Psalm 118 opens and closes w/ a call to “give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” God’s committed love for his people is clearly seen in this glad song. It may very well reflect the testimony of the nation of Israel in her deliverance from bondage in Egypt and subsequent desert wanderings. I am reminded today that I need to say to myself daily “His steadfast love endures forever” (2-4) and never forget that enduring truth. A very real & distressful crisis prompted calling on the covenant God for help (5-7 & 10-13). This resulted in finding God to be “on [his] side” dispelling fear and “[his] helper” triumphing over hateful & hurtful enemies. Oh, how important it is for me to personalize this and find God to be MY helper, MY strength, MY song and MY salvation (7, 14)! There is much to learn from crisis experiences (such as the one we’re currently facing w/ the COVID-19 pandemic with its fear & panic & drastic measures). Truly “it IS better to take refuge in Yahweh” more than trusting mere mortals, even leaders (8-9). When I go out today, I may have to wear a mask and wash my hands and use sanitizer and keep my distance from people, but I will not trust in those measures to protect me or keep me safe. Ultimately my times and life and health are in God’s hands. I know when I go out today that God will be at my side as my helper, and his powerful right hand will do valiantly whatever exalts him the most. This will be what keeps me singing today (14-16). Though I have experienced God’s severe discipline in the past and may face it yet again in the future, I know that “I shall not die [ultimately], but I shall live” (17-18), because Jesus Christ has promised that he was the resurrection and the life and that “everyone who lives and believes in [him] shall never die” (John 11:25-26). This is my hope and the essence of eternal life that God grants to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ.
Why do I bring such confidence in Jesus Christ into today’s devotional? Because Psalm 118 has such strong messianic connections in verses 22-26. Jesus referred to this scripture in his teaching (Matthew 21:42), and verses 25-26 were even shouted by the palm-waving multitude as Jesus rode into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:9). Christ’s apostles also applied this Scripture to Jesus (Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 4:11). The religious leaders rejected Jesus, but God vindicated him by that very rejection and subsequent resurrection and exalted him at his right hand. This whole turn of events was “the LORD’s doing” and truly something “marvelous” to behold. Such a day of triumph over God’s enemies and the vindication of God’s Son is “the day that the LORD has made” for me and all God’s people to “rejoice and be glad in” (23-24). For this reason, I WILL give thanks to my God and WILL extol him today, for indeed “he is good” [and] “his steadfast love endures forever!” (28-29), and I invite you to join me.
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