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Paul also links songs of praise with thanksgiving:
"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
melody in your hearts to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things unto God and the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 5: 19, 20).
On some special occasions, Psalms were written to give thanks. In II Sam. 22:,
there is a song of thanksgiving by David as he thanked God for deliverance from his
enemies. Another special Psalm is recorded in I Chron. 16:, to give thanks for the
transfer of the ark of God to Jerusalem.
Psalms 105:, 106: and 107: exhort Israel to remember the marvelous works of the Lord.
The deliverance of Israel from Egypt and an account of the experiences of Israel in the
wilderness are recited and in Psa. 107: there is the refrain:
"Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to
the children of men!"
Many Psalms give thanks to the Lord. Some give thanks for deliverance from the
enemy (e.g. Psa. 35:). In Psa. 75: thanks is given to God the judge. In Psa. 79:,
there is a prayer for help as Jerusalem is invaded, which ends with praise and
thanksgiving. Another Psalm is prophetic in character and ends with rejoicing and
thanksgiving (Psa. 97:).
Coming to the N.T. it is remarkable how many times Paul gives thanks for the saints
to whom he is writing. For example, ". . . . . cease not to give thanks for you, making
mention of you in my prayers" (Eph. 1: 16). See also Rom. 1: 8; I Cor. 1: 4; Phil. 1: 3, 4;
Col. 1: 3.
Prayer should always be made with thanksgiving.
"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God,
which passeth understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus"
(Phil. 4: 6, 7).
We should abound in the faith, and this should be accompanied with thanksgiving.
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus our Lord, so walk ye in Him: rooted and
built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein
with thanksgiving" (Col. 2: 6, 7).
And there is the need for constant prayer with watchfulness.
"Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving" (Col. 4: 2).
Paul exhorted Timothy to pray for all men, and prayer and intercession should be
made with thanksgiving (I Tim. 2: 1).