Todah Noten – Giving Thanks to God

Leviticus – Giving Thanks

As with most present day expressions of the Thanksgiving holiday, the ancient Hebrew offering of “thanks” (תודה; todah) included various foods. As with most ancient Hebrew worship traditions, the thanksgiving sacrifice was divinely preserved for us in the writing of the Old Testament book of Leviticus. God says that the priest “shall offer with the thanksgiving sacrifice ,zevach hatodah) unleavened loaves mixed with oil ;זבח התודה( unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and loaves of fine flour” (Leviticus 7:12).

Worship for the ancient Hebrew/Israel (people of God) were most often events that included meals in which God and the people participated together. This unified and humble community expression signified the Divine Presence among the congregation. Listen to how the Torah/Word of God commands the priests…

Exodus 25:30
;לחם פנים( And you shall set the bread of the Presence“ lechem panim) on the table before me regularly.” ESV

Yaweh Elohim – The Lord God Himself participates in the sacrificial meal when the rising scent of the burnt offering of ;ריח ניחח( thanks prepared by Noah becomes a pleasing aroma reach nihoach) to Him. These and many other ancient offerings and communal feasts emphasize for us the depth of Israel’s thankfulness to God.

Psalms – Giving Thanks

The Psalms provide many songs of thanksgiving, and several of them speak to God’s enduring presence. For instance, Psalm 100 declares,

Psalms 100:2, 4

;פניו( Serve the Lord with gladness; come into his presence“ panav) with singing…. Enter his gates with thanksgiving ;הודו( todah), and his courts with praise. Give thanks ;תודה( hodu) to him; bless his name!”

;פניו( ”The biblical Hebrew translation for the word “presence panav) literally means “face.” For those who seek His face, and to those who worship God as Creator – Sovereign – and Savior, the Psalmist reveals the eternal significance of presenting our mind, body, heart, and spirit in grateful offering and thanksgiving to God.

Psalms 11:7

“For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold His face (panah hu hehzuh).”

Our gratitude and thanksgiving toward Him carries with it the righteous expectation of seeing – knowing – worshipping God in the Holy Place – in His Presence.

“I lift my head to see His face and then behold His Glory, for He is Holy – Our Holy Lord.”

Certainly the Word of God teaches us that the humble offering of thanksgiving is always a favorable time for fellowship between God the Creator in Heaven and we the creation here on earth. The Psalmist King David again tells God,

Psalms 116:17-18

;זבח התודה( I will offer to You the thanksgiving sacrifice“ zevach hatodah) and call on the name of the Lord…. I will pay my vows to the Lord with all His people.”

Giving thanks is the act of the gathering community of believers – the household of faith; each one in unity praising God’s timeless, changeless, everlasting to everlasting, perpetual Presence.

Luke – Giving Thanks to God

I have always loved the story of Jesus healing the ten lepers. There are so many points of intrigue and inspiration, including the courage of the ten lepers to seek Jesus in a way where all could see their repulsive, “unclean” condition. Then, the faith of the ten to immediately (without question) run to show themselves to the priest as they were instructed, in spite of visual evidence that would not support their claims. Yet they ran – they simply obeyed, and as they ran to do that which they were told, they were healed. Of course the deepest lesson of all was to come. The lone ranger, the one who stopped running to the priests – the one and only leper who would turn and run even faster to return to his Healer to give thanks and worship Him for what He had done. And, the leper did not give thanks quietly – he shouted in a loud voice for all to hear of his overwhelming gratitude and thanks – giving glory to God for the things He had done. The leper fell down at the feet of Yeshua – the Christ – and worshipped. Todah noten… giving thanks to God!

Luke 17:11-19

“On the way to Jerusalem He was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as He entered a village, He was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When He saw them He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Hebrews 13:14-16 – Giving Thanks to God

“For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His Name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”