OLIVE TREE ALLIANCE

There is no denying that our 2020 celebration of American Thanksgiving will be singular. Reflecting on friends’ social media comments, the words of King David in the 95th Psalm raced through my mind.

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

For the Lord is the great God,
And the great King above all gods.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture,
And the sheep of His hand” (Ps. 95:1-3, 6-7).

The psalm is an invitation to sing to the Lord with the shepherd king of Israel. He calls us to approach the Rock of our salvation with a joyful shout of thanksgiving.

Why?

David draws our attention to a foundational truth. God is the Sovereign of creation and far above gods venerated by the world. That fact alone demands that we worship, bow down and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

God is still in control, no matter how chaotic or tumultuous life becomes. We are in His care—in His very hands. He is our God.

Many, however, will not grasp the psalmist’s intent. Hope, comfort and the consequent security are elusive to these individuals because they refuse to acknowledge God’s sovereignty, not just in the circumstance of life, but in the scope of human history.

Instead, the cares of life become an all-encompassing pursuit. James, the half-brother of Jesus, offers advice:

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such-and-such a city, stay there a year trading and make a profit!’ You don’t even know if you will be alive tomorrow!’” (Jas. 4:13-14 CJB).

James reminds us that only the arrogant believe life will always be as it is today. Coupled with an understanding of our Lord’s last prophetic teaching just before his crucifixion, the year 2020 comes into focus. Read Matthew 24 and confer with the parallel passage in Luke 21:5-38.

Jesus outlined the signs of the times that would become increasingly obvious at the end of the Church Age. These are the times in which we live.

Man’s denial cannot alter the progression of the events Jesus prophesied (Mt. 24:6-8). But, there is something proactive we can do.

Begin by embracing Thanksgiving Day. True thanksgiving—when it’s all said and done—is not about who’s coming for dinner, a traditional menu or watching the parade and football. King David invites you to join him in heartfelt worship.

IMAGES:
1) Oh Come, Let Us Worship and Bow Down. (Image used for illustrative purposes) (Photo credit: Pixabay/Digital composition, MKM Portfolios)

Copyright © 2020 Charles E. McCracken, commentary only. Repost/Reprint with permission. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.