Psalm 66 opens with the exclamation, "Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth" (verse 1). This praise is not just a personal expression, but a collective celebration that invites the whole world to get involved. Thanksgiving to God does not stop in the heart, but flows outward, becoming a testimony that can be seen and heard. The collective celebration was shaped by a common history that bound them as one nation, fellow believers in God. If Indonesians often hear the phrase "never forget history" (red coat), then the psalmist brings the memory of that history to spark a fuller picture of God.

History itself is not just a series of random events, but a grand stage on which meaning and freedom are expressed through often contentious processes. Even suffering and conflict are ultimately directed towards a higher purpose. The story of God parting the sea and leading His people across the river (verse 6) confirms that human history never stands alone, but is organized by divine intervention. From this realization comes true gratitude: life is not just the result of personal struggle, but part of a grand narrative in which God is at work. Giving thanks means recognizing that personal history and the history of the people meet each other in the work of God. Furthermore, Psalm 66 shows how a historical moment (the liberation of Israel) is elevated to a sacred memory that is celebrated across generations. The people who lived hundreds of years after the exodus said, "Let us rejoice in Him" (verse 6). To give thanks, then, is to transcend time: to revive the sacred traces and make them a testimony that continues to be relevant today.

Friends of the Bible, authentic thanksgiving never stops as an inner feeling. It must transform into witness: in fellowship, in daily life, in care for others and creation. To give thanks is also to testify to God's goodness, to guard the life He has given us, and to participate in the cosmic liturgy with the rest of creation. So, like the psalmist, let us strive for living gratitude: gratitude that others see as a tangible sign that God is still at work, guarding and sustaining. In this way, we not only say, "Thank you, Lord," but also say to others, "See, this is His work in my life."