“Oh, give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples!”
(1 Chronicles 16:8)
The countless hosts of angels, elders, and all living creatures who inhabit heaven continually do one thing, day and night – they give thanks, honor, and glory to God! (Rev. 4:6-11, 5:11-12, 7:11-12). Why? Because they behold Jehovah in all His glory. From their perspective, they are completely aware of His supremacy and magnificence. They understand the scope of who He is and what He has done. And like these heavenly beings, when God’s children get a clear understanding of the person and work of their Maker God, they also can do nothing less than give thanks, honor, and glory to Him!
Everything tends to the glory of God because everything God does is glorious. His glory is obvious in creation… “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork,” (Ps. 19:1). “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens,” (Ps. 8:1). His glory is evident in His governance of all things… “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,” (Isa. 46:10). And His glory is elevated in His work and plan of redemption… “Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15).
Praise and thanksgiving and adoration is not a favor we do for God. As a believer, it is our singular reason for living and breathing! This attitude of heart and practice of life is fully aligned with His divine will and purpose for us. “I created you for My glory. I formed you, I made you,” (Isa. 43:7). “But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you My power, so that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth,” (Exod. 9:16). “This people have I formed for Myself, they shall show forth My praise,” (Isa. 43:21).
Further, God’s people desire to magnify what God has done for them in Jesus Christ through thanksgiving and adoration. They find real joy in the glory of God. 2 Samuel 7:26 says, “Let Thy name be magnified forever,” (Ps. 76:1, 135:13, 147:13, Isa. 12:4). Thanksgiving and praise are native dialects of a child of God. And not just in the congregation of the saints, but to all the world. “Make known His deeds among the people. Show forth from day to day Your salvation. Declare His glory among the heathen,” (I Chron. 16:8, 23-24).
Are we thankful for our great and awesome God? Do we praise Him for who He is and what He has done?
God has revealed the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us through Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:4-10). Because He chose to reveal Himself to us… and to restore us to Himself through Jesus Christ… our heart should continually overflow with praise and thanksgiving to Him! This is our indispensable obligation – to praise, honor, and glorify His name, giving thanks always for who He is and what He has done!
- Lord, how might I be moved more often to praise You for Your great providence which brought salvation through Christ into the world? “Praise ye the LORD!!” (Psalm 105:45). Help my heart be moved to adore You more.
- The same beauties, perfections, and happiness which You enjoy in Yourself from eternity, You have made known in part to us. It is such a rich blessing to know the God of the universe, and to share in Your glory. Enlarge my heart for You that I might experience this glory more and more, and give greater thanks to You for revealing Yourself to me.
- Your rich mercy moved You to manifest Yourself to us that we might understand the glory due Your name. I am obliged to honor Your highness, for You did not leave me in darkness, as a heathen unacquainted with Your commandments. Rather, You have saved me through Christ that I might give You great praise in the world for what You have done.
- The work and worship of the Almighty, which I take in hand, is always more or less defiled. I do not praise You with thanksgiving as I should for the work of Christ. And even when I give You all the praise I can, Your excellencies are obscured because all my “righteousnesses are like filthy rags,” (Isaiah 64:6). Yet, I look to You in Christ that You would cover me by Your blood, and that Christ would, as Nehemiah 13:22 says, “pardon me according to your great mercies,” that I might be able to adore You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength in great thanksgiving.
Further References for 1 Chron. 16:8
Ps. 105:1; Isa. 12:4; 2 Kings 19:19; 1 Kings 8:43; Ps. 145:11-12
