A National Day of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Proclamation: Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor — and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be — That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks — for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation — for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war — for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed — for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted — for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually — to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed — to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord—To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us — and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789. – George Washington
In the last psalm, Psalm 20 we saw the nation of Israel preparing to defend itself in war by calling on the Lord God in a National Day of Prayer. All the people joined together with the Priests to implore the Lord God to protect, support, answer, and remember the King, granting him victory as he defended the nation.
Just as George Washington and subsequent Presidents have called for days of National Thanksgiving to praise God for his faithfulness and protection, so too, Psalm 21 shows us the Liturgy for National Day of Thanksgiving. God had answered the prayer of Psalm 20. King David was victorious and here all the people and Priests again gather, this time to thank God for answering their prayer. First, the people give thanks for the past victory, then the Priest instructs the people as to why the King was victorious, understanding the Priest’s message, next the people fully trusting in God, give thanks for future victories, the Psalm concludes with the people and Priest praising God in unison.
| Psalm 21 For the director of music. A psalm of David. |
A National Day of Thanksgiving |
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1 The king rejoices in your strength, Lord. 2 You have granted him his heart’s desire and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. |
1. A Nation’s Thanksgiving for the Past Victory
Notice how the Prayer of the Nation in Psalm20 was specifically answered! God granted the King’s hearts desire. God granted the King’s requests. The King’s life was protected. God, did send help from His sanctuary. And Victory was granted. So now the Nation has gathered in the Sanctuary for a Day of Thanksgiving, joyfully lifting banners high to the Lord God, their Savior and protector. |
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7 For the king trusts in the Lord;
he will not be shaken. |
2. The Priest Explains the Reason for Victory
In Psalm 20 the Priest had warned the King, don’t trust in the strength of your army, rather trust in God. Here the Priest explains that the King did, indeed, trust in the Lord. God’s unfailing love kept the King unshaken. |
| 8 Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes. 9 When you appear for battle, you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace. The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and his fire will consume them. 10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind. 11 Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed. 12 You will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow. |
3. A Nation’s Thanksgiving for a Secure Future The Liturgy moves from God’s Past faithfulness, to the King’s Present obedience, to the people’s hope for the Future.
There seems to be no end to the people who will “plot evil” “and devise wicked schemes”, but here’s the thing, because we can clearly see that God has been faithful to his people, to us, in the past, we can live with the assurance that God will be faithful in our future.
In fact, when God shows up to defend His children, the wicked “turn their back.” In other words, they turn tail and run away when the Lord draws His bow and takes aim! |
| 13 Be exalted in your strength, Lord;
we will sing and praise your might. |
4. The Nation Praises God We sing and praise our Almighty God! |
Because Our God is faithful and true, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, we know that He holds our future securely, as securely as He held King David when he defended his nation.
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him.’” – Lamentations 3:22-24
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee,
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not,
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above;
Join with all nature in manifold witness,
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.
Thomas Chisholm
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead.” – Ephesians 1:18-20
Does seeing God’s great, incomparable power, as displayed on your behalf in the past, give you hope for the future?
By Richard Loper
Hymn – Great is Thy Faithfulness
Return to “The Psalms”