Where has the year gone! It is September already. Life's march is steady but have you ever thought of celebrating Thanksgiving in September, March or June? We have reason to.
In the latter chapters of Jeremiah, when all Israel has been sacked and carried captive, there comes a short sentence. It is a predicted exclamation that the Jews of Jeremiah's experience may never have aspired to sing. The vocalization comes in chapter 33 verse 11. But we need to include a bit of the context for the cry to make sense. So, look too at verses 10 through 12. We read
10 Thus saith the LORD; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast, 11 The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD. 12 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down .
Did you catch the praise there? Let me put the magnifying glass on it, "Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever." This is God's prediction of future events and it included rich praise by His people. This, mind you, is prophecy unfulfilled to date. One day in the future, sacrificial processions will make their way into the Holy City with praise on their lips. God's praise will be the focus of eternity.
It should be our focus too. Every day should be Thanksgiving. It is a repeated theme in Scripture. Try these references on for size. I cut and pasted them from my e-Sword Bible program: 1Chr 16:8, 1Chr 16:34; 2Chr 5:13, 2Chr 7:3, 2Chr 20:21; Ezr 3:11; Psa 106:1, Psa 107:1; Psa 118:1-4, Psa 136:1-26.
Since most readers will skim over the above references let me highlight one. "Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever." Sound familiar? It is from Jeremiah 33 and it is rich. "Praise" is giving glory to, giving reverent worship to, giving God His just due. Praise must be a part of my daily routine. It should be praise given to the "LORD of hosts". That designation is used 245 times in the Old Testament and 77 times in Jeremiah alone. Strange, because translated it means, "YHWH (Jehovah) of armies" (the armies of Israel).
At this point in Israel's history its armies could have been better depicted by the vision that Ezekiel had in what we know as the valley of dry bones. There were no hosts to command. They had been wiped out because of their persistent disobedience. A General of a wiped out host is a disgraced General and not one to be praised. However, a General who comes back to the rescue IS one to be praised. And as Ezekiel's vision reminds us, God can resurrect sun parched and lifeless bones.
When He does true Thanksgiving day begins! Celebrations will burst from all of creation because the LORD of hosts will assume command of Nature and mankind. I am SO looking forward to that day aren't you? Please pass the dressing!
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