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Confident Trust Psalm 118

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2017 2:59 am
by shalom-dodi
For some people last week was just beyond wonderful. They made precious memories with family and/or friends. For some it might have been a lonely time. For others, not in the USA, it was just another week.

But for ALL of us it was a week to walk with Jesus through the ups and downs of life on this fallen wounded and yet beautiful planet called Earth.

We all have our stuff, but we also all have (or can if we don’t ) Jesus who is The Faithful One to walk with us. To comfort us. To spend time with us. And so much more.

We have been in a series on Confident Trust for a time now. Tonight we continue. If we have confident trust in Who God is and that God will do what he says He will do, then even during the rough seasons or moments we can relax and know that we are loved and held safe in His love as well.

The “light and momentary afflictions” are just that compared to eternal glory. Those are NOT my words and not always my mindset but they ARE true. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Sometimes I read that and feel comforted. Actually I always find it comforting but sometimes I want be like Job and say, “but God “this” is too hard.” Do you ever get like that too?
Tonight we are going to consider Psalm 118.
First we will read it aloud, then we will go back and ponder portions of it.
Ready?

Psalm 118English Standard Version (ESV)
His Steadfast Love Endures Forever
118 
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    for 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 free.

6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
    What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is on my side as my helper;
    I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust 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 went out like a fire among thorns;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
    but the Lord helped me.

14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
    he has become my salvation.
15 Glad songs of salvation
    are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,
16   the right hand of the Lord exalts,
   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 disciplined me severely,
    but he has not given 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 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.

25 Save us, we pray, O Lord!
    O Lord, we pray, give us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
    We bless you from the house of the Lord.

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!

28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
    you are my God; I will extol you.

29 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever!

I usually look at a passage in multiple versions when I am really studying it. So I went and did so with this one. In this Psalm the Phrase….Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever!….is repeated. It is interesting to see how it is translated in different versions:

26 AMP Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord;
We have blessed you from the house of the Lord [you who come into His sanctuary under His guardianship].
AMP says lovingkindness in place of steadfast love.
NIV Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
NLT Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
ASV Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
KJV O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
ISV Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his gracious love is eternal.
NET Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good and his loyal love endures!
GOD’S Word Give thanks to the LORD because he is good, because his mercy endures forever.
Darby Give ye thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; for his loving-kindness [endureth] for ever.

All of those difference sent me to the Literal translation from Hebrew. It is ḥas-dōw. חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ Which means his covenant loyalty.

That is interesting isn’t it? Covenant loyalty. That is a huge concept. I actually looked it up but think it is something we each might want to consider/research.
For now, we can say…no wonder it has so many translations. The vastness of God and the depth of His covenant relationship with us is so rich mere words can’t describe it.

Let’s ponder sections of the Psalm. Remember we are focusing on developing Confident Trust in God.


Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    for 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.”
Dodi Note: This where the repetition comes forth. When something is repeated it is usually important. For us, for me, when we/I remember that indeed the LOVE of God is steadfast as is…His lovingkindness, His faithful love, His enduring love, His gracious eternal love, His mercy and so on endures FOREVER and is way bigger than any problem I have, then I can relax.

Basically it is saying LET EVERYONE say…. “God’s steadfast LOVE endures forever. “
Maybe we can write that down somewhere and when we feel overwhelmed or especially alone read it or speak it forth? Like God this is too hard but…I know you love me and your LOVE is steadfast and endures forever.


5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
    the Lord answered me and set me free.
Dodi Note: Here is what we are to do. CRY out to Jesus. Admit exactly how we are feeling…and talk to God and ask for His help in whatever situation you are in. Then rest. Remember talking about CASTing our cares on Him a few times ago?

I can’t remember if I shared this with you or not. It is from a Max Lucado book I am reading and it is an acronym for CALM:
Celebrate God’s goodness. “Rejoice in the Lord always” (v. 4).
Ask God for help. “Let your requests be made known to God” (v.6)
Leave your concerns with him. “With thanksgiving . . .” (v. 6).
Meditate on good things. “Think about the things that are good and worthy of praise” (v. 8 ).
CALM: Celebrate. Ask. Leave. Meditate.

( I think Philippians 4) yes 4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. 7 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].
8 Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

Next portion:

6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
    What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is on my side as my helper;
    I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

Dodi Note: This guidance is found elsewhere too. It is really a neat way to learn to live life. Men aka people can upset us. They can hurt our feelings. They can wrongly accuse us. They can hold grudges against us and on and on. But the LORD is on our side. And when we choose forgiveness (which is a whole other topic) and release “them” to God, he will deal with them for us.

We don’t even need to say a word. But this Psalmist is saying, stating an actual fact that they will look in triumph on those who hate him.

Wouldn’t the BEST triumph we could have be to see them come to personal healing for the wounds that caused them to be so mean to us? Ha ha, right? That is why we follow Jesus’ advice and pray blessing over those who wound us and then let it go and let God take care of them and us.

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.
Dodi Note: Isn’t this saying the exact same thing I just commented? It is BETTER to take REFUGE in the LORD than to trust in man. Meaning we simply lean on and trust God and cease trying to get others to do what we wish they would do or think we need. Here he is even alluding to the fact that even a prince can not really shield our heart. But God can and does.

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 went out like a fire among thorns;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
    but the Lord helped me.

Dodi Note: I did not research which event this referred to. For our personal application that does not really matter. The point is the LORD helped him and the LORD is at work in each of our personal areas of need as well. Amen?


14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
    he has become my salvation.
15 Glad songs of salvation
    are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,
16   the right hand of the Lord exalts,
   the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”
Dodi Note: I LOVE v 14. Can we confidently chose to say The LORD is our STRENGTH and our SONG? He has become our salvation. And that word salvation does not only refer to the one time event of Salvation. In a sense it means save… save us from the woes and perils of life. Even do you think, save us from sometimes being our own worse enemy? When we choose to wallow in our mess instead of look to our Creator who loves us?

17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
    and recount the deeds of the Lord.
18 The Lord has disciplined me severely,
    but he has not given me over to death.
Dodi Note: This is glorious and somber at the same time. Sometimes we will need seasons of correction. But we can be confident that we shall not die, but live. God, Jesus came to give us ABUNDANT life here on earth. Yes abundant full rich life, even when things are not as we wish they were. A life of thanksgiving is an abundant life.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
    that I may enter through them
    and give thanks to the Lord.
Dodi Note: Oh see? It says that right here. We enter his gates with thanksgiving and his inner courts with praise. We discussed that last week.

20 This is the gate of the Lord;
    the righteous shall enter through it.
Dodi Note: What is the gate? Who is the gate?
Jesus is THE GATE and thanksgiving ushers us into His presence on a daily or moment by moment basis.

21 I thank you that you have answered me
    and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord's doing;
    it is marvelous in our eyes.
Dodi Note: I think for us this is specifically a reference to Jesus as LORD and Savior. Jesus is the Gate. Jesus is also referred to as the Cornerstone. When we build our life, when we live our life based on Who God is and what God says then truly…it is marvelous. Isn’t it?
Can you tell a difference in how you feel when you are focusing on God vs focusing on your situation?


24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Dodi Note: Theme verse for the song choice! This day, actually this moment of this day is the only moment we can choose to live in. We can choose to rejoice and be glad in it. Yes, i can even when I feel lonely in this new life. We can even when we don’t feel so good. No matter what, we can get up and say, like they did at camp to wake us. Good morning Dodi/self This is the day the LORD has made and I WLL REJOICE and be GLAD in it.

25 Save us, we pray, O Lord!
    O Lord, we pray, give us success!
Dodi Note: and follow that statement of choice with whatever supplication you have. Know that God will hear and is at work.

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
    We bless you from the house of the Lord.
Dodi Note: Then go forth to bless those you encounter with the LOVE of GOD.

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!
Dodi Note: thanking GOD that He has indeed made his Light to shine on us and made us to be His Lights to the world around us.

28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
    you are my God; I will extol you.
Dodi Note: Here we see an intentional choice. Right? Are you ready to choose tonight to live this way? Let’s see the next verse then we will pray:
29 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever!

Father God thank you for this wonderful gift of this Psalm. Help us to learn more and more to LIVE life this way. Thanking you. Trusting you. Blessing you for all the wonder of your love for us. Father be with each one and those we love this week.
In Jesus name amen

Father God thank you for this wonderful gift of this Psalm. Help us to learn more and more to LIVE life this way. Thanking you. Trusting you. Blessing you for all the wonder of you love for us. Father be with each one and those we love this week.
In Jesus name amen

Regarding covenant from Bible Study Tools:
The basic elements of a covenant are imbedded in the Genesis account. God, in his revelation of creation, presented himself as the Creator. The historical record of what he has done was outlined. He created his image-bearers by means of which he placed and kept man and woman in a close relationship with himself and had them mirror (reflect) and represent him within the created cosmos. Humanity was given stipulations or mandates. As image-bearers they were to maintain an intimate and obedient fellowship with their Creator; the Sabbath was to enhance this. Humanity was to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth; this was to be done by establishing families; a man was to leave his parents and cleave to his wife ( Gen 2:24 ). Becoming one flesh, they would have children. As families increased, community would be formed. This social mandate thus was an integral aspect of covenant. So was the cultural mandate; man and woman were to cultivate (subdue NIV) and rule over the creation. When God saw all that he had done, he confirmed, not by expressing an oath or performing a ratifying ceremony, but by declaring all to be very good ( Gen 1:31 ). This he confirmed by ceasing from creating activity and establishing the seventh day as a day of rest, sanctity, and blessing ( Gen 2:1-3 ).

Misunderstanding must be avoided. God has established an all-embracing binding relationship (covenant) with his creation, of which humanity is the central establishment of a second covenant within the context and framework of the creation covenant. As Yahweh God continued revealing himself, and how the redemptive/restorative "second covenant" was to be administered, it was always done with the context and framework of the creation covenant. Because the covenant of grace received direct and fuller "divine attention" as Yahweh God revealed his kingdom plan, goal, and certain consummation, many biblical students and scholars have concentrated their attention on it, failing to see, understand, or believe its position and role within the context and framework of the creation covenant that Yahweh certainly maintained and continues to maintain as he carries out and fulfills his plan and goal for his ever enduring kingdom.

Genesis 6-9 presents Noah as a faithful covenant man. In the midst of a very sinful, corrupt society, which God determined to wipe out, Noah lived obediently. Socially, he had one wife and three sons; he was blameless, so that others could not accuse him of wrongdoing. Spiritually he was in constant fellowship with God. He walked with God and was righteous; he lived according to God's will ( 6:9-10 ; 7:1 ). When commanded to build the ark, he proved to be a capable servant in the cultural dimension of life ( 6:14-16 ; 7:5 ). Yahweh assured Noah that his covenant of creation and its correlate, the covenant of gracious redemption and restoration, would be maintained with him and his family ( 6:18 ). After the flood had removed corrupt society and then receded, Noah the covenant man worshiped; he built an altar and sacrificed. Yahweh responded to Noah's worship and determined to continue his relationship with the cosmos (8:20-9:17).


Yahweh, revealing himself as the Sovereign One to Abram, gave him covenantal promises: spiritual well-being, making a great nation of him, making him famous, and using him as a channel of blessing to all peoples. Yahweh added to the assurances of blessings the certainty of the curse on despisers and rejectors of Abram and his sovereign God.
The process of God's covenanting with Abram was unfolded throughout the course of Abram's life. When Abram was afraid after his separation from and rescue of Lot (Gen. 13-14), Yahweh assured Abram of his abiding presence and protection for him (shield) and of the blessed spiritual future Yahweh had for him (great reward, Gen 15:1 ). Abram realized his great future included children; he inquired about this. Yahweh assured him he would have many ( Gen 15:5 ). In this way the continuity of the covenant was assured. An added promise was given: that he would possess the land ( 15:7 ).