Good morning,
When God blesses, what should our response be? We should immediately thank Him. The next two weeks, we will look at 10 people in the Bible that did just that.
They exulted, praised, thanked, and honored God.
Le Ann Trees wrote this and I added the complete Bible passages.
If God has blessed you, thank Him.
10 People in the Bible Who Remembered to Thank God 1-5
1. MIRIAM
Miriam, the older sister of Moses and Aaron, gave thanks to God while playing her tambourine and dancing with joy with the other women whom God saved from the Egyptians after they crossed over the Red Sea
“And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.” (Exod. 15:20-21).
2. HANNAH
Hannah gave a long prayer of thanks to God in 1 Samuel 2 because God granted her petition for a son. Once Samuel was weaned, Hannah and her husband, Elkanah, brought him to Eli the priest to be dedicated to the Lord.
“And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.2 There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.6 The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.7 The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them.9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed. (1 Sam. 2:1-10).
3. DAVID
David gave thanks to God after winning his battle against the Philistines.
“And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:2 And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; thou savest me from violence.4 I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.5 When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;7 In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.8 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.13 Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.14 The Lord thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.16 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.17 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.20 He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.21 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.23 For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.25 Therefore the Lord hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavory.28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.29 For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness.30 For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.32 For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God? 33 God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.34 He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my high places.35 He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip. 38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet. 40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.42 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me. 45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.47 The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.48 It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me.49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.51 He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore. (2 Sam. 22:1-51).
4. SOLOMON
King Solomon thanked God for all he had done to provide for Israel in his prayer of dedication for the temple.
“And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel stood;)15 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying,16 Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David to be over my people Israel.17 And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.18 And the Lord said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart.19 Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name.20 And the Lord hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.21 And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt. (1 Kings 8:14-21).
5. THE AUTHOR OF PSALM 111
The author of this beloved psalm begins with the following words: Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Psalm 111 is filled with praise for Gods wondrous works. The psalmist ends by reminding people that God’s praise endures forever.
“Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.2 The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.3 His work is honorable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” (Psalm 111)
LE ANN TREES
Le Ann is a writer, editor, speaker, wife, and mom who enjoys the Southern California lifestyle, including flip-flops, the beach, riding electric bicycles along the 101, and an occasional salted caramel Americano from Lofty Coffee in Solana Beach. She is exceedingly grateful for both the loving kindness of many people and the sound Christian doctrine that helped her to keep on living after her son died in a skiing accident in 2006. She holds a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Westminster Seminary California. Le Ann is managing editor of Beautiful Christian Life.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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