Message Notes

SSS 4
Book 5
Psalms 107-150
1 September 2024

Psalm 118 (Part 1)

1Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

2 Let Israel now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

3 Let the house of Aaron now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

4 Let those who fear the Lord now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

5 I called on the Lord in distress;
The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.

6 The Lord is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?

7 The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.

8 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man.

9 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in princes.

10 All nations surrounded me,
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

11 They surrounded me,
Yes, they surrounded me;
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

12 They surrounded me like bees;
They were quenched like a fire of thorns;
For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

13 You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
But the Lord helped me.

14 The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.

Psalm 118:1-14

GIVING THANKS TO THE LORD

1Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

2 Let Israel now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

3 Let the house of Aaron now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

4 Let those who fear the Lord now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

Psalm 118:1-4

1. The Call to practise giving thanks to the LORD

a) To Israel

b) To the house of Aaron

c) To all who fear the Lord

2. This is reminiscent of Psalm 115:9-11

a) A Call to Israel to trust in the LORD

b) A Call to the house of Aaron to trust in the LORD

c) A Call to all who fear the LORD to trust in Him

3. The focus in Psalm 118

a) The mercy of the LORD

b) God’s mercy endures forever

A PERSONAL TESTIMONY

5 I called on the Lord in distress;
The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.

6 The Lord is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?

7 The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.

Psalm 118:5-7

1. A distressful time remembered

a) Calling on the LORD

b) God answered the cry of distress

c) He delivered and blessed

2. Lessons learned

a) The LORD is on our side

b) There is no need to give in to fear

c) God is among those who come alongside to offer help

d) Those who hate would be defeated

AN IMPORTANT LESSSON ABOUT TRUST IN THE LORD

8 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man.

9 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in princes.

Psalm 118:8-9

1. Better to trust in the Lord

2. Than to put confidence

a) In Man

b) In princes

SURROUNDED BY HOSTILE NATIONS

10 All nations surrounded me,
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

11 They surrounded me,
Yes, they surrounded me;
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

12 They surrounded me like bees;
They were quenched like a fire of thorns;
For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

13 You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
But the Lord helped me.

14 The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.

Psalm 118:10-14

1. Enemies described

a) All nations

b) They surrounded

c) They were compared to a swarm of bees

d) They pushed violently

2. Victory through trusting in the Lord

a) In the name of the Lord

b) Help was given by the Lord

c) The enemies were destroyed

3. Joyful reflections

a) The Lord was there with the Psalmist

b) The Lord became:

i) The Psalmist’s strength

ii) His song

iii) His salvation