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Psalm 65 is intended for the divine service of thanksgiving. God who guides this “program” of the natural creation with such goodness, that the praise, which is due to Him in view of the beauty, richness, and kind benefits, what the harvest means to us human beings, broke forth out of the psalmist David’s heart with genuine gratitude. At “the beginning” the water flows out of “God’s fountain”, which moistens the prepared ground and at “the end” it is the same water which ripens the fruit. “Everything is to hand in superabundance and the joy breaks forth with loud voices, because of the goodness of God”. Could we still write such a psalm in our time? To praise God, because of His eternal goodness and kindness and acknowledge that this praise is alone due to Him, that only “He” begins and finishes the harvest.

In our day, man claims himself as “manager”. Among these the influence and direction of sowing right up to the harvest. He considers himself to be the one who does the greatest part of the task and thinks therefore that the “success” of a big harvest is gained by “his” know-how and ability. That the sun shines and warms, that the rain waters the earth at the right time, happens “automatic” and is therefore quite “normal”, so that we don’t feel moved to compose a Psalm! But if now and again a late frost, the rain does not fall at the right time, then arises at once a chorus of complaints to God! The interruption of relationship, between God the creator and man the steward of His creation, is noticeable in the natural and as well, openly noticeable in the spiritual realm.

The different gifts that are given to man, to be able to be fruitful in life. Knowledge and ability, which through intelligence can be obtained by study. It may make it possible for him to manage a business. This often leads many people to the conclusion that God’s gifts are “made” of themselves and that they can lead and master their own destiny. Also, when God performs some miracles in using the gifts He lent man, man becomes very quickly “idolized” by those who have witnessed such incident; though man can only work “with” God’s help! It is important to take heed to what Paul cried aloud, when he warned the people in one such situation: “Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you and preach unto you that you should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven and earth and the sea and all things that are therein: who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness”. (Acts 14:15-17).

The goodness of God is still present in giving us crops of food, despite man’s unthankfulness, and so it is in the spiritual, the time of Grace will end one day and then the ungodly will cry to God for “Bread”. The offer of natural bread allows us to choose. Soft, grain, fresh, no crust etc. Spiritual bread offered to the hungry satisfies everyone’s appetite. Jesus Christ is the living bread which came down from heaven, yet we see it is being refused by more and more as not acceptable.  As we celebrate the “Thanksgiving” festival, we should remember with joy which bread God gives us. “The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, being many, are one bread and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread”. (1 Cor. 10: 16-17).

Bread from heaven and bread from man: to receive both is a gift of mercy from our God! And when we are allowed to enjoy it at the Lord’s table, there will arise a psalm of praise from our joyful hearts, for God’s goodness and kindness and as well a deep desire that the still many enhungered souls would find this precious bread.

THE WORRY OF TO-MORROW ROBS US OF YESTERDAY’S GRATITUDE.