Navigating Thanksgiving With Your Flock
Recently, I read a blog by Dr. David Jeremiah in which he presents four ways to embrace thankfulness under all circumstances. I wanted to focus on something he wrote that prompted me to seriously consider how we give thanks, how we should give thanks, and how God’s chosen people, the Hebrews, were commanded in the Old Testament to give thanks.
Dr. Jeremiah focused on the fact that although we often cite the first Thanksgiving as occurring in 1621, God’s chosen people of Israel were commanded to practice gratitude in a multitude of ways. Of course, there were no pilgrims or any traditional meal we relate with Thanksgiving, but there were feasts. In these three major feasts, a pilgrimage was required as we readd in Deuteronomy:
“Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Booths. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed” (Deuteronomy 16:16 ESV).
Passover, the Feast of Weeks (First Fruits or Pentecost), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths), were these three major feasts. Passover focused upon the memory of the Angel of Death passing over the Hebrew children when they were in captivity in Egypt. Imagine being displaced and in captivity for four hundred years. The nine plagues had occurred by God’s hand as Moses repeatedly told Pharoah to let God’s people go. This tenth plague cost the firstborn of all Egyptians to be killed. Weeping, wailing, and death abounded, yet the Hebrews were covered by lamb’s blood, a foreshadowing of the Lamb’s blood.
God commanded His people to remember. Passover celebrates the exodus of Israelites from Egypt and freedom from bondage. Passover officially only happened on the first of an eight-day celebration. The remaining days in this festival are the Feast of the Unleavened Bread. People were to clean out the yeast out of their homes and only eat bread without leaven. Remembering God’s deliverance out of a seemingly hopeless situation brings gratitude.
Brothers: How has God delivered you? How do you express gratitude to Him?
Fifty days after Passover Sabbath, the people celebrated The Feast of Weeks. It is also called Pentecost because of the fifty days’ timespan after Passover. This celebration focused upon God’s provision of the annual harvest. In a dry environment, a good harvest is dependent upon good rains and other conditions provided by the Lord. There were no conveniences as we have in ancient times. God delivered the rains and other weather conditions. God delivered even more as we read in the book of Acts. After Jesus’ ascension, it was during Pentecost the Holy Spirit fell, and the church was initiated. It was necessary, as it is still, to recognize God’s hand in the provision of all things.
Brothers: Have you experienced miraculous times God has delivered the right conditions, the right circumstances, and the right thing, even when you may not have recognized it at the time? How might you thank Him and share the truth of His abundant provision with others?
The Feast of Tabernacles or Booths was observed seven weeks after the beginning of the Fall harvest in Israel. During this festival, the people remembered how well God took care of them during their journey from Israel to Canaan by living for seven days in makeshift booths, crafted from natural supplies they found in the wilderness. It was for the Israelites to remember their journey through the desert. Moreover, it reminds us that our life on earth is also a temporary dwelling. There is nothing that is ours. God not only gives us a harvest in which we work to plant and reap, He gives us our very lives and the sustenance required for living.
Brothers: Do you ever take your home, family, and grandchildren for granted? Do you realize that even the very breath you breathe is given to you by God? What are some ways you can give the Lord praise this Thanksgiving and how can you influence your family and those around you to do the same?
Men, I challenge you to ignore the chaotic and ritualistic celebrations. Lead your flock out of any emptiness they may have surrounding the season. Give thanks in all things. Give thanks in obvious ways. I ask you to step up and take the lead, exhibit gratitude, give thanks, and give reasons for that thanks. What a mighty, loving, and gracious God we serve!
Reference: (https://davidjeremiah.blog/gratitude-for-christians-a-thanksgiving-bible-study/
Dr. Kevin Garrett has served for over thirty years in the areas of music ministry, student ministry, recreation ministry, education ministry, and as a pastor. He has written curricula for youth and adult ministries for LifeWay Christian Resources. Kevin’s passion is to help individuals become spiritually healthy and lead healthy churches. He has a keen interest in helping leaders and churches find vision and engage with all generations within the challenges of the twenty-first century. He holds a BS in Education and an MA in Music from Jacksonville State University. He also hold an MDiv, DMin from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, with specializations in church health and next generation ministries. He and his wife, Tina, joyfully serve as pastor of First Baptist Church of Atmore, AL. They have two sons, Geoffrey and Nelson, and one daughter-in-love, Brooke, all of whom are active and serving in their churches in north Alabama. To read more about David, check out his website.
Image by Saskia Plötz from Pixabay
A very good synopsis of these three feasts. But it was your last statement that should speak to every leader. “I challenge you to ignore the chaotic and ritualistic celebrations. Lead your flock out of any emptiness they may have surrounding the season.”
What came to mind was what Solomon said in Proverbs 27:23. “Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, And attend to your herds.”
Thank you for this word. Take care and God bless