"The First Thanksgiving" by Ferris
THINKING ABOUT THANKSGIVING . . . A.K.A. “TURKEY DAY.”
In a couple of days there will be millions of men laying on their sofa or reclined in “their chair.” “Schluff Gezunt” (Sleep Well).Before going into a food coma, I think it’s worth remembering that the word/concept of Thanksgiving is used 102 times in the Old Testament and 71 in the New Testament. Psalm 100:4-5 says to “Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations.”
Hag HAHOdaya is Hebrew for the “holiday of Thanksgiving.” It means “holiday of gratitude.” O give thanks [HODU] unto the Lord, for He is good,” reads Psalms 136:1. (Verb vs Noun for Thanksgiving.) HODU is also Hebrew for turkey (Indian chicken). So when we say “Turkey Day” that is correct – it is Thanksgiving Day.”
Thanksgiving is a reminder of the first Thanksgiving in 1621 when the Plymouth colonists (the Pilgrims) and Wampanoag Native Americans shared an autumn harvest feast. The Pilgrims came to America for religious liberty – the freedom to praise God.
America is called The Land of Liberty. Samuel Francis Smith wrote the lyrics to “America” in 1831 in just 30 minutes while a student at the Andover Theological Seminary in Andover, Massachusetts. The song was first performed in public on July 4, 1831 at Park Street Church in Boston. You’ll recognize it immediately:
“My country, ‘ tis of thee,
sweet land of liberty,
of thee I sing;
land where my fathers died,
land of the pilgrims’ pride,
from every mountainside let freedom ring!”
I want to call your attention to the 4th and final verse:
“Our fathers’ God, to thee,
author of liberty, to thee we sing;
long may our land be bright with freedom’s holy light;
protect us by thy might, great God, our King.”
Smith’s song “AMERICA” served as a de facto national anthems of the United States (along with songs like “Hail, Columbia”) before the adoption of “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the official U.S. national anthem in 1931.
In 1863 Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday by president Lincoln in a way that is consistent with the biblical thanksgiving that was done either by sacrifice or prayer. Psalm 100 for example is called ‘A Psalm of thanksgiving’.
Conclusion: One might say that God had a plan for Americans to be grateful to him on Thanksgiving while we eat Turkey and celebrate Liberty across the Land.
PRAISE GOD!
Full Lyrics to America:
My country, ‘ tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;land where my fathers died,land of the pilgrims’ pride,from every mountainside let freedom ring!
2. My native country, thee,land of the noble free, thy name I love;I love thy rocks and rills,thy woods and templed hills;my heart with rapture thrills, like that above.
3. Let music swell the breeze,and ring from all the trees sweet freedom’s song;let mortal tongues awake;let all that breathe partake;let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.
4. Our fathers’ God, to thee,author of liberty, to thee we sing;long may our land be brightwith freedom’s holy light;protect us by thy might, great God, our King.
Epilogue: