together and there’s nothing binds men together like sweat and gunsmoke.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Daybreakers)
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
–Proverbs 17:17(NKJV)
————————————–
Trials, troubles, storms, and all other sorts of obstacles will come our way as we travel through life. The truth is that sometimes we think we can’t or won’t make it as George Wood puts it so succinctly, “When you move forward into crises, a season of deep vulnerability or trial, the enemy wants you to think, ‘I’ll never survive this.” This Psalm (118) is a wonderful word to use to fight such thoughts and feelings. We must remember that God is our salvation, not only in the new birth but to sustain us through each day of life.
19 — Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, and I will praise the LORD.
20 — This is the gate of the LORD, through which the righteous shall enter.
21 — I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation.
22 — The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
23 — This was the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 — This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 — Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.
26 — Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
27 — God is the LORD, and He has given us light; bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 — You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You.
29 — Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. (NKJV)
We cannot get away from this Psalm without looking for a moment at verse 22. This is a prophecy of the Messiah. Jesus, rejected by men, chosen by God who is the chief cornerstone. Peter tells us that this stone will cause the disobedient to stumble; that is those that reject Him will continue to do so and will continue to disobey His word. There is so much to be said regarding verse 24. It is referring to this cornerstone–Jesus Christ the coming Savior. However, it goes further than that for each and every day is given to us by the Lord to be used for the kingdom and to bring glory to Him. We should upon awakening praise and thank the Lord for the day that is before us. We shouldn’t grumble at the morning hours, that we must wake and get up, but instead give Him glory for the new day–a new day of His mercy. “Thanksgiving is to be thanks-living, a daily lifestyle for every believer. In this sense, thanksgiving is to be a way of life, encompassing one’s attitude and actions, both words and deeds.” (Steven Lawson)
I want to share a story from William Petersen’s book about William Cowper. He was the pen behind several hymns, including “There is a Fountain Filled With Blood” and “O for a Closer Walk with God.” Cowper, however, was a very troubled young man. Three times he attempted suicide; twice he was pronounced insane; and if it weren’t for Christian friends and for Psalm 118, he probably wouldn’t have written anything. Cowper found a happy companionship with John Newton, the former slave-trader turned pastor. They communed together taking walks and writing hymns together. For a while they tried to write a hymn every week. When he was feeling stable, Cowper rejoiced in the twenty-ninth verse: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!” The friendship of these men enriched each other, but their work continues to enrich believers today. (One Year Book of Psalms, Tyndale House, 1999).
Friendship! How valuable it is for the saints. A good friend helps one along the way, even when they do not know they are doing so. Think of those whom God has placed in your life to help in your walk, even if only for a short season. Then stand back and proclaim, “This was the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” (vs 23)
“You fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.”
–William Cowper
————————————–
Trials, troubles, storms, and all other sorts of obstacles will come our way as we travel through life. The truth is that sometimes we think we can’t or won’t make it as George Wood puts it so succinctly, “When you move forward into crises, a season of deep vulnerability or trial, the enemy wants you to think, ‘I’ll never survive this.” This Psalm (118) is a wonderful word to use to fight such thoughts and feelings. We must remember that God is our salvation, not only in the new birth but to sustain us through each day of life.
19 — Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, and I will praise the LORD.
20 — This is the gate of the LORD, through which the righteous shall enter.
21 — I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation.
22 — The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
23 — This was the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 — This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 — Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.
26 — Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
27 — God is the LORD, and He has given us light; bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 — You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You.
29 — Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. (NKJV)
We cannot get away from this Psalm without looking for a moment at verse 22. This is a prophecy of the Messiah. Jesus, rejected by men, chosen by God who is the chief cornerstone. Peter tells us that this stone will cause the disobedient to stumble; that is those that reject Him will continue to do so and will continue to disobey His word. There is so much to be said regarding verse 24. It is referring to this cornerstone–Jesus Christ the coming Savior. However, it goes further than that for each and every day is given to us by the Lord to be used for the kingdom and to bring glory to Him. We should upon awakening praise and thank the Lord for the day that is before us. We shouldn’t grumble at the morning hours, that we must wake and get up, but instead give Him glory for the new day–a new day of His mercy. “Thanksgiving is to be thanks-living, a daily lifestyle for every believer. In this sense, thanksgiving is to be a way of life, encompassing one’s attitude and actions, both words and deeds.” (Steven Lawson)
I want to share a story from William Petersen’s book about William Cowper. He was the pen behind several hymns, including “There is a Fountain Filled With Blood” and “O for a Closer Walk with God.” Cowper, however, was a very troubled young man. Three times he attempted suicide; twice he was pronounced insane; and if it weren’t for Christian friends and for Psalm 118, he probably wouldn’t have written anything. Cowper found a happy companionship with John Newton, the former slave-trader turned pastor. They communed together taking walks and writing hymns together. For a while they tried to write a hymn every week. When he was feeling stable, Cowper rejoiced in the twenty-ninth verse: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!” The friendship of these men enriched each other, but their work continues to enrich believers today. (One Year Book of Psalms, Tyndale House, 1999).
Friendship! How valuable it is for the saints. A good friend helps one along the way, even when they do not know they are doing so. Think of those whom God has placed in your life to help in your walk, even if only for a short season. Then stand back and proclaim, “This was the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” (vs 23)
“You fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.”
–William Cowper