Psalm 118

Sunday Worship 8 February 2009
Speaker: David Wang
Text: Psalm 118

This is a song of celebration for God's deliverance from exile and oppression.

v 1-4 The Lord's enduring love

The psalmist gives thanks in the midst of trouble. He begins with giving thanks for the Lord's goodness and enduring love. How do we receive this love? According to Galatians 2:20, by living by faith in Christ. His love is enduring or never ending: He will never forsake us, as Jesus explained in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15).

v 5-9 The Lord's answer to prayer

In answer to a cry in anguish, the Lord sets the psalmist free: free from the grip of fear. He then affirms that his security is in God alone: the safest place to be on earth is to be in God's will and protection. God hears and answers our cries, and is our refuge and security.

v 10-14 The Lord's deliverance

"in the name of the LORD I cut them off" - there is power in the name of the Lord. We can pray with authority in His name, for with God all things are possible.

v 15-21 The Lord's mighty hand

"The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!
The LORD's right hand is lifted high;
the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"
The Lord's power in the affairs of all nations and in our lives has been revealed: Exodus 15:11,12.
We need not be fearful; we can hold on to His right hand and be led by Him, and accept and submit to His discipline and chastening of us because of His love.

v 22-27 The Lord's wisdom

This is a messianic psalm which prophesies about Jesus the capstone. If we compare with the world's wisdom, we will find that it is only in God that we can find true success: 1 Cor 3:18-19, James 3:17, Matt 22:15, James 1:5.

v 28-29 Doxology

In times of trouble, we can turn to God in prayer and experience His enduring love, know His presence and right hand holding us, and ask for His wisdom.

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