Music has a unique way of staying with us. We so easily forget many things we are told, but the songs we sing stick in our minds throughout our whole lives – and beyond. No wonder when God’s people give thanks, it is often done in song. When King David finally brought the Ark of the Covenant – long a symbol of God’s presence with Israel – to Jerusalem, the occasion demanded “that thanksgiving be sung to the LORD” (1 Chr. 16:7 ESV). And the words that they sang – “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever” (1 Chr. 16:34) – echoed long after the celebration ended.
In the next generation, King Solomon brought the Ark into the newly built Temple – and it was the duty of the large contingent of musicians he assembled “to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD” (2 Chr. 5:13). Do you know what they sang? “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever” (2 Chr. 5:13). Then when God’s presence was witnessed that day, “all the people…bowed down with their faces on the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying ‘For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever’” (2 Chr. 7:3). Hearing those words sung supplied everyone with a way to tell God thank you.
And it stayed with them. A century later, an alliance of Judah’s enemies threatened to topple Jerusalem. Their good king Jehoshaphat’s response included placing singers before the army saying, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever” (2 Chr. 20:21). Even after Judah’s unfaithfulness in later centuries led them into exile, those rebuilding looked back to David’s directions, “And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, ‘For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel’” (Ezra 3:10-11).
As we enter our own season of celebration, consider the opportunity to likewise make the thanks you give stick. We won’t long remember the floats in a parade or who played football. Cherished family recipes will eventually fall into disuse. One day, most of our offspring will have forgotten our names. Yet, if we make a point of recognizing God as the recipient of our gratitude – if we read or, even better, sing these ancient words in our celebrations, then the thanks we give become part of something so much bigger and gain a legacy so much greater. While our posterity might know little about us, the way we give thanks now could help to ensure that they do at least know God. Know Him and thank Him: “for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.”
Explore more opportunities to tell God thank you through our series Enter with Thanksgiving.