The Thanksgiving Song

Psalm 30:4 says, “Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”

No one likes a complainer or a grumbler. When I find myself doing either, I finally realize how it must sound to others. When I try to keep my mouth shut and hold it within, I realize that, “…as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). I also know that Jesus knows what is in a man (John 2:24-25). Complaining in our heart is unpleasant to the Holy Spirit. I don’t know if He wants to walk with a complainer. That’s enough for the negative side.

One day I was driving my father-in-law’s tractor. It did not have a cab. It was a beautiful day—no dust, the temperature was pleasant, a cool breeze blew gently on my face. It was morning—a beautiful morning. Without a care in the world, I found myself singing songs to the Lord. The sound of the engine provided a perfect accompaniment. Maybe you have experienced something similar singing in the shower. When I came in for lunch, my father-in-law commented that he loved to hear the men sing when they were running the equipment. 

Imagine how God must love to hear His children sing. In our text, David calls the saints to sing unto the Lord. The song of the saints is a holy song. The song, “Worried Man Blues” starts out with, “It takes a worried man to sing a worried song.” (No one knows the origin of this tune. It is considered folklore—some think African folklore.) To sing a holy song from the heart to God, who knows the heart, it takes a holy man.

Yes, David called the saints to sing. He gave them the topic—thanksgiving! This thanksgiving was to spring from remembering God’s holiness. Let’s look at what David was thankful to God for in Psalm 30.

1. For saving him from his enemies
2. For healing
3. For sparing him from death
4. For sparing him from God's anger
5. For deliverance from weeping in the night, to joy in the morning
6. For deliverance from pride
7. For God's help
8. For changing his mourning to dancing
9. For taking away his sackcloth
10.  For clothing him with gladness

When we turn our hearts and minds toward God, there is much to be thankful for. Not only is God holy, He wants holiness for us. He has provided for it at the cross and Pentecost. It could be called the old-time religion, but it doesn’t have to be “old-time.” It still is good today. When the holy man remembers his holiness, he cries, “Thank you, Jesus!”

The chorus to “Holiness Unto the Lord,” by Lelia Morris, goes: “Holiness unto the Lord is our watch, word, and song; Holiness unto the Lord as we’re marching along. Sing it, shout it, loud and long; Holiness unto the Lord now and forever.” This Thanksgiving let our hearts sing the Thanksgiving Song!