&
Thanksgiving
While preparing for a teaching on Thanksgiving, I discovered a most unusual, yet fascinating Scripture.
To appreciate this verse and subsequently apply it in your life, it requires a little background on Old Testament ways of expressing thankfulness to God.
As a result of the fall of man with Adam, man required a perfect, once and for all, sacrifice of the son of God - the lord Jesus Christ. Until this occurred man's righteous relationship with God was based on sacrifices by God's people. The giving of animals and other items such as cooked "cakes" covered man until our lord and saviour arrived on the scene.
Throughout the Old Testament we witness an abundance of different sacrifices being presented by God's people. These offerings would cover man's sins, iniquities, as well as being at peace with God.
Leviticus 7:11,12 & 15:
And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which one shall offer unto Jehovah.
If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour soaked.
And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his oblation; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.
God really was not into witnessing animals being killed, but He desired to observe man's heart of humbleness as he expressed his thankfulness to Him.
Psa 51:15-17:
O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
[A translation that better communicates verse 17 is: "sacrifice is my deepest humility, knowing you [God] will do more than Your words can express." What God is really looking for is our humility, our meekness to put self behind us and put God first and foremost.]
The verse that really caught my eye was Hosea 14:2:
Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.
What is with the expression: “calves of our lips.”? This is a figure of speech called Metonymy. It literally means, the sacrifices offered out of our mouths. I call it Moo Moo lips! Our words coming from the depth of our humble heart, is the sacrifice. It is much more meaningful than sacrificing animals.
In Hebrews we see a beautiful verse that communicates something similar.
Hebrews 13:15 & 16:
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
E W Bullinger in his Companion Bible makes note of this phrase, “the fruit of our lips”: “This is a reference to Hosea 14:2, where the Septuagint [Greek version of the Old Testament] renders the Hebrew ... by “bullocks of our lips.”
That is quite a mind picture! This emphasizes the sacrifice of our lips declaring our deepest feelings of thankfulness. God does not want our animals, He wants our hearts. He wants the integrity of our heart expressed with our lips giving Him thanks.
We should start each day, as we awake and recognize that we are alive, and the return of Christ has not happened, by expressing our thankfulness to our loving Heavenly Father.
Speaking in tongues is a beautiful way to demonstrate thankfulness (I Corinthians 14:16 &17) “...for thou verily givest thanks well.”
Other verses in the New Testament that declares the significance of being thankful.
Ephesians 5:19 & 20:
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Colossians 2:7:
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Colossians 3:15 & 16:
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Agape,
Bob
