Psalm 116:17 states “I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.” This verse raises the question – what is the sacrifice of thanksgiving?
To understand this, we must first look at the context of Psalm 116. This psalm was written by King David, and it is classified as one of the “Hallel” psalms (Psalms 113-118), which were recited by the Jews at their religious feasts. In this psalm, David expresses his love and gratitude to God for delivering him from death. He had been afflicted and brought low, but the Lord heard his cry and saved his soul from death (vv. 3-8). Because of God’s mercy and faithfulness in saving him, David feels a deep sense of gratitude and desire to praise God.
In verse 17, David declares his intention to offer a “sacrifice of thanksgiving” to God. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were a key element of Jewish worship. Animal sacrifices were offered to atone for sins, express devotion, celebrate feasts, and express gratitude to God. The “sacrifice of thanksgiving” was a specific type of sacrifice mentioned in several places in the Old Testament (Leviticus 7:11-15; 22:29-30; 2 Chronicles 29:31; 33:16; Psalm 107:22; Amos 4:5). This was a voluntary offering given to God out of gratitude for His deliverance, blessing, or favor.
The thank offerings were usually from herd animals or grain. Part of the animal or grain was burned on the altar, part was given to the priests, and the rest was eaten by the worshiper in communion with God. The ritual demonstrated the worshiper’s gratitude, devotion, and desire to continue in relationship with God.
So when David speaks of offering a “sacrifice of thanksgiving”, he is referring to this ritual practice of giving an offering to God out of heartfelt gratitude and praise for God’s goodness. Though David lived before the temple sacrifices were formally codified, the notion of showing gratitude to God through a voluntary sacrificial offering was already established in worship.
David’s sacrifice has two main elements – thanksgiving and calling on God’s name. Giving thanks to God is the motive and purpose behind this sacrifice. The thank offering was an external expression of internal gratitude to God. Secondly, he will call on the Lord’s name as He presents this offering. To call on God’s name means to worship, praise, and petition Him, acknowledging God’s supreme power and benevolence.
So in summary, the “sacrifice of thanksgiving” refers to the practice of believers expressing gratitude to God through a voluntary offering, combined with heartfelt praise and worship. David is vowing to God that he will demonstrate his thanks through this sacrificial act, because God graciously delivered him from death.
Some key implications from this verse:
– An appropriate response to God’s deliverance is to offer Him thanks and praise. God seeks thanksgiving from His people.
– Thankfulness should become an integral part of the believer’s life and worship. It is not simply a passing feeling, but a habit of the heart.
– God is pleased when His people give Him thanks, whether through formal worship or informally in daily life. Sacrificial offerings represent one way to express loving gratitude.
– While we no longer offer animal sacrifices, we can still offer “sacrifices of thanksgiving” through praise, obedience, generosity, and serving others. Such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
– Giving thanks to God should be accompanied by calling on His name – engaging with Him in an active, intimate relationship through ongoing worship and prayer.
So in Psalm 116:17, David reminds all believers that thanksgiving is not merely an emotion, but a sincere act of sacrificial worship offered to the Lord in grateful response to His amazing grace. This act of worship flows from love, stirs up faith, and binds the worshiper to God in a living, dynamic relationship.
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Further Explanation of Key Elements
To further understand this topic, it is helpful to explore some of the key concepts in this verse more deeply:
The Sacrifice:
– Old Testament sacrifices were reverent acts of worship, not meaningless rituals. They represented the desire to draw near to God through an offering.
– Thank offerings sacrificed valuable possessions to show gratitude for God’s gifts more precious than any earthly gift.
– The sacrificial animal or grain cost the worshipper dearly. It required giving up something of value in exchange for expressing love and thanks to God. This reflected thanksgiving’s innate connection with sacrifice.
– The purpose was not to repay God, but to respond from a grateful heart that longed to give God glory and honor. The gratitude outweighed the cost of giving something up.
– David had received the most precious gift of all – salvation from death. His sacrifice sought to tangibly express thanks for this eternal gift.
Thanks and Thanksgiving:
– Thankfulness starts by acknowledging who God is – His loving mercy and deliverance come from His gracious character.
– Giving thanks recognizes that every good gift comes from above. A grateful heart humbly acknowledges dependence on the Giver.
– Thanks was expressed through public testimony in worship. Giving God public thanks declared His goodness to all.
– Wholehearted thanksgiving involves the intellect, emotions, desires, and will – engaging one’s whole being.
– Cultivating a lifestyle of thanksgiving leads to seeing more of God’s gifts and goodness, growing in faith and joy.
Calling on the Lord’s Name:
– This means approaching God in worship and prayer with reverence, awe, and humility. His name represents His divine presence and attributes.
– Calling on God’s name demonstrates trusting in His power, wisdom, and sovereignty to hear and answer prayer.
– It includes both petition and adoration – asking God to act while also praising who He is.
– The psalmist calls on God’s name throughout the psalm. Calling on God in tandem with thanksgiving characterizes an active, intimate relationship with Him.
In summary, the “sacrifice of thanksgiving” encompasses reverent worship, offerings of praise, acknowledgment of God’s gifts and character, prayerful dependence, and a lifestyle overflowing with gratitude. This sacrifice honors God and deepens joyful relationship with Him.
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The Role of Thank Offerings in Old Testament Worship
To gain a richer understanding of the background of Psalm 116:17, it is helpful to explore the role of thank offerings in Old Testament worship:
– Thank offerings were one of the key voluntary offerings, contrasted with required sin and guilt offerings.
– They were also called “fellowship offerings” or “peace offerings”, indicating communal celebration and reconciliation with God.
– Key passages about thank offerings are found in Leviticus 7:11-18 and 22:29-30. They were offered to express gratitude for God’s deliverance, blessing, or favor.
– Appropriate occasions included childbirth, healing from sickness, the firstfruits harvest, safe travel, victory in battle, and dedication of a new home. Anything perceived as a blessing from God.
– The offering was an animal from the herd – bull, cow, lamb, or goat without defect. Bread, grain, or wine offerings also accompanied animal sacrifices.
– The worshiper laid hands on the animal, symbolically transferring guilt and placing the sacrifice under judgment for sin. This pictured substitution and atonement.
– The priest sprinkled blood on sides of the altar. Fat portions were burned on the altar as a pleasing aroma to God. This symbolized the costliness of the gift.
– The breast or right thigh was given to the priest as his portion of the thank offering. The worshippers and priests shared a sacred meal – rejoicing together in God’s goodness and restoration of fellowship.
– Leftover meat had to be eaten that day or the next day – showing dependence on God’s provision day by day. His gifts were not to be hoarded.
– Thank offerings were not mandatory – they were spontaneously given. Bringing a more valuable animal demonstrated greater gratitude.
In summary, thank offerings powerfully symbolized the joy of fellowship with God and others, communal celebration of His gifts, and expressing deep gratitude through sacrifice.
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New Testament Fulfillment in Christ
While thank offerings were a key part of Old Testament worship, the New Testament teaches that they found their ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ:
– As the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross fulfilled and completed the Old Testament sacrificial system once and for all.
– No more animal sacrifices are needed, as Christ’s blood paid sin’s penalty completely and for all time (Hebrews 10:1-18). Believers have permanent access to God’s presence through Christ, not temporary fellowship.
– Those who put their faith in Christ spiritually partake of Him as the true thank offering – Jesus’ body was broken and His blood poured out for the redemption of mankind (John 6:53-58; 1 Corinthians 10:16).
– According to Hebrews 13:15, Christians now offer a sacrifice of praise to God through Jesus – thanking and speaking well of God. This is the fruit of lips that confess His name.
– Christians’ lives are to be continually lived as “living sacrifices” offered to God as an act of worship and thanksgiving (Romans 12:1).
– Spiritual sacrifices include doing good, generosity, and service to others (Hebrews 13:16). These express thankfulness to God.
– Colossians 3:15-17 describes a life overflowing with Christ’s peace, gratitude, and God’s word as a sacrifice pleasing to the Lord.
So for believers today, thanksgiving finds its full meaning in the gospel of Christ – His grace, mercy and redemption shape our gratitude and become the motivation for offering ongoing spiritual sacrifices that honor Him.
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Principles for Applying Psalm 116:17
Though we no longer offer ritual blood sacrifices, Psalm 116:17 offers some helpful principles for application:
1. Remember to give thanks. Make gratitude, not grievance, a habit. Count your blessings rather than complaints.
2. Give thanks especially for God’s grace that rescues us from sin and death – our greatest deliverance. Don’t take His salvation for granted.
3. Praise God’s character and attributes when giving thanks – His steadfast love endures forever! thank Him for who He is.
4. Express thanks sacrificially with offerings of time, service, worship, and finances – not just words. Let gratitude guide generosity.
5. Share testimonies of God’s goodness with others. Make thanksgiving public through social media, telling friends and family what God has done.
6. Offer thanksgiving along with calling on God’s name in prayer and worship. Maintain a heart posture of dependence and gratitude.
7. Remember thanks offerings were voluntary responses to God’s grace. Give freely and cheerfully out of a willing heart.
8. Practice thanksgiving regularly in all circumstances – it is a lifestyle, not just for blessings. Cultivating daily gratitude pleases God.
9. As priests of God (1 Peter 2:9), have lives marked by joyful thanksgiving as Christ’s redemption sets us free to serve God and others.
May Psalm 116:17 inspire all believers to live and love with a spirit of gratitude that overflows in worship, generosity, and calling on the Lord’s great name.
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Thanksgiving Reflected in Other Psalms
Psalm 116 is far from the only place in the Psalms that the theme of thanksgiving is reflected. Here are a few other examples:
Psalm 30:12 – David declares he will give thanks to God forever for turning mourning into dancing. His view of God’s favor leads to constant praise.
Psalm 9:1 – The psalmist vows to give thanks to God with his whole heart, telling of His wonderful works. Thankfulness engages the entire being.
Psalm 95:2 – Enter God’s presence with thanksgiving! Thanksgiving helps frame an attitude for worship.
Psalm 105:1 – Give thanks to the Lord and call upon His name; make known His deeds! Call to mind His abundant goodness.
Psalm 107:21-22 – Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love! Sacrifice thank offerings for God’s acts of redemption.
Psalm 118:1 – His steadfast love endures forever! This refrain rings repeatedly through the Psalms at climactic moments as a focal point for thanks.
Psalm 147:7 – Sing thankfully to God! Thanksgiving is voiced through joyful songs of praise for who God is and what He has done.
Giving thanks is thus interwoven throughout the Psalms as the proper grateful response to God’s blessings and character. Thanksgiving is the privilege and joy of every believer.
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Examples of Thanksgiving in the New Testament
Thanksgiving is not just an Old Testament concept – the New Testament also places a strong emphasis on giving thanks. Here are some examples:
– Jesus gave thanks at the Last Supper (Luke 22:19), at the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:11), and before raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:41). He modeled gratitude in all circumstances.
– Paul urged the Thessalonians to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess 5:18) and told the Colossians to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in their hearts to God” (Col 3:16).
– Paul often opened his letters with hearty thanksgiving for fellow believers (see Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Philippians 1:3). He overflowed with gratitude.
– Believers are exhorted to be grateful for everything and always – for other believers, prayer, food, and every blessing (see Acts 27:35; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; Revelation 4:9).
– The ten lepers who were healed by Jesus were told to go show themselves to the priests – and as they went, only one turned back to give thanks and praise God (Luke 17:15-16). Gratitude distinguished him.
– The greatest motivation for thanksgiving is the gospel – God’s mercy and grace shown through the death and resurrection of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:15, 9:15).
May we follow biblical examples to cultivate thanksgiving in every season and circumstance!
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The Ongoing Role of Thankfulness and Gratitude
For believers today, thankfulness and heartfelt gratitude towards God should continue to permeate Christian faith and worship. Consider these principles:
– While we no longer offer thank offerings, we can still cultivate grateful hearts that recognize everything as a gift from above. This fuels humility, joy and worship.
– Thankfulness acknowledges our complete dependence on God’s grace and Christ’s redemption. Pride and ingratitude are obstacles to intimacy with God.
– Regularly giving thanks to God in prayer, song, art, journaling or other creative expressions trains our hearts to see His gifts all around us. Gratitude becomes reflexive.
– As a temple of the Holy Spirit, the believer’s body is a living sacrifice of worship (Romans 12:1). Our lives honor God through service, generosity, andOutst moral conduct when offered as thank offerings to Him.
– Gathering with other believers for worship provides opportunities to corporately give thanks and rejoice in God’s grace. Testimonies encourage and stir up thankfulness.
– Even painful trials are opportunities to give thanks by trusting in God’s purposes and promises (1 Thess 5:18). Gratitude is not contingent on circumstances.
– Heaven’s worship depicts saints eternally giving thanks to God alongside the angels. Thanksgiving will endure beyond this life into eternity.
May Psalm 116:17 remind us of thanksgiving’s central place in the life of faith – responding to God’s transformative grace with sincere and lasting gratitude.
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Conclusion
In Psalm 116:17, David declares his intention to offer a thank offering to God out of heartfelt gratitude for being delivered from death. Though we no longer present ritual sacrifices, this verse provides core principles for cultivating robust thanksgiving in the life of a believer. Thanksgiving honors God, expresses dependent faith, enriches prayer and worship, and testifies to others of His great mercy and redemption.
As the Psalms resound with praise, may our lives overflow with gratitude for God’s steadfast love displayed through Christ – spilling over into spirited worship, acts of service, generosity, and joyful proclamation of His mighty deeds. May thankfulness characterize God’s people today as we walk in Christ’s redemption and loving grace.
