Thanksgiving: A Look Back

A few years ago I did a little bit of research about Thanksgiving and found out some interesting facts. Thanksgiving, as a national holiday, began with Abraham Lincoln in 1863, right in the midst of the Civil War. Take a look at some of his words in his Thanksgiving proclamation:

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity...

...No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

Wow. Such powerful words. They overwhelm me with their passionate and timeless truth. Oh how relevant they still are today.

If we look back even further (about 1800 years further:), we read similar truths regarding thanks-giving.

Written by Paul during a time of persecution for Christians:

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18, ESV)

Written by Paul from house arrest in Rome:

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6, ESV)

And going back even further than that, here are some words written by David during a time when he was fighting for his life:

I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High. (Psalm 7:17, ESV)

So wherever we find ourselves today, whether we’re in the middle of a war or on the other side of one, may we all give God the thanks that is due Him. And may we understand how much importance and power there is in our thanksgiving.