Thanksgiving, in the most basic sense, is an acknowledgment of a gift or act of service. We rightly express thanksgiving when we receive gifts, no matter the quality or value of the gift. Also, we rightly express thanksgiving when receiving service – even service that we pay for.

However, thanksgiving as an act of worship is entirely more significant and important. When you have a thankful heart that responds to God in worship with thanksgiving, this is more than simply acknowledging recite of a gift. Thanksgiving worship flows from the heart of one who recognizes their need, recognizes the source of their provision, and responds with worshipful praise and thanksgiving to the one who has provided.

Psalm 9 is a psalm of David. The psalm is divided into two parts. Verse 1-12 declares what God has done, and verses 13-20 declare what God will do. We could glean many things from this text, but three main truths are we are to be thankful for what God has done, thankful for what God will do, and thankful for who God is.

God made a promise to Abraham to bless all the families of the earth through him. God added to this promise when He promised king David (a descendant of Abraham) that his kingdom would last forever with a descendant of his on the throne. These promises, and many more, were fulfilled in Jesus, a descendant of Abraham, a member of David’s family, and the lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world.

In these three verses, there are three promises that give us hope. These were words of hope for Juda for their restoration from captivity. And looking beyond the near horizon to what is beyond these are words of hope for all the world that there is salvation in Jesus.