One never knows what lies around the next bend, but it ain’t always bad.”
–Mark Baugher (C-Bar)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.”
–Proverbs 3:5 (RSV)
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“Thanksgiving is good, but thanks-living is better.”
–Matthew Henry
Wouldn’t it be grand if all Christians would practice that? Most would agree that we should be thankful, but might hesitate with Paul’s words to give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18). However, to live a life of thanksgiving is something else. That is true worship. Our lives are to be filled with gratitude for the things the Lord has done and just in recognition of who He is. Psalm 118 is a psalm of thanksgiving and more than that a psalm of triumph.
1 — Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
2 — Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
3 — Let the house of Aaron now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
4 — Let those who fear the LORD now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
5 — I called on the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
6 — The LORD is on my side; I will not fear, what can man do to me?
7 — The LORD is for me among those who help me; therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
8 — It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
9 — It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. (NKJV)
Mercy can be rendered in the first four verses as “His faithful love” (NLT). Because of His faithful love we have mercy that is abundant and never failing.
I was researching this Psalm and found that it is the single most referenced psalm in the New Testament. It is the only psalm quoted by all four Gospel writers–three times by Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and once by John. When Jesus wept over Israel He quoted this psalm (Lk 13:35). When He entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday this psalm was shouted by the people (Mt 21:9). Jesus quoted this psalm in His parables and it is also referenced by other New Testament writers. (Lawson)
The main thrust of the psalm is to thank the Lord for His goodness, especially in deliverance. We are to give our deepest gratitude to Him for His many blessings, but note, especially that of His mercy. “There is no end to the boundless mercy He lavished upon His people.” (Lawson) Notice, His people. His mercy is there for everyone, but it must be appropriated by becoming one of His own.
This is a psalm of trust! Luther claimed this psalm as his when he rode to stand before the hierarchy, civil and religious, in Worms. He stated on his journey, “The Lord is with me, so I will not be afraid. I am determined to go though as many devils should oppose me as there are tiles upon all the houses.” It is recorded that as Luther entered the hall of his sentencing an old soldier put his arm on Luther’s shoulder and said, “Little monk, you need more courage for your battle today than any soldier I know. But if God is for you, go ahead and do not be afraid.” (Petersen)
The writer of this psalm was in “distress” or other versions “anguish.” It means literally a “tight place, a confining place, lack of room,” a place from which there is no escape. But look what the Lord did for him–He answered “and set me in a broad place.” Whoooeee, that makes you want to give a shout and maybe a do a little jig. No hope–yet there was hope. In our lives we may face severe trials of various sorts and it seems that there is no hope–but look again, look upward towards the face of our Lord and see–there is hope, the least of not which is our heavenly hope.
As we walk through this journey called life we are never to forget that there is always hope when we trust in the Lord. “The author knew that God was with him in all circumstances of life, even in distress [anguish] and mounting difficulty.” (Lawson) We have no choice! We must look to God, for our alternative is the feebleness of man. We can choose God or we can choose man. How much better is it to take refuge in the Lord!
“And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him.”
–Martin Luther
——————————-
“Thanksgiving is good, but thanks-living is better.”
–Matthew Henry
Wouldn’t it be grand if all Christians would practice that? Most would agree that we should be thankful, but might hesitate with Paul’s words to give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18). However, to live a life of thanksgiving is something else. That is true worship. Our lives are to be filled with gratitude for the things the Lord has done and just in recognition of who He is. Psalm 118 is a psalm of thanksgiving and more than that a psalm of triumph.
1 — Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
2 — Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
3 — Let the house of Aaron now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
4 — Let those who fear the LORD now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
5 — I called on the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
6 — The LORD is on my side; I will not fear, what can man do to me?
7 — The LORD is for me among those who help me; therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
8 — It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
9 — It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. (NKJV)
Mercy can be rendered in the first four verses as “His faithful love” (NLT). Because of His faithful love we have mercy that is abundant and never failing.
I was researching this Psalm and found that it is the single most referenced psalm in the New Testament. It is the only psalm quoted by all four Gospel writers–three times by Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and once by John. When Jesus wept over Israel He quoted this psalm (Lk 13:35). When He entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday this psalm was shouted by the people (Mt 21:9). Jesus quoted this psalm in His parables and it is also referenced by other New Testament writers. (Lawson)
The main thrust of the psalm is to thank the Lord for His goodness, especially in deliverance. We are to give our deepest gratitude to Him for His many blessings, but note, especially that of His mercy. “There is no end to the boundless mercy He lavished upon His people.” (Lawson) Notice, His people. His mercy is there for everyone, but it must be appropriated by becoming one of His own.
This is a psalm of trust! Luther claimed this psalm as his when he rode to stand before the hierarchy, civil and religious, in Worms. He stated on his journey, “The Lord is with me, so I will not be afraid. I am determined to go though as many devils should oppose me as there are tiles upon all the houses.” It is recorded that as Luther entered the hall of his sentencing an old soldier put his arm on Luther’s shoulder and said, “Little monk, you need more courage for your battle today than any soldier I know. But if God is for you, go ahead and do not be afraid.” (Petersen)
The writer of this psalm was in “distress” or other versions “anguish.” It means literally a “tight place, a confining place, lack of room,” a place from which there is no escape. But look what the Lord did for him–He answered “and set me in a broad place.” Whoooeee, that makes you want to give a shout and maybe a do a little jig. No hope–yet there was hope. In our lives we may face severe trials of various sorts and it seems that there is no hope–but look again, look upward towards the face of our Lord and see–there is hope, the least of not which is our heavenly hope.
As we walk through this journey called life we are never to forget that there is always hope when we trust in the Lord. “The author knew that God was with him in all circumstances of life, even in distress [anguish] and mounting difficulty.” (Lawson) We have no choice! We must look to God, for our alternative is the feebleness of man. We can choose God or we can choose man. How much better is it to take refuge in the Lord!
“And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure;
One little word shall fell him.”
–Martin Luther