11On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:11–19
The ingratitude of the nine lepers who just kept on going looms large in this passage. But
there’s another “facet to the gem.” The one who returns not only gives thanks and praise to God, but makes a considerable, deliberate effort to acknowledge what God has done for him.David brings this out in Psalm 124:
1If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side—
let Israel now say—
2if it had not been Yahweh who was on our side
when people rose up against us,
3then they would have swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
4then the flood would have swept us away,
the torrent would have gone over us;
5then over us would have gone
the raging waters.
6Blessed be Yahweh,
who has not given us
as prey to their teeth!
7We have escaped like a bird
from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
and we have escaped!
8Our help is in the name of Yahweh,
who made heaven and earth.
David exhorts the assembly to acknowledge God’s deliverance, and to remind themselves that the God who delivered them is Yahweh “who made heaven and earth.” Thanksgiving affects our relationship with God. Acknowledgement deepens and reinforces our faith in God and our dependence on God. Our faith in God is increased each time we are aware and then acknowledge that He has come through for us.
So when the God who made the heavens and the earth intervenes in our lives, let’s put for the effort to acknowledge that to ourselves, and to others, and to God Himself.