God’s Steadfast Love
Psalm 118
Psalm 117 was a call for all to worship God for the blessings that flow to us from God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. The very next song in the Psalter, Psalm 118, acts on that call and flows forth with praise:
Psalm 118
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his steadfast love endures forever!2 Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
6 With the Lord on my side I do not fear.
What can mortals do to me?
7 The Lord is on my side to help me;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to put confidence in mortals.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to put confidence in princes.10 All nations surrounded me;
in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
12 They surrounded me like bees;
they blazed[a] like a fire of thorns;
in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
13 I was pushed hard,[b] so that I was falling,
but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.15 There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;
16 the right hand of the Lord is exalted;
the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.”
17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the Lord.
18 The Lord has punished me severely,
but he did not give me over to death.19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.20 This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.21 I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.[c]
25 Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!
O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.[d]
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God,
and he has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
up to the horns of the altar.[e]28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God, I will extol you.29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
The children of Israel remembered their holy history and how God’s steadfast love had been present. As we think back on how God has helped us this past week, month, or year, we might be able to make the final words from this song our own words:
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God, I will extol you.29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Prayer
Let the words of my mouth, the mediation of my heart, and my actions today show that I live my life with adoration and thanksgiving for Your love in my life. Amen.