Give thanks with a grateful heart

Authors:
Themes:
Scriptures:
  • Joel 3:10
  • 2 Corinthians 6:10
  • 2 Corinthians 8:9
  • 2 Corinthians 9:15
  • 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
  • Colossians 3:15
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:18
  • James 2:5
  • Revelation 2:9-10
Book Number:
  • 174

Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One,
give thanks because he’s given
Jesus Christ, his Son.
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One,
give thanks because he’s given
Jesus Christ, his Son.

And now let the weak say, ‘I am strong’,
let the poor say, ‘I am rich’,
because of what the Lord has done for us.
And now let the weak say, ‘I am strong’,
let the poor say, ‘I am rich’,
because of what the Lord has done for us.

Give thanks. (last time only)

© 1978 Integrity's Hosanna! Music/Adm. by kingswaysongs
Henry Smith

Approaching God - Adoration and Thanksgiving

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Tune

The story behind the hymn

Whatever repetitions are incorporated into its performance, this song has 2 clear but unequal parts, both with internal repeats. The first 4 ‘doubled’ lines express simple gratitude to ‘the Holy One’ (a frequent title in Isaiah) for the greatest of all gifts; the following 3 take the response further in the spirit of 2 Corinthians 12:9–10, Hebrews 11:34, James 2:5 and other NT paradoxes. Watts had the same idea in his Let me but hear my Saviour say (‘When I am weak, then am I strong’); even closer is Doddridge’s Now let the feeble all be strong (1739). But the basic text here is Joel 3:10, where the context is divine judgement, not human gratitude. The text and its tune GIVE THANKS both come from Henry Smith, being published in 1978 and appearing in various Spring Harvest and MP editions.

A look at the author

Smith, Henry

b USA, 1952. A songwriter in the renewal movement; the namesake of, but not connected with, others including Henry P Smith, 1825-98. Many recordings have been made of his best-known song, featured here and in Sing Praise (2010) and other UK books, including a duet sung by the composer and his wife Cindy, both on guitar. No.174