Leah, the Psalmists, and Thankful Praise
Nov. 2, 2025
To label the family of Jacob as dysfunctional is an understatement. Through his father-in-law’s duplicity, the trickster Jacob was outwitted when he was given not only his beloved Rachel but also her sister, Leah, as wives. The biblical account of Leah is a sad one, as she was the unloved wife vying for her husband’s affection. While her sister remained barren, Leah, able to bear children, believed this would finally win her husband’s love. The statements she made upon the births of her first three sons bear this out: “The Lord has looked upon my affliction, for now my husband will love me” (Genesis 29:32); “the Lord has heard that I am hated” (33); “now this time my husband will be attached to me” (34). Despite ensuring Jacob a patriarchal heritage, Leah remained in her unloved position.
With the birth of her fourth son, a change seems to have taken place in her attitude. Naming him Judah, she stated, “This time I will praise the Lord” (35). The word translated as praise in this statement is translated elsewhere in the Old Testament as thanks. With this son, there was no pining for her husband’s affection; instead, there was a proclamation of thankful praise to the Lord for his birth. Remarkably, it was through this son’s lineage that God sent His Son to be thankfully received by all who seek salvation!
What happened to Leah’s thinking at this point in her life? Though the text does not elaborate, it reveals the ongoing rivalry between the sisters. Still, it is worth meditating on a moment when a woman who surely struggled with feelings of inferiority, neglect, and melancholy recognized that there is a God who loves her. When this pervaded her thoughts, thanksgiving brightened the dark corners of her heart. The same can be true for anyone.
Leah’s experience of finding peace through gratitude is echoed in the broader biblical narrative. Many of the psalms were also written in times of difficulty. With either personal or national calamity at hand, the psalmists cry out for God’s help. Interestingly, in the midst of the gloom, these hymnists took time to rehearse the good things God had done. A good example of this is found in the beloved 23rd Psalm, with David writing, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (5). Other psalms list the great deeds God accomplished for His people. A pattern emerges in the psalms that when desperation threatens to overwhelm, the occasion should be taken to thank God for all He has done. Like Leah, they turned their attention upward.
The wisdom of thanking God in times of sadness or difficulty is profound. It first takes attention off the earthly plane and recenters it in the throne room of Heaven. Such grand thoughts can put problems in perspective. While a difficulty can drain one of zeal and spirituality, thoughts of the King in His royal splendor can restore confidence that nothing outside of one’s own choosing can separate this kingly Father from His children. It is also a reminder that this Father cares. Listing the blessings He has provided and thanking Him for times of past help serves as a tremendous reminder that He will help with the current difficulties. As Leah observed, this can bring peace to a troubled soul.
The challenge is putting this proven strategy into practice. Perhaps a month of almost total immersion would help. Since November is a month assigned to national thanksgiving, it might prove to be a good month for personal thanksgiving. How would my life change if every personal prayer for the remainder of November dwelt on nothing but thanking God for what He has done for me? Alternatively, every time I ask God for His help, I could thank Him for three things He has already done for me. Such a commitment would set a course for steady and consistent thanks in life, especially in those seasons that are invaded by fear, sadness, and distress.
Congregations should also consider the need for steady thanksgiving. One of the purposes of the psalms was to bring the minds of God’s people together on one thought. The same can be true for congregational prayers of thanksgiving. What would happen if a congregation dedicated every “opening” and “closing” prayer to nothing but thanking God for what He has done for the group? Likely, this church would begin to focus less on national politics and the dangers facing the nation and more on the God who is in control. Most importantly, it would bring a greater appreciation for the blessings that God has rained down on a people dedicated to serving and pleasing Him.
Leah and the psalmists have shown the way; they have revealed that thanking God is a practice that not only brings one closer to Him but also serves as a vigilant reminder that He blesses His people and stands with them in the good times and the bad. Let this thankful praise rise to the Father as He showers His blessings on His people.