{"id":83853,"date":"2020-11-22T12:49:26","date_gmt":"2020-11-22T10:49:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=83853"},"modified":"2020-11-22T12:49:26","modified_gmt":"2020-11-22T10:49:26","slug":"thanksgiving-as-confession","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/thanksgiving-as-confession\/","title":{"rendered":"Thanksgiving As Confession"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[],"acf":{"old_id":"83853","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":62571,"related_cahpter":"617","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"Why is this sacrifice different from all other sacrifices.\r\n\r\n","content":"

A literal reading of this psalm gives the impression that the psalmist is concerned with two separate topics: one, an often-heard prophetic screed against thinking that offering a sacrifice constitutes the holiest of pursuits (v. 5, 8-14); or two, an equally ubiquitous warning to evildoers that they will eventually receive their just deserts (16-22). Malbim, however, proposes that the psalm is \u201call of a piece,\u201d where the perpetrators of the iniquities mentioned in the psalm\u2019s later verses, think that by offering sacrifices, as mentioned at the beginning, they can appease God and avoid punishment:<\/span><\/p>\n

There is rebuke directed at the flatterers and hypocrites who engage in great abominations and attempt to give the impression that they are extremely righteous by bringing many sacrifices. They cast aspersions on their colleagues (v. 20) regarding matters that they themselves do. They speak in God\u2019s name (v. 16-7,) despite His coming to judge them for their reprehensible deeds\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, because the psalmist mentions one particular sacrifice most admiringly in two separate verses, he posits that God will always be positively disposed to them, and bringing this type of sacrifice will always be viewed as a reflection of true piety: \u201cSacrifice a thanksgiving offering to God, and pay your vows to the most high (14)… He who sacrifices a thanksgiving offering honors Me, and to him who improves his way I will show the salvation of God\u201d (23).<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is such a sacrifice deemed so exceptionally desirable? Perhaps because the term \u201c<\/span>toda<\/span><\/em>\u201d which could mean \u201cgiving thanks,\u201d is also associated with the verb \u201c<\/span>lehitvadot<\/span><\/em>\u201d\u2014to confess. Consequently, if evildoers and hypocrites were to offer a thanksgiving sacrifice as they fulfill other commandments, it would also be considered an empty gesture; however if thanking God is a reflection of an overall stance of contrition and repentance on the part of the sinner, where a sincere confession of sins suddenly plays a prominent role, even for individuals who have \u201ccheckered\u201d pasts, they become entitled, like everyone else, to the promise of \u201cdivine rescue\u201d and the \u201csalvation of God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Our expressions of thanks, be they directed to God in our prayers and blessings, or to another human being when we receive from him\/her some act of kindness, are often at best, perfunctory and not heartfelt, and at worst, disconnected from how we truly are feeling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps what this psalm can teach, in the spirit of the rabbinic principle (e.g., Nedarim 11a): \u201c<\/span>michlal lav ata shomeia hen<\/span><\/em>\u201d (from the implications of what one is instructed not to do, we can learn what it is that we ought to do,) is that every time we express our appreciation of what has been done for us, we engage in something akin to \u201cconfession,\u201d i.e., declaring with our entire beings how we are deeply grateful for how another has extended him\/herself towards us, and that we will strive to repay the favor, if we possibly can.<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":48536,"id":48536,"title":"Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat","filename":"Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/sacrifices-then-and-now\/num28-high_priest_offering_sacrifice_of_a_goat\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"num28-high_priest_offering_sacrifice_of_a_goat","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":48535,"date":"2019-01-30 19:15:31","modified":"2022-08-25 03:47:40","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":640,"height":551,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat-300x258.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":258,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat.jpg","medium_large-width":640,"medium_large-height":551,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat.jpg","large-width":640,"large-height":551,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat.jpg","1536x1536-width":640,"1536x1536-height":551,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat.jpg","2048x2048-width":640,"2048x2048-height":551,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat.jpg","post_full_size-width":640,"post_full_size-height":551,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat-488x420.jpg","home_baner-width":488,"home_baner-height":420}},"embedded_video":"","video_duration":"","show_fb_comments":true,"credit_media":""},"tile":{"top_caption":"","main_caption":"Thanksgiving As Confession","main_caption_size":"1","sub_caption":"Why is this sacrifice different from all other sacrifices.","preview_embedded":"","preview_image":{"ID":48536,"id":48536,"title":"Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat","filename":"Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/sacrifices-then-and-now\/num28-high_priest_offering_sacrifice_of_a_goat\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"num28-high_priest_offering_sacrifice_of_a_goat","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":48535,"date":"2019-01-30 19:15:31","modified":"2022-08-25 03:47:40","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":640,"height":551,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat-300x258.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":258,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat.jpg","medium_large-width":640,"medium_large-height":551,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat.jpg","large-width":640,"large-height":551,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat.jpg","1536x1536-width":640,"1536x1536-height":551,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat.jpg","2048x2048-width":640,"2048x2048-height":551,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat.jpg","post_full_size-width":640,"post_full_size-height":551,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num28-High_Priest_Offering_Sacrifice_of_a_Goat-488x420.jpg","home_baner-width":488,"home_baner-height":420}},"preview_video":"","external_link":"","link_for_pay":false,"tile_gallery_items":false,"credits":""},"alternate_tile":{"top_caption":"","main_caption":"","main_caption_size":"1","sub_caption":"","hide_media":false},"tile_group":{"preview_image_url":false,"main_caption":"","sub_caption":"","":null,"popup_package_extra_content":"","read_time":""},"home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo":{"seo_title":"","seo_description":"","seo_default_title":"","seo_default_description":""},"links":false},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83853"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83853"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83853\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":83854,"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83853\/revisions\/83854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83853"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83853"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83853"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}