stephen R Harrison

Psalm 118 ends the Egyptian hallel (Psalm 113-118) with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is more than a holiday, it’s a lifestyle. The psalmist began and ended the psalm with, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever” (Psalm 118:1, 29). This is a psalm of thanksgiving and also a psalm of praise. The “hallelujah psalms” are just that, the ones that have “praise the Lord” in them. Its important to point out that praise and thanksgiving go together and also initiate one another. When you praise, it causes you to be more thankful for God. When you are thankful for God, it causes you to praise. You can’t be thankful and not praise and you can’t praise and not be thankful! The psalmist reminds Israel (v. 2), those who serve in the sanctuary (v. 3), and all who fear the Lord (v. 4) that the Lord’s love endures forever. No matter if you are a pastor, grew up in church, or got saved late in life, everyone who is saved should give thanks to the Lord for His great enduring love for us! Thank You God for loving us and sending Jesus Your Son to die for our sins and save us!

The psalmist believed the God was so good and faithful that he used His covenantal name “Lord” twenty-six times in the next twenty-five verses. It’s obvious who the psalmist is talking about! He wants it to be clear that it is only the Lord Who hears our cries (v. 5), is with us (v. 6), helps us (v. 7), gives us refuge (vv. 8-9), fights our battles (v. 10), gives us the victory (vv. 11-13), and defends and strengthens (v. 14). This causes “shouts of joy and victory” (v. 15)! The psalmist mentions the Lord’s right hand, which is a symbol of ultimate and infinite power (vv. 15-16)! He alone causes them to live and not die (v. 17). He may have “chastened them severely” for their sin (v. 18), but He kept them alive. For this, the psalmist desired to give thanks to the Lord (vv. 19-21). We must remember Who deserves our praise and thanks. It’s so easy to praise and thank others. However, we must give God’s praise and thanks to others! Praise and thank Him!

Remember, Psalm 118 is part of a collection of six Psalms that were sung before and after communion to thank the Lord for rescuing Israel from Egypt. The great deliverer rescued them from Egypt, but this temporary release from slavery was short lived as they were taken away into slavery once again by the Babylonians and Assyrians. In fact, Jerusalem has been attacked more than 50 times and destroyed twice in its history. A better deliverer and savior was coming Who would never be defeated. Jesus, the “stone the builders rejected was the cornerstone” (v. 22; Matthew 21:42). He is the only one that can save and give eternal success (v. 25). He blesses (v. 26) and shines His light on us (v. 27). Jesus should cause us to shout “You are my God and I will praise You. You are my God and I will exalt You. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever” (vv. 28-29).

Questions:

1. How does your life show your thankfulness to the Lord for His salvation?
2. Do you praise the Lord for His deliverance?
3. What has the Lord delivered you from? Stop and praise Him now.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for Your enduring love! You are the only One Who saves! You fully deliver! That causes me to shout your praise! That causes me to be thankful! Praise the Lord! Hey everybody, praise the Lord! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.