Give Thanks Unto the Lord Jehovah – Psalm 118

Give Thanks Unto the Lord Jehovah – Worship with Gratitude Week 2

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his faithful love endures forever.
Let Israel say,
“His faithful love endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His faithful love endures forever.”
Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His faithful love endures forever.”
Psalm 118: 1-4

Did you know that Psalm 118 is almost at the very center of the Bible? I love the whole chapter of 118! The writer just keeps reminding us that when we get ourselves in bad situations, God has never failed us. The Psalmist rehearses the goodness of God in all situations.

What God Has Done

Over and over in the Old Testament, we hear the Israelites going over what God has done. In fact, the Israelites are instructed to keep the Words of God with them all the time.

“Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Rehearse the Goodness of God

Our song of worship and gratitude for this week reminds us to keep the goodness of God at the forefront of our minds:

Give Thanks Unto the Lord Jehovah

Verse 1:
Give thanks unto the Lord, Jehovah,
For He is good, O praise His name!
Let Israel say: The Lord be praisèd,
His mercy ever is the same.
Let Aaron’s house now praise Jehovah;
The Lord is good, O praise His name:
Let all that fear the Lord extol Him,
His mercy ever is the same.

This totally echoes Psalm 118!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his faithful love endures forever.
Let Israel say,
“His faithful love endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His faithful love endures forever.”
Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His faithful love endures forever.”
Psalm 118: 1-4

God’s mercy, His ever-faithful love, stays the same yesterday, today, and forever! If that isn’t something for which we can be grateful, I don’t know what is!

Do Not Be Afraid

Verse 2:
In a large place the Lord hath set me;
In my distress He heard my cry.
I will not fear, the Lord is with me;
What can man do, when God is nigh?
The Lord is chief among my helpers;
And I shall see my foes o’erthrown:
Far better than in man or princes,
My trust I place in God alone.

God hears us when we cry out to Him. When we feel crushed and surrounded, He can set us in spacious places within our spirits.

When God is on my side, what can people do to me? I will not be afraid!

I called to the Lord in distress;
the Lord answered me
and put me in a spacious place.
The Lord is for me; I will not be afraid.
What can a mere mortal do to me?
The Lord is my helper;
therefore, I will look in triumph on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humanity.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in nobles.
Psalm 118:5-9

This is an incredible bolster to our courage! We don’t have to be afraid when people or stresses crush in around us or weigh down on us. If we will cry out to God, He hears us and is more powerful than anyone ever.

We can choose to trust in God rather than people or jobs or government. He is our refuge!

Enter His Gates

Verse 3:
I shall not die, but live, declaring
The works of God, who tried me sore,
And chastened me; but in His mercy
Not unto death has giv’n me o’er.
The gates of righteousness set open,
The gate of God! I’ll enter in
To praise Thee, Lord, who prayer hast answered,
And savèdst me from all my sin.

I will declare the works of God like the song says! I go the wrong way and make the wrong choices sometimes, but God in His mercy disciplines and redirects me, allowing me to live longer in order to come back to Him.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
For the Lord is good, and his faithful love endures forever;
his faithfulness, through all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5

I will enter His gates with gratitude and praise! Let’s give Him thanks and bless His Name! He is good! His love endures forever!

Open the gates of righteousness for me;
I will enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the Lord’s gate;
the righteous will enter through it.
I will give thanks to you
because you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
Psalm 118: 19-21

Our Cornerstone

Verse 4:
The stone—O Lord, it is Thy doing—
The stone the builders did despise,
Is made the headstone of the corner,
And it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day, of days most glorious,
The Lord has made; we’ll joy and sing.
Send now prosperity, we pray Thee;
And, O our God, salvation bring!

This stone that the builders rejected is Jesus! He tells us so in Matthew 21:42:

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
This is what the Lord has done
and it is wonderful in our eyes?”

Psalm 118:22-29:

The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
This came from the Lord;
it is wondrous in our sight.
This is the day the Lord has made;
let’s rejoice and be glad in it.
Lord, save us!
Lord, please grant us success!
He who comes in the name
of the Lord is blessed.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.
The Lord is God and has given us light.
Bind the festival sacrifice with cords
to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will give you thanks.
You are my God; I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 118:22-29

This passage of scripture that verse four is based on is beautiful! We can rejoice in the goodness of God that sent us Jesus. He is the One we can credit when we have success.

This is the Day

This is the Day that the Lord has made – We can rejoice and be glad in it, and it starts with thankfulness!

Action Step:

Which line of this song stands out to you? Is it God’s goodness? His mercy? Do you crave a spacious place in your spirit? Or long for God to respond to your cry of distress?

Can you see the gates flung open wide to give you access to the Father? Are you building the foundation of your life on Jesus the Cornerstone?

Maybe you have been praying for success and prosperity? Or are delighting in the day God has brought today?

Whichever verse pops out to you, reflect on it and thank God for His word, His love, His mercy, His hearing ears, His blessings, and more!

Let this be the day we remind ourselves of God’s amazing goodness and thank Him for it!

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for all of the incredible things you have done for us! We are so grateful for Your unending goodness and mercy! Open our eyes to all of Your blessings! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Don’t forget to keep writing down those blessings like we talked about here in Count Your Blessings!

For the November Worship with Gratitude Series page, CLICK HERE!