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Day 118 Psalm 118 Psalm 118:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endures forever. 2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endures forever. 3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endures forever. 4 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endures forever. 5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. 6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? 7 The LORD takes my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that 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 compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them. 11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them. 12 They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them. 13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me. 14 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. 15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD does valiantly. 16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD does valiantly. 17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. 18 The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death. 19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: 20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. 21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. 22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 23 This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. 26 Blessed be he that comes in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. 27 God is the LORD, which hath showed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. 28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. 29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endures forever. If you think about it, there isn’t any reason not to praise God and thank him for all he has done for you. In good times and bad he is always there to help you. I am certain you can think of any number of instances where God helped you. I know I can. The psalmist wanted Israel to remember how good the LORD was to them. He didn’t want them to forget his unfailing mercy or the prosperity they had enjoyed before they went into exile. He also reminded them that every day is the day the LORD made and they should rejoice in it. Have you given God praise today because this is the day he made? When you opened your eyes today, did you bemoan the day or look at it with expectation for what was to come? What happens in our day is not contingent on what we do to make it good or bad, though we might think so. It is contingent on our praise to God, and what we are thankful for. If we are always doleful and singing the blues, we will never see the beauty in the day around us or the opportunities God gives us. It isn’t God who brings bad things in our lives, who keeps us singing the blues, and contaminates our mood with bad thoughts and reactions to everyone and everything around us. No, that is Satan’s doing. He doesn’t want us to see all that God has given us. He doesn’t want us to be thankful or remember God’s unfailing mercy towards us. He’s the one who put blinders on our eyes so we don’t see all the good in our lives. Israel must have been feeling that way, which is why the psalmist told them to remember God’s goodness to them, and remind them of their salvation. Though the Messiah hadn’t been born yet, God had saved them countless times from their enemies, and he would continue to do so. The psalmist was also prophetic when he said the stone the builders rejected would become the head of the corner. That spoke directly about Jesus and how he would be rejected, and yet Jesus is our Cornerstone, our salvation. Peter told how Jesus is our Cornerstone when he and John healed a cripple in the name of Jesus. Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. As Christians, we have a lot to praise God about, firstly for our salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Then for all he has done for us since the day we accepted him as Savior and Lord. Yes, we should give God praise and thanks every day for his unfailing mercy towards us. This is the Lord made this day, and I will rejoice and be thankful in it. Let’s pray: Father, I give you praise and thank you for today. You made this day for me and I do not want to miss anything you are going to do in it. Help me see your unfailing mercy towards me as I make my way through this day, rejoicing in all you give me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 15 July 2016 by Valerie Jean Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay