"The Levites who returned with them were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who with his associates was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving." (Nehemiah 12:8 NLT)
Question:
Who is in charge of thanksgiving in your home, household or church?
I’m not talking about the annual turkey and potatoes tradition. I’m asking about the actual business of gratitude. Who in your story is consistently calling attention to the God-gifts and giving thanks?
This is apparently a critical position: God had appointed Mattaniah (and his associates) to the gratitude task when His people returned from exile.
Take a moment to appreciate the Sisyphean scope of their assignment. The Israelites were returning after seventy years of expulsion. It would mean most, if not all of the original refugees had died in Babylon. The people on their way ‘back’ to the Promised Land had never actually lived there before. They had only heard stories passed down from previous generation.
Imagine their disappointment when they finally arrived only to find everything in utter ruin. The city walls were torn down. The Temple had been dismantled. Those that had been left behind had intermarried and abandoned God’s law. This certainly wasn’t the Promised Land they’d been dreaming of. There was work to be done and not nearly enough able bodies to accomplish it. Besides, the neighbors were nasty and threatening: provoking the returning refugees at every turn.
Have you ever found yourself in such a season? You thought you were signing up for something good and godly, and then you arrive to discover something else entirely? Friend, while we may be surprised by our new reality, God is not. He knows exactly what He is bringing us into, and even our most daunting stretches are opportunities for thanksgiving.
When the Israelites returned to Judah, God included six priests in their company. Their job was to lead the recovering community in the life-giving practice of gratitude. And though those priests may have struggled to sing songs and count gifts, they were critical to the restoration of God’s people.
Again, I ask, who is in charge of thanksgiving in your house? In your church and community? We need people who consistently keep an eye out for things to be grateful for. The world has enough naysayers. What we need is thanks-givers. We need men and women who can identify and celebrate the goodness of God in every situation. These folks are critical to our restoration.
"Give thanks in all circumstances: for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT)
Lord, forgive us for forgetting to give thanks. Sometimes we get caught up in the challenges of life and lose sight of Your blessings. Today we recognize Your call to gratitude and we respond with thanksgiving. You are a good God who does all things well. When we count gifts, we remember and we give praise. May we become the kind of people who give thanks in all circumstances. Amen.