Thanksgiving

Read: Psalm 107: 1-3, 17-22

This psalm of thanksgiving represents a liturgy for joyful worshipers in the temple of Jerusalem. The congregation is gathered from everywhere. What the worshipers have in common is their experience of God’s deliverance from suffering. Their common name is the “redeemed,” freed from unbearable burden, perhaps released from the Babylonian captivity and returned to their home. There is also mention of examples of their afflictions: hunger and thirst, fate of prisoners, the suffering of the sick and dying, the hopeless situation of sailors in a monster storm.

All cried to the Lord, and God released them from their affliction. Their experience of freedom creates thanksgiving and praise, and the object of their prayers is God’s goodness and steadfast love. In fact, the Old Testament “steadfast love” describes the major character trait of God. The redeemed tell of God’s deeds with songs of joy.

Often we go through the motions of thanksgiving without having specific instances of God’s saving deeds in mind. Is there something like a generic thanksgiving prayer? Of course, it is difficult and time-consuming to trace God’s interactions in our lives. But there is always one specific event for which we should be thankful: God saving us through Christ’s cross and resurrection.

Prayer: Good God, let me always be thankful that you sent Christ for our redemption. Amen.

Manfred Hoffmann