Thanksgiving
Lesson 359
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and
hearty thanks for all
thy goodness and loving kindness to us, and to all men. We bless thee for our creation,
preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love in
the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope
of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts
may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we shew forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in
our
lives; by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and
righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom, with thee and the Holy
Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.
[Prayer Book of Robert E Lee, Prayers...A General Thanksgiving]
Thanksgiving in Camp, Harpers, November, 1862.
O Thou whose bounty fills my cup,
With every blessing meet!
I give Thee thanks for every drop—
The bitter and the sweet.
I praise Thee for the desert road,
And for the riverside;
For all Thy goodness hath bestowed,
And all Thy grace denied.
I thank Thee for both smile and frown,
And for the gain and loss;
I praise Thee for the future crown
And for the present cross.
I thank Thee for both wings of love
Which stirred my worldly nest;
And for the stormy clouds which drove
Me, trembling, to Thy breast.
I bless Thee for the glad increase,
And for the waning joy;
And for this strange, this settled peace
Which nothing can destroy.
Hymn
283: Lays of the Reformation... --Jane Crewdson (1860)
I invite you today to pause and give consideration to the lyrics of the opening hymn. Mrs.
Crenshaw wrote this in 1860 in England. I do not know whether our forefathers ever heard or
read these lyrics-it is quite possible, but I do know that the sentiments they carry were
applicable to the Southron in those days of woe. Shall we give thanks only when all goes
well, and only when we perceive God's bounty? Or rather shall we not, as David wrote in Psalm,
give thanks always, with his praise ever in our mouths.
Times are very difficult for many of the saints now. Some may even liken it to the days of our
forefathers. The economic situation seems to worsen day-by-day and many remain out of work.
We have been at war a very long time, and our soldiers return in coffins every day. It may be
difficult for some to "feel" like giving thanks in these times. I certainly believe that was
true 150 years ago. The psalmist shows, however, that thanks must always be on our lips, and
that God does not abandon his saints, but has in store for them that ultimate gift which is an
expression of his "inestimable love". He will not abandon them, but will send his angels to
tarry about them and his Holy Ghost to comfort them.
Many of our forefathers held to this priciple as a key element of their faith. They suffered
quitely and in faith in the face of privation and danger. General Lee certainly knew these
tenants of faith as is evidenced in his many statements. This day, for this lesson, I have
chosen two passages from the edition of the Prayer Book that Lee carried and used daily -- the
prayer and the pslam. I feel quite certain these words were on his lips often, and the opening
prayer of General Thanksgiving likely was one he said or heard on Thanksgiving Day.
I invite you to close in saying Psalm 34 in the same words as General Lee knew all his life.
Psalm xxxiv. Benedicam Domino
I WILL alway give thanks unto the LORD; * his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD; * the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
O praise the LORD with me, * and let us magnify his Name together.
I sought the LORD, and he heard me; * yea, he delivered me out of all my fear.
They had an eye unto him, and were lightened; * and their faces were not ashamed.
Lo, the poor crieth, and the LORD heareth him; * yea, and saveth him out of all his
troubles.
The angel of the LORD tarrieth round about them that fear him, * and delivereth them.
O taste, and see, how gracious the LORD is: * blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
O fear the LORD, ye that are his Saints; * for they that fear him lack nothing.
The lions do lack, and suffer hunger; * but they who seek the LORD shall want no manner of
thing that is good.
Come, ye children, and hearken unto me; * I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
What man is he that lusteth to live, * and would fain see good days?
Keep thy tongue from evil, * and thy lips, that they speak no guile.
Eschew evil, and do good; * seek peace, and ensue it.
The eyes of the LORD are over the righteous, * and his ears are open unto their prayers.
The countenance of the LORD is against them that do evil, * to root out the remembrance of
them from the earth.
The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth them, * and delivereth them out of all their
troubles.
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart, * and will save such as be of an
humble spirit.
Great are the troubles of the righteous; * but the LORD delivereth him out of all.
He keepeth all his bones, * so that not one of them is broken.
But misfortune shall slay the ungodly; * and they that hate the righteous shall be
desolate.
The LORD delivereth the souls of his servants; * and all they that put their trust in him
shall not be destitute.
[The Psalms of David....Prayer Book of 1789]
