Introduction

A. Last week we celebrated Veterans Day to show our thanks to those who have served in our country’s armed forces.

B. Of all the people in the world, surely we have the most for which to be grateful.

C. How well do we show our gratitude to God for His blessings?

I. Which city do we resemble more?

A. The people of Keilah were ready to betray the man who risked his life to save them (1 Samuel 23:1-14).

B. By contrast, the people of Jabesh Gilead never forgot a kindness shown to them (1 Samuel 31:9-13; cf. 11:11).

II. Israel fell because they failed to be grateful to God.

A. God knew there would be a danger of this, and He warned them about it (Deuteronomy 6:11-12; 8:6-20; 28:47-48).

B. Nevertheless, Israel was ungrateful, even while God was sustaining them in the wilderness (Numbers 21:5) and leading them to freedom and prosperity.

C. They were ungrateful for God’s roles for them (Numbers 16:9-10), for His deliverance (Judges 8:33-35), and for His leadership (1 Samuel 8:7-8).

D. God sent prophets to rebuke them for their ingratitude (Jeremiah 2:4-13; 5:7,24; Hosea 2:8; 4:7), but they would not repent.

Conclusion

A. If we really want to express gratitude to God for His blessings, we will obey His commandments.

B. As a “holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9), the church should be a grateful nation, for no people on earth have ever been blessed so richly.