Psalm 118:1-6 (ESV) – A Song of Victory

1 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?

Reflection

Pause and meditate on the assertion of these words, “His steadfast love endures forever.” What does this mean when we are hurting? What does it mean when we feel lost and alone? It means that God’s love is timeless. Even when we cannot see the Almighty’s beginning and ending, the Alpha and the Omega, God’s love is our beacon. We serve an Everlasting God. Therefore, nothing else can overcome us, because God is our final victory.

In fact, this version of the 118th Psalm titles such poetry as, “A Song of Victory,” because the battle is already won! God’s steadfast love is enduring, period.  There is really nothing more that needs to be said. As fickle human beings, we may need to say this to steadily remind ourselves: aloud, through our prayers and for one another. Today, tomorrow and always, let us show some of our steadfast love back to our Everlasting God. God’s “love endures forever!”

By Barbara Carlson

For Pondering & Prayer

I urge you to go and reread this whole Psalm 118 because it truly is a message of hope, strength and victory. I reread it yesterday and just added, “Amen.”  Here is an adaptation for the final two verses, vv28-29, as our prayer:

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. I will give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! AMEN.