man to be filled with music and singing is the most natural part of that emotional, creative plan. Babies are attracted to music mimicking the tones in their infant dialect. Music is the staple of every culture, defined by its unique measure of melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre. It is no wonder God infused the use of music in worship.

One of the elements of music common in all men is the need to sing. The most original form of music comes when the voice fills the air with song. When Moses and the people saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt, they sang a song of deliverance for what God had done. Miriam the prophetess and sister of Moses, took the timbrel in her hand and answered with her own song. The Law of Moses admonished the people to sing praises to God. Music fills the pages of Holy writ. The book of Psalms is a volume of songs of thanksgiving, praise, and honor to God. Throughout the book, the joy of singing to the Lord is extolled over and over again.

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful. There are many ways to be grateful and show a heart of thanksgiving. The psalmist exhorts his readers to sing to the Lord with thanksgiving and to sing praises to God. Music is a vital part of daily thanksgiving. The Lord created the world, covered the heavens with clouds, and brought rain on the earth. Earth is filled with the glory of God as He covers it with grass, trees, oceans, rivers, and mountains. All the animals of the world find food provided by the hand of God. The sun rises each morning and the moon rules the night. Each star and heavenly body remains in its place according to the word of the Lord. Everything that makes a day is established by the will of God and man, the highest of creation, should sing thanksgiving to the Lord.

Singing is part of the spirit of Thanksgiving. There can be no greater joy than to gather with the people of God and enjoy the fellowship of song. The calendars of men have established the third Thursday of November as Thanksgiving and what a joyous day that can be. Singing thanksgiving can take place each day but the greatest thanksgiving song is found when the saints of God unite their voices together each first day of the week with glory to Jesus Christ, who brought salvation to a dying world. Thanksgiving becomes a lifetime of joy and thankfulness. Taking the songs of worship into the everyday activities of life changes the heart and lifts the spirit. Real thanksgiving springs from hearts filled with the music of the Divine. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving. Amen.