Unchanging God
Opening Prayer
“You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, and I will exalt You” (28).
Read Psalm 118
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say:
“His love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say:
“His love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say:
“His love endures forever.”
5 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.
6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humans.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
11 They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,
but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
16 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord
through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
23 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.
25 Lord, save us!
Lord, grant us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.
27 The Lord is God,
and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
As you read this psalm, make a note of the statements which apply to your life right now. Let them build your faith.When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the crowds welcomed him with palm branches and shouts of “Hosanna!” (Matt. 21:9). They wanted to be rescued from their Roman oppressors. A few days later another crowd would shout “Crucify!” (Matt. 27:22). Both were putting their confidence in their own imagined rescuer—not the real Redeemer. They rejected him.
Jesus knew their welcome would end in rejection; later, speaking to some leaders (Matt. 21:33–44), he referred to this psalm, describing himself as the “stone the builders rejected.”
In the wilderness, the Israelites learned that they could put their confidence in God to lead them and provide for them. The disciples learned that Jesus could be relied on to keep his promises. Even when all hope seemed to have gone, death was not the end but part of the victory.
Our confidence ebbs and flows, like that of the psalmist. We see evidence of God’s enduring love, then we are buffeted by life’s circumstances. Let’s learn to give thanks in every situation and to trust God to act on our behalf.
Apply
Talk to God about your circumstances. Thank and praise him for the good points and ask for his help in each difficult situation.
Closing prayer
God, I trust Your goodness and love to bring me through. Thank You that Your love endures forever.
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