11.23.2025 | Why Thanksgiving? - Pastor McLean Faw
WHY THANKSGIVING?
Psalm 100:1-3 (NKJV) - Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Psalm 100:4-5 (NKJV) - Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.
Todah – A sacrifice of thanksgiving
Daniel 6:10 (NKJV) – Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
Jonah 2:9a (NKJV) – But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving.
Word from the Lord, “Begin to thank Me for the completion of this building.”
Psalm 100 gives us a Divine protocol for approaching the King of Kings!
Psalm 100:1 (NLT) – Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Psalm 100:2 (NLT) – Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before Him, singing with joy.
Psalm 100:3a (NIV) – Know that the Lord is God!
Psalm 100:4a (NIV) – Enter His gates with thanksgiving. (Todah – a sacrifice of thanksgiving)
Psalm 100:4b (NIV) – And His courts with Praise. (Tehilla – praising God with spiritual songs)
Psalm 100:4c (NKJV) - Be thankful to Him. (Yadah – Praise God with hands lifted up)
Psalm 100:4d (NKJV) - And bless His name. (Barak – Praise God on bended knee)
Psalm 100:5 then gives us three reasons to be thankful:
Psalm 100:5 (NKJV) – For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.
1. BE THANKFUL BECAUSE THE LORD IS GOOD!
Psalm 100:5a (NKJV) – For the Lord is good.
Psalm 107:1 (NKJV) – Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
2 Chronicles 5:13b (NKJV) – For He is good, for His mercy endures forever.
Romans 8:28 (NKJV) – And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV) - Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
2. BE THANKFUL BECAUSE THE LORD IS FULL OF MERCY AND STEADFAST LOVE
Psalm 100:5b (NKJV) – His mercy is everlasting.
Psalm 100:5b (NLT) – His unfailing love continues forever.
Psalm 100:5b (ESV) – His steadfast love endures forever.
Hesed – Kindness, mercy, steadfast love, covenant love, loyal love.
Hesed is a love that flows out of covenant and commitment.
Psalm 63:3 (NKJV) – Because Your lovingkindness is better than life.
Isaiah 54:10 (NLT) – “For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then My faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the LORD who has mercy on you.
3. BE THANKFUL BECAUSE THE LORD IS FAITHFUL AND TRUE
Psalm 100:5c (NKJV) – And His truth endures to all generations.
John 17:17b (NKJV) – Your word is truth.
Psalm 100:5c (NLT) – And His faithfulness continues to each generation.
2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV) – For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
Joshua 21:45 (NKJV) – Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.
Psalm 138:8 (NKJV) – The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever.
Psalm 100:3a (NKJV) – Know that the LORD, He is God.
Psalm 100:3c (NKJV) – We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Discussion Questions
1. Can you share a time in your life when you lifted up to the Lord a sacrifice of thanksgiving? What happened after you did that?
2. As you read through Psalm 100, is there a verse or phrase that speaks to you the most? What do you sense the Lord is saying to you? Why is He highlighting that verse or phrase?
3. How do you respond when the enemy tries to put doubts in your mind about the goodness of God?
4. What are some of the ways the Lord has shown His faithfulness to you and your loved ones?
5. As you think about the steadfast love of the Lord, how would the Holy Spirit want to help you grow in love to those around you?