Give Thanks • Psalm 136:1-3, 23-26 • Wednesday, November 26, 2025

The Heart of True Thanksgiving: Recognizing the Giver Behind Every Gift

When we gather around our tables this Thanksgiving, laden with turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, what truly fills our hearts? Is it merely gratitude for the meal before us, or does our thankfulness reach deeper—to the very source of all good things?

Psalm 136 presents us with a powerful refrain that echoes twenty-six times throughout its verses: "For his steadfast love endures forever." This repetition isn't accidental. It's meant to sink deep into our consciousness, to become the rhythm of our hearts, the foundation of our gratitude.

The Goodness of God: Our Starting Point

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good." These simple words carry profound weight. But what does it truly mean that God is good?

God's goodness isn't merely one attribute among many—it's the very essence of who He is. His nature contains no shadow, no evil, no malice. Everything that flows from God flows from pure goodness. This is a crucial distinction in our world today, where suffering and calamity often lead people to question God's character or even His existence.

Here's the truth we must grasp: all evil, everything that causes harm, does not originate from God. The source of evil is the adversary himself—the devil—who works tirelessly to make us doubt God's goodness, God's love, and even God's existence.

When calamity strikes, we face a test. Will we trust in the goodness of God even when circumstances seem to contradict it? God allows difficulties not because He delights in our pain, but because He desires to draw us closer to Himself, to strengthen our faith, to refine our trust.

The Only God: No Other Will Do

"Give thanks to the God of gods."

In our pluralistic society, we're constantly told that all paths lead to the same destination, that all gods are essentially the same. But Scripture speaks with crystal clarity: "I am God and there is no other" (Isaiah 45:22).

The God of the Bible declares His uniqueness not out of arrogance, but out of truth. He alone truly exists in the fullest sense. He alone is the "I AM"—the self-existent, eternal, unchanging One who spoke creation into being.

Recent events around the world remind us of the stark difference between the true God and false gods. When nearly 300 children are kidnapped from a Catholic school in Nigeria by those worshiping a false god, we see the devastating consequences of turning away from the One who is truly good.

Any being worshiped as God who is not the true God does not desire our good. This isn't about being judgmental—it's about recognizing reality. The stakes are eternal.

The Lord of Lords: Government Under God

"Give thanks to the Lord of lords."

We live in an era where governments increasingly see themselves as the ultimate authority, the provider of all needs, the arbiter of all truth. Yet Romans 13 reminds us that "there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God."

Government is a gift from God, designed to provide order, justice, and peace. But government is not God. When we resist legitimate governing authority, we resist what God has appointed. When we make government into God, we commit idolatry.

This doesn't mean blind obedience to every government action. It means recognizing that God established government for our good, and that our ultimate allegiance belongs to Him alone.

Remembered in Our Lowest State

Here's where thanksgiving becomes truly transformative: "It is he who remembered us in our lowest state."

What is our lowest state? It's not poverty, illness, or any earthly circumstance. Our lowest state is our condition as sinners, separated from God, destined for eternal death. We couldn't sink any lower than that.

But God remembered us. In our rebellion, our brokenness, our utter helplessness, God remembered us. And He didn't just send help—He sent Himself.

The Advent season, which begins soon after Thanksgiving, reminds us of this incredible truth. Jesus came into our world, taking on our lowest state. The eternal Son of God became a helpless infant, lived a perfect life in our place, and then suffered the punishment we deserved. He couldn't have gone lower.

Rescued from Our Foes

"And rescued us from our foes."

Our greatest enemies aren't political opponents, economic hardships, or health challenges. Our true foes are sin, death, and the power of the devil. These are the enemies that threaten not just our temporary comfort, but our eternal destiny.

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus conquered these foes completely. Sin's power is broken. Death's sting is removed. The devil's accusations are silenced. This is the rescue that matters most—the deliverance that changes everything.

The Daily Bread and the Eternal Gift

"He who gives food to all flesh."

Yes, God provides our physical needs. The turkey on our table, the roof over our heads, the clothes on our backs—these are all gifts from His hand. And we should be grateful for them.

But here's the question that should arrest us: Which is the greater gift? Food for the body or deliverance for the soul? Enjoyment of what goes in our mouths or eternal peace and joy forever?

The answer seems obvious, yet our lives often suggest we value the temporary over the eternal. We obsess over meal planning while neglecting spiritual nourishment. We stress about table settings while ignoring the state of our souls.

A Different Kind of Thanksgiving

True thanksgiving begins not with the gifts, but with the Giver. Before the first bite of turkey passes our lips, we should pause and recognize the greatest gift: God Himself.

"Give thanks FOR the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever."

Notice the change—not just thanks TO God, but thanks FOR God. We're grateful not merely for what He provides, but for who He is.

Thanksgiving isn't just a holiday. It's a heartbeat, a way of life, a constant recognition that through every high and every low, God has never left us. His steadfast love truly does endure forever.

This Thanksgiving, may our gratitude run deeper than the meal before us. May we thank God for His goodness, His uniqueness, His sovereignty, His remembrance of us, His rescue of us, and yes, His provision for us.

For His steadfast love endures forever.

(Content generated by PulpitAI from sermon transcript)