Psalm 107:8-9 “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.” NKJV
When my children were growing up they participated in a co-op class on etiquette. That class was taught by Mrs. Icky. The kids would all chuckle that Mrs. Icky was teaching etiquette. Etiquette according to the dictionary is “the
customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group.” Besides the proper tableware placement for a formal dinner they learned about politeness, like holding the door open for people and saying thank you. John Piper once said: Kind people often say, “Thank you,” even where it is unnecessary. Even in places where goods are being fairly traded, value for value, we often say, “Thank you.”
Polite society behaves this way, which often leads a society to behave thankfully, with etiquette, without any real experience of gratitude. I often feel that our thanksgiving is merely a platitude based on social norms and maybe we as a people have lost our ability to have true gratitude. I wonder sometimes if we are merely giving lip service to God in our thanks to him much as we do in our common etiquette to a complete stranger for holding the door open for us. The Psalmist here writes in Psalm 107 “Oh that men would give thanks to the Lord…” Can you hear the sigh in his voice? Can you hear how he has seen the giving of thanks in his society become mere commonality void of any real gratitude towards the Lord. My friend, could this be describing you today? Maybe that is the best you can muster in a life where you maybe don’t feel like you have experienced the “goodness of the Lord” that the Psalmist here describes. He writes in verse 9 that God satisfies the longing soul. Perhaps your soul is still longing and you have yet to feel satisfied. Perhaps your soul is still longing and unsatisfied because those things you pursue with the intent to satisfy you can never truly satisfy. You were created by God, made in His image, and made for His glory, anything less will leave us all wanting. It is only in our relationship with Jesus
Christ can we ever truly be satisfied. Grace leads to Gratitude. Grace freely given over 2000 years ago on a brutal wooden cross. Grace where one pure and holy and completely righteous freely gave His life to ransom you and me. My friend, only that grace can satisfy your longing heart. This Thanksgiving we will go through a lot of bread for stuffing, perhaps you will too. God says in Isaiah 55:2 “Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy?” Jesus is the very bread of life, only He can satisfy. As we come to this Thanksgiving holiday I pray you will enjoy the food and family but that you would find your satisfaction in Christ alone. Giving thanks to the Lord, for He is good.
