1of5 His steadfast love endures forever Text: Psalm 118 Introduction Psalms 113-118 are a grouping of Psalms called the 'Egyptian Hallel.' 'Hallel' means praise 'Egyptain' makes reference to the Passover So, these Psalms are Psalms of praise that were closely connected to the major festivals on the Jewish Calendar; Passover being one of them It is believed that Jesus and His disciples could have sung these Psalms at the Last Supper. Psalm 118 describes a festive procession into Jerusalem The actual event is hard to identify, but seems to be linked to the rebuilding of the Temple or walls of Jerusalem As Jesus entered Jerusalem for His final week before crucifixion, the crowds seemed to recite Psalm 118 Eg. Mark 11:9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Psalm 118:26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Jesus may also have implied that His followers will sing this Psalm at His 2 nd coming Eg. Matt. 23:39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Psalm 118's author does not identify himself, but it is understood that he is speaking, at least in part, on behalf of the nation of Israel. 1. A call to praise v.1-4 The Psalmist begins with a call for everyone to praise the Lord. The call goes out to the people of Israel, including the house of Aaron (the priests), and all who fear the Lord They are called upon to give thanks to the Lord. Why? For He is good For His steadfast love endures forever This is the reason we structure our services the way we do. We have a Deacon open the service with a call to praise He reads the Word He prays the Word He calls us all to praise the Lord Then a music team leads us in songs of praise Congregational singing is a way for us to praise the Lord together Then we place a high emphasis on the preaching of the Word Even the preaching is a call to praise God through our submitting ourselves to the authority of God's Word We share in communion as we remember Christ's sacrifice and proclaim His death until He comes After the service we have a time of fellowship in the hall. Even that is a call to praise God as we recognise that we are one in Christ It is very difficult to praise God if you don't see that He is good and that His steadfast love endures forever. The goodness and steadfast love of God is seen in His mercy, grace, and faithfulness
God was merciful, gracious, and faithful in the Old Testament Now, in Christ, we see it more beautifully Jesus paid the ultimate price for the forgiveness of our sins. As we trust in Him to be saved we have assurance of salvation And now, as believers, we are filled with His Holy Spirit, who is to us a Comforter and Counselor in this life God is indeed good and His steadfast love endures forever We are called upon to praise God forevermore. 2. A call to remember v.5-18 The Psalmist now remembers a time of God's rescue from distress. He remembers what God has done for him and for them. The Psalmist called, and God answered Psalm 118:5-7 Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. The Psalmist recounts a time when he called out to the Lord during a time of distress, and remembers how the Lord answered him and set him free It is a testimony like this that reminds one that God is on our side And if God is on our side we need not fear He rightly asks, What can man do to me? That is a terrifying question, because there is lots that man can do to you But in light of eternity, it is very small Since the Psalmist knows that the Lord is on his side as his helper, he will look in triumph on his enemies The Lord is a sure refuge Psalm 118:8-9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. Since God is on our side it is better to take refuge in Him He is faithful and true Man will let you down, God never will This is not to say that there shouldn't be trust between people Husbands and wives should love one another Parents should love and care for their children Friends should be trusted Church family should be treasured But God is ever faithful and true He is a safe-haven The Psalmist was surrounded by enemies, but the Lord delivered him Psalm 118:10-13 All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me. The Psalmist was surrounded by nations (Gentiles, & those who did not love the Lord) 2of5
But in the name of the Lord he was delivered At a point he felt like he was falling, or losing But the Lord helped him Sing glad songs of salvation Psalm 118:14-16 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: The right hand of the LORD does valiantly, the right hand of the LORD exalts, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly! The deliverance of verses 10-13 have caused the Psalmist to sing glad songs of salvation Is there rejoicing in our homes, office, and in the Church over God's great salvation? Though the Lord disciplines, He saves Psalm 118:17-18 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD. The LORD has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death. The Psalmist lives another day to recount the deeds of the Lord Although God disciplines, and trying times come, they are there to draw one closer to the Lord The Psalmist rightly calls us to remember that the Lord is good, and that we should sing His praise. 3of5 3. A call to rejoice v.19-29 The Psalmist ends off with a call to rejoice. This next section pictures the people approaching the gates that lead to the Temple. They approach the gates to go and give thanks to the Lord Psalm 118:19-21 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. It is the righteous who enter through the gates to go and give thanks to the Lord The Lord has become the salvation of the righteous The righteous are those who live by faith and seek to honor the Lord and keep His commands The Israelites had been saved from their immediate enemies We have been saved from sin and death, and raised to life eternal in Christ They rejoice in God restoring them to prominence Psalm 118:22-23 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. In the context of the Psalm it is saying that the nations around Israel had rejected them as of any value But God's design was that Israel should be the cornerstone, the people who were led by God Himself Of course, Jesus would be born from the line of King David, of the people of Israel Jesus would then use these verses to refer to Himself Matt. 21:42 Jesus said to them, Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our
4of5 eyes? The builders are those who reject Jesus It is the Lord's doing that Jesus should be the One and Only Savior of the world When the Apostle Peter appeared before the religious leaders at the Temple after having healed the lame beggar and teaching the people about Jesus, he said to them in Acts 4:11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. The Apostle Paul, in speaking about the Church, says in Ephesians 2:19-22 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. The Apostle Peter says in 1 Peter 2:6-7 For it stands in Scripture: 'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.' So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.' So, Israel was rejected by the nations around them even though they were chosen and precious in God's sight. In the same way Jesus was rejected by many who saw His ministry on earth. God had sent His one and only Son to be the Savior of the world. Yet, many still reject Him today. We are to rejoice in the Lord every day Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. As the people stood before the gates to give thanks and praise to the Lord, they were rejoicing in Him The Lord saves and gives success Psalm 118:25 Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord Psalm 118:26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord. The ones in charge at the Temple would pronounce this blessing as people arrived to bring their offerings Ultimately this blessing was used to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem at His triumphal entry Mark 11:9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! And we could be saying those words as Jesus arrives at the 2 nd coming Matt. 23:39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Through offering of sacrifice God's light can once more shine on us Psalm 118:27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar! Rejoice in Jesus! He offered His life as a sacrifice of atonement, that the wrath of God be
satisfied, and the light of God's face can shine upon us Rejoice in the Lord Psalm 118:28-29 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! God is for us He is our God Give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and steadfast love endures forever! Conclusion We have before us this morning a Psalm which Jesus and the Apostles quoted from. We can see in Jesus the deeper meaning of Psalm 118. In Psalm 118 we see the people of Israel going up to the Temple to give thanks to the Lord. There will come a day when we approach God's heavenly throne to praise Him for His goodness and steadfast love. God has given Jesus to be the only way of salvation. Are you trusting in Jesus to be saved? Have you surrendered your life in repenting of your sins before Him and placing your faith in Him? Psalm 118 calls us to praise the Lord, remember Him, and rejoice in Him. 5of5