Opening Prayer
Thank you, gracious Father, for this Sunday. Thank you that, because of your Word, I can worship you in spirit and truth.
Read PSALM 118
Psalm 118
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say:
“His love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say:
“His love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say:
“His love endures forever.”
5 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.
6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humans.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
11 They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,
but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my defense[a];
he has become my salvation.
15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
16 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord
through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
23 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.
25 Lord, save us!
Lord, grant us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.[b]
27 The Lord is God,
and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up[c] to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Footnotes
- Psalm 118:14 Or song
- Psalm 118:26 The Hebrew is plural.
- Psalm 118:27 Or Bind the festal sacrifice with ropes / and take it
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
Take time to give thanks to God for his goodness in your life.
Think Further
Psalms 113–118 form a collection of Hallel Psalms, or Passover Psalms. According to tradition, these psalms are sung during the Passover celebration. Their focus is to praise God for his presence, promise, faithfulness, and deliverance. As the final psalm in this collection, Psalm 118 recalls not only God’s rescue of the people from Egypt but also the journey to the temple of God. More importantly, this psalm found its ultimate fulfillment on Palm Sunday, as Jesus entered Jerusalem as the King, and the crowd cried out the words of verse 26.1
The main focus of this psalm is on the steadfast love of the Lord. The psalmist calls on everyone to offer thanksgiving to God for his enduring love (vv. 1–4). He then recalls the reasons why he offers thanks to God. God is his protection, refuge, and victory (vv. 5–21). He not only remembers God’s greatness and goodness in the past, he continues to praise God in the present as he enters the temple of the Lord (vv. 25–27). Because of God’s enduring love to him, the psalmist reaffirms his commitment to God, calling on the people to give thanks to God who is good and whose love endures forever. Let us pause, recall, and reflect on God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness toward us in the past. Let us give thanks to him for his enduring presence with us today. Let us give thanks to him as we enter his gates to worship him this day. Let us give thanks for his enduring love for us now and evermore.
Apply
‘And can it be that I should gain / an interest in the Savior’s blood? / Died he for me, who caused his pain? / For me, who him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be / that thou, my God, shouldst die for me!’2
Closing prayer
It is with gratitude I come before you, Lord God. Help me so that my thanksgiving overflows in ways that show others your love and faithfulness.
Last Updated on March 24, 2024 by kingstar
