The Lord Is Always Merciful

Psalms 118:1–9
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This psalm contain both history and prophesy. Its human author is unknown. Historically it covers a time period when the remnant came back from Babylon to the promised land. It is also considered a messianic  psalm in which certain verses are associated with the Lord Jesus Himself and with His earthly life and ministry. It is prophetic as it looks beyond the Lord’s first coming to His coming again and to the time when He will deliver Israel from its enemies at Armageddon and lead the world into the millennial reign.

The journey described here commences with praise to God for His amazing goodness and grace. “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; because His mercy endureth for ever” (v. 1). We are living in an age when things become obsolete quickly. More and more things today are built to be disposable. Nothing on this earth lasts forever. But God is going to be praised for all eternity by every living creature (vv. 2-4). Not all will own Him as Savior, but all will own Him as Sovereign.

The character of the journey can be described as follows:

1. The prayer that was answered. “I called upon the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me, and set me in a large place” (v. 5). Satan was defeated.
2. The peace that was assured. “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me” (v. 6)? He had no fear of what man could do to him.
3. The person that was alongside. “The Lord taketh my part with them that help me” (v. 7). Gethsemane was the first stopping place.

Application

Each day I must put my confidence in something or some one. How futile it is to put my trust in anything or anyone more than the Lord.