May 17, 2015
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

God's Love Lasts

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Opening Prayer

Lord God, thanks be to You. Through Jesus Christ, we are shown how to live and speak thankfully.

Read Psalm 118:1-29

[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.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“This psalm could have easily come from the lips of Jesus himself: It could have been his song of triumph when he emerged from the darkness of the tomb” (Leonard Griffith).

Group praise sounds wonderful when it is repeated. The psalmist beckons individuals and groups to join with him and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (1). It is a call to the community of the faithful. This refrain envelops the psalm, for it appears in the beginning and at the end. The psalmist’s literary strategy tells us that that we are reading a complete and satisfying message.

Biblical wisdom often suggests what is better as opposed to what is simply good. A second refrain, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humans” (8), is the conclusion we should draw from the main refrain, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Because the Lord is good and his love endures forever, who would choose to trust in people rather than God? Our refuge is in him because he loves us unfailingly. He always has our best interest in view.

God met our greatest need by sending his Son. It is in the psalmist’s framework of refrains that we find the words that the Gospel writer applied to Jesus: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (22; cf. Luke 20:17), as well as “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (26; cf. Luke 19:38). Jesus brought all of the Father’s love and resources with him from heaven’s glory to earth’s fallen-ness in order to serve others and die on the cross for us. Jesus deserves our highest praise, for he came in the fullness of time to accomplish the Father’s mission on our behalf. Giving thanks is much easier if we bear in mind that his love endures forever.

Apply

Because we cannot give thanks unless we are grateful, consider in this moment all that God has done for you.

Closing prayer

Father, being grateful does not come easy for me. Help me to understand Your love so that I will want to respond in appreciation and give You endless praise.

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