Sermon Title: Thankful for Salvation
Scripture: Psalm 118:1-9 (NIV)
Contributed by Nancy Buschart
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.”
Let those who fear the Lord say: “His love endures forever.” —Psalm 118:1-4
Psalm 118 is a psalm of corporate praise and thanksgiving. It is also what I call a “testimony” psalm: The psalmist was in trouble, the psalmist prayed, the psalmist was rescued by Yahweh, and now the psalmist is “testifying” before the congregation of God’s great goodness, love, and rescue. The psalmist tells the people “When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place” (v. 5). Psalm 34 is similar. “I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears” and “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles” (Ps 34:4, 6). These people know what it is to be “hard pressed,” “in trouble,” and overwhelmed with “fears.”
And so, they pray. But these aren’t foxhole prayers cried out when all else has failed. These are prayers to their God with whom they are in relationship. The psalmist knows that God is good, that God is the source of life and flourishing, and that God’s “love endures forever” even when troubles surprise and disrupt and threaten to undo us. “The Lord is with me,” he says. “I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper” (Ps 118:6-7).
The psalmist’s testimony begins even before he has been rescued from his trouble. It begins from a deep confidence and abiding trust of knowing himself to be known by God and rescued from the greatest danger—that is, eternal separation from God. The psalmist declares, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes…The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation” (Ps 118: 8-9, 14).
Consider Paul’s words in Colossians. “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:13-14). For many years, these words have been my own testimony. Rescued from the world of darkness and delivered into the kingdom of Light. Redeemed and forgiven. And still, while I have life and breath, I am being redeemed and being forgiven. Those who know they are known by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit have confidence that there is an inheritance kept in heaven awaiting our arrival into the throne room of God.
Until that day, the psalmist tells us what we are to be about both alone and together.
╬ We are to “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.” “Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord” (Ps 118:1, 19).
╬ We are to remember. “The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine on us” (Ps 118:27). “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” (Ps 118:15-16).
╬ We are to trust in God. “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans…” (Ps 118:8-9).
╬ We are to pray. “I cried to the Lord” (Ps 118:5).
╬ We are to worship. “You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you” (Ps 118:28).
╬ We are to testify. “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done” (Ps 118:17).
Consider –
╬ When God’s rescue and redeeming grace visits us, we are compelled to tell the story. When we tell others, their faith is inspired because the glory of God is revealed. Do you tell your story of God’s faithful, loving and active presence? Who needs to hear your testimony of God’s grace, be it small or great, so that their own faith can be grow?
╬ Pause today to give thanks. Tell the Lord about the big and small pieces of your life for which you are grateful.
╬ Lord, we give thanks to you for you are good. Your love endures forever. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.