Psalm 118 - 6.18.26
S: Psalm 118:1 & 8 - 14
1 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.”
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.”
O: Pressure and the consuming nature of pressure or worry or fear is something that comes into our lives quite often in many different seasons. In this psalm we see this narrative of pressure that nations are closing in and fear is rising, but it is in these moments of pressure and within the battles that we face internally and externally that we have an opportunity to see the power of the name of our Lord and the power of our praise for His everlasting love. This is what sticks out to me in Psalm 118, how when the name of the Lord is called upon fear is silenced, a place of dwelling and refuge is received, help is found, and all is put into perspective when praise is lifted to the Lord and His love. In this psalm, notice how before the battle is brought up - first what is brought up is praise and praise for Lord’s love. The Lord’s love is a consistent and powerful thing that we get to praise Him for no matter what pressure we are under or what battle is in front of us, Psalm 118 shouts thanksgiving and celebration of the Lord’s steadfast love that delivers us from distress. His name and His presence being more powerful than our worry or fear. We can so often become ritualistic with our worry, that worry and fear feel like second nature that we forget the medicinal and radical power that is the name of Jesus and the power that is in our praise for His faithful love.
A: Let's make praise for the Lord’s love, our weapon of defense and our refuge this week. Let us make a commitment together to consciously put reminders and scriptures in front of us that remind us of His love. Whether that be a worship song you can continually listen to this week that proclaims His steadfast love over you, or a scripture you can have as your screensaver or on your mirror or in your car, whatever it may be how can we orient our hearts to see and declare that His faithful love endures forever no matter what we are facing and no matter what we are going through. Because this is the truth, He deserves praise because His faithful love endures forever!! When we do so, I am excited to see how chains will break and perspectives will shift and thought patterns will change. Jesus loves you so deeply and praise for that steadfast love is medicine to our soul.
P: Jesus, your faithful love endures forever! You know what burdens are on my heart and on my mind and God I cast those cares and burdens to your feet and choose to PRAISE you for your faithful love that endures forever. In Jesus name, AMEN!
- Tess Schrupp
