David Bahn – Reflections

Pastor Stephen DeMik preached on giving thanks several years ago at St. John. I was impressed by his message – especially the point he made about giving thanks to God. In other words, it’s not enough simply to be thankful, we need to remember to whom we are to be thankful.

In these few verses we learn specifically who that God is: YHWH, (printed in English in all caps, as “the LORD,” and standing for the Hebrew יהוה {Yod, He, Waw, He}). This is the sacred holy name for God. Not only that, however, it is the personal name of God. It’s the name God revealed to Moses when he sent him to Egypt to free his people from Pharaoh. God has a name. He can be known. Today we call God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the three persons of the Holy Trinity. And Christians will want to name Jesus by name in their prayers of thanks.

I like, also, to remember the cause for thanksgiving. Years ago we offered people the opportunity to express thanks for the things they could touch, see, taste, feel, and smell. The list of things was delightful and enriching. There are so many things for which we must be thankful. List 10 or 25 or 50 today. But the initial reason offered here is because God is good. And because God is good, he has redeemed us. From far and wide, east, west, north, and south, we have been redeemed and brought near to God.

God is good all the time. He is the one rock of life and salvation. We may weave and wander. We may stumble and fall. But God is good all the time. All the time, God is good. Never wavering. Never slumbering. Always steady and true. And in his goodness and grace he has purchased and won us through Jesus’ death and resurrection. We belong to him. We have been saved. We are his – now and forever.

On this Thanksgiving day, thank God for his redemption, grace, and goodness and all the gifts you enjoy – all by his goodness and grace. All the time. Thanks be to God! In Jesus’ name. Amen.