The Gemara says that although as a “rule” Hashem does not show favoritism, but Klal Yisroel is an exception, since they go beyond the “rules”. We are commanded to say Birchas HaMazon after eating only when we feel full (וְשָׂבָעְתָּ), yet, we go beyond the minimum requirement, and bentch even if we ate a small amount of bread the size of: כִּזַית וּכְבֵיצה an olive or an egg. Even though we aren’t really sated, we make believe that we are! (And in bentching וְאָכַלְתָּ we mention: "וְשָׂבָעְתָּ וּבֵרַכְתָּ" as if we are full!)
Part of Bircas HaMazon is being thankful for Malchus Bais Dovid. Dovid was just such a person. He was loaded with the worst Tzaros, yet he was always singing and thanking Hashem. We thank even when we aren’t full, and he thanked even though he had terrible Tzaros. A Melech is a Melech because he’s ahead of everybody in being thankful.
The More You Admire Your Qualities, The More Thankful and Humble You Become
Although it says: מֶלֶךְ בְּיָפְיוֹ תֶּחֱזֶינָה עֵינֶיךָ (Yeshaya 33:17) the king should be seen in his finest form, and from this we learn that a Melech takes a haircut every day (Gemara), this can also be a Remez that he appreciates himself more than others, and therefore is more thankful and humble. For good reason: דַרְכֵי ה׳ לִבְךָ לְהַבִּיאוֹ לַעֲבֹדַת ה׳ “lifting your heart in order to serve Hashem” is so important. The more you keep boasting and admiring your qualities, the more thankful and humble you become!
Notice how the same Hillel HaNasi who said: אִם אֲנִי כַּאן הַכֹּל כַּאן “If I am here, everyone is here” (Gemara), was known especially for his humility. (Gemara). When the Chazzan says Modim (in Chazaras HaShatz) which is almost complete thankfulness, the Tzibbur says: דִמוֹים נָבָרַדְ Modim D'rabanan, which is half thanking and half asking for more. The greater the person, the more he is involved in thanking!
ינוּלֵעָחַבֵּשַׁלְ Aleinu was composed by our leader, Yehoshua. And: עַל כֵּן נְהוֶקַ was composed by Achan. Aleinu has only thankfulness, and: עַל כֵּן נְהוֶקַ has requests for improvement. The Shevet of Malchus is called “Yehuda”; its very essence (a name symbolizes the essence) is “Hoda'ah” being thankful. And the rest of Klal Yisroel are called Yehudim, since we all need to try to emulate our Melech כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּנֵי מְלָכִים :And( . הֵם שבת קכח א All Yidden are princes!).
When Leah gave birth to Yehuda, it says: וַתַּעֲמֹד מִלֶּדֶת ויצא כט לה she stopped having children. This can be a Remez: When you say “thank you” like a king, then you stop asking for more, since a king is extreme in his thankfulness. Many people feel that they are thankful, yet their Mazal is so bad and they complain.
If Your Thankfulness Is Not “Working” You May Need to “Thank” More Intensely
They don’t realize that they should be more extreme and intense in being thankful, like a Melech (who, besides his intense thankfulness, is also super intense in his Hasmada in learning. He has two Sifrei Torah, and the “Even HaEzel” says that a Melech is an unusual Masmid). I have seen people who have had ongoing difficult issues without no end in sight.... until they took a total break from asking Hashem, and spent a long time with ONLY thanking!
Suddenly, they had major Yeshuos, like major Refuos, unbelievable sudden Shalom Bayis, and much better Parnasa. A “thanker” is always looking for more areas to thank Hashem. This is his line. He is a Yehudi, which means “One who thanks”.
