Title: Thanks and Praise
Contents
thanks and praise
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Israel begins farming as they enter Canaan after 40 years of living in the wilderness. Now, after cultivating and harvesting the first crop, put it in a basket and bring it to the priest to have the past history recite. Their past history was the history of God's salvation.
Deuteronomy 26:11 says, “You shall rejoice with the Levite and with the stranger who sojourns among you, because of all the blessings the LORD your God has given you and your household.” You have given us food to sustain our lives. It is the result of God's love for us.
Let's look at how the people of Israel thanked, praised, and rejoiced in God.
1. When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they proclaimed what God had done (1-4).
For the past 40 years, we have been led by manna, quail, pillar of fire, and cloud, but now we are told to bring the first grains from the first crops in the land of Canaan into a basket and bring it to the priest in the sanctuary to offer it. By giving the first grain to God, you acknowledge that this land belongs to God. It is undoubtedly a confession of faith.
2. The people confess God's work of salvation in front of the priests (verses 5-9).
The people brought grain and food and placed them before the priest. The priest again places the grain before the altar of the Lord God. And the people all recite it together. In particular, speaking this story in front of the priest is the background of the worship ceremony. We recite what our past history was like and how we got here.
First, I confess that my ancestors went down to Egypt (verses 5-6). But what happened? I was abused. I was bullied. I suffered from middle ground. I literally went through a painful time.
If we go down into the world, we are suffering. Tribulation. Returning is not joy and pleasure, but suffering.
Confess before God. When I went down into the world, it was a pain. That was a mistake for me. I was not grateful, and I was tormented by greater misfortune. Please make this confession of repentance. Please confess that you were not thankful for God's great gift.
Second, however, the Lord listened and brought them out of Egypt and gave them the Promised Land (vv. 7-9). God is the subject of the history of our family. Center. A family living with God in Australia is a history of ever-rising blessings. A family that gives thanks to God and serves God from the heart will be a turning point in a new history.
This is what the people confess before the priest.
3. The people shall worship and rejoice before God (verses 10-11). Verse 10 says, “Now, O LORD, I have brought the firstfruits of the land you have given me. You shall put it before the LORD your God and worship before the LORD your God.”
It is said that they not only worshiped with words, but brought the firstfruits of the first grain and worshiped before God. This is the concrete aspect of our religious life. Verse 11 says, “You shall rejoice with the Levite and with the stranger who sojourns among you, because of all the blessings the LORD your God has given you and your household.” He gives great blessings to those who worship God. Just as God gave the promised land to His people by grace, God has enriched us with His grace. Have you had these pleasurable experiences?
The God we believe in wants to give us happiness. You want to be blessed. We should thank God for that. Even in difficult times, I hope you will pray with thanksgiving. May you forgive and love. I hope that you will make sacrifices and serve with a happy heart, even if it is a narrow road. God will be more pleased with us. We hope that our faith will be abundant on this Thanksgiving Day.
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1. How do we believe in God now? What kind of God are you serving? As a God who always disciplines us, are we not serving in fear and terror?
How should I confess my faith in God?
2. God wants to give us happiness. When God blesses us, we should be thankful and forgiving and loving each other. At the cost of sacrificing, even if the path is narrow, we should serve with joy. So what should we do?