Celebrating Thanksgiving

“Now behold, I have brought the first of the produce of the ground which You, O LORD have given me.” And you shall set it down before the LORD you God, and worship before the LORD your God; and you and the Levite and the alien who is among you shall rejoice in all the good which the LORD your God has given you and your household. (Deut. 26:10-11)

The Israelites make an offering to the Lord at the beginning of harvest. After the offering and worship before Him, the people (including the clergy and the foreigners) are to rejoice “in all the good which the Lord our God has given us and our households.” This is very like the American custom of Thanksgiving. We are blessed and we thank God; we may also rejoice in His blessings.

There is no guilt in this prosperity at all. If God has prospered us, we give Him the firstfruits and we share it with everybody, including the clergy and foreigners.

Heather Jean Torosyan