Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! (Psalm 147:7).
In this season of Thanksgiving, it is helpful to consider what “thanksgiving” specifically is, in biblical terms. And in this verse we see at least three crucial elements to godly gratitude.
First, thanksgiving above all involves communication with God.
Twice the directive is given: “sing to the Lord” and “make melody to our God.”
We too often talk about God — or worse still, just “blessings” in general — without communing with God from our hearts. The God who gives us richly all things to enjoy, the God from whom every good gift comes, wants to see our appropriate response of gratitude directed to him as the Giver.
Second, biblical thanksgiving is worship.
There is a clear parallel in this verse between worshiping God in song and singing “with thanksgiving.”
Thanksgiving is praising God; it is acknowledging him as the source of all blessing.
True thanksgiving is only found where people are worshiping the one, true God. Everything else is just idolatry.
And so it is no accident that the psalmist writes, “Sing to the LORD.” Every time you see the word “LORD” in your English Bible, with all capital letters, it is an indication that this is a translation of the proper name of the one true God: “Jehovah” or “Yahweh”. The psalmist, writing under the inspiration of the Spirit, is not interested in or impressed by the pagan expressions of praise that are taking place all around the people of God.
True thanksgiving is only found where people are worshiping the one, true God. Everything else is just idolatry.
And finally, biblical thanksgiving eventually also becomes public exhortation.
Because the one true God is worthy of worship and thanksgiving from all his Creation, proper thanksgiving is not only expressions of worship directly to God, but it is also an exhortation for every one else to join you.
True thanksgiving is not only worship, it is evangelism.
It is the public declaration of the worthiness of God to receive worship. That’s why the psalmist begins this psalm with this exhortation: “Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting” (147:1). Praise is pleasant because Yahweh is worthy. Praise is good because Yahweh alone is God.