Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving, 2007: Psalm 68; Deuteronomy 5


May you have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!

Just a few comments on our Scriptures today. We must take note of the First Commandment:
“I am the LORD your God who, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
You shall have no other gods before me.”

Embedded in the Ten Commandments is this statement of truth and a reminder that before any “laws”, before even life-giving guidance and teaching are presented to the covenant people, God says he brought them out of the house of slavery. God redeemed them by grace, as a gift. It was not earned, it was not based on works. It was because God saw, heard, knew their cries and their suffering, and God remembered his covenant.

There is no other god who can save. To put any god before the LORD God would be to look to some other savior. This is why Martin Luther said the first commandment was the gospel. And also, that it is absolutely central because one doesn’t break any other commandment until one has broken this first one.

I think this is a good Thanksgiving theme; in fact, the Old Testament reading for Thanksgiving comes from Deuteronomy 8 and carries this theme of not forgetting who it is who saved them, fed them, led them, and brought them to this abundant land. The sentiment of the people, “speak to us all that the Lord our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it” (v. 27; Exodus 19:8; 24:7), carries this sense that God had saved them and led them out to himself so they committed to truly hearing and doing what God said.

There is much more to be said about Grace and Law, about Redemption and , about Faith and Works., but for today let us be thankful for all God has done for us. This is first. And let us give ourselves to doing and being all he calls us do in gratefulness and thanksgiving. To living out what he is working within – the new way, the new law, Jesus.

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
God settles the solitary in a home;
leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness,
the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
you restored your inheritance as it languished;
your flock found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
(Psalm 68:5-10)