This week Bro. Leo leads us in a study of Thanksgiving using the Old Testament principals of animal sacrifice to define the New Testament Thankfulness.

In Psalms 50:14 the word translated as “offer” is “zâbach” and means to offer an animal for sacrifice.
In vs.14 the word translated as “thanksgiving” is “tôdâh” and means acknowledgement of gratitude for a specific blessing from God.  Requires 1)time  2) focus  3) specifics.

In Psalms 50:10 God declares Himself owner of all the animals, which includes the ones used for sacrifice.  When those folks offered a sacrifice they were actually just giving back a portion of what God had given to them.

Our world view of sacrifice is the opposite of the Biblical view.  Webster defines sacrifice as the act of giving up something that belongs to us for someone else.  James 1:17 tells us that every blessing we have come from God.  Romans 8:28 tells us that both the good and bad things that happen to us will work to bless us, so we should be thankful in both the good and bad.

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Psa 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
Psa 50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
Psa 50:23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
Psa 50:9 I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
Psa 50:10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
Psa 50:11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
Psa 50:12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
Psa 50:7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.

Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Job 33:3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
Job 33:6 Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay.
Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.