It is always good to know whom one can trust, and whom one cannot trust. Putting our trust in the wrong person can lead to some bad results, sometimes costly results, and unfortunately for some, it can even lead to deadly results. This is one of several topics that our psalmist addresses in our psalm today. This is also a Messianic psalm, often recited in churches during the Easter season. Let’s look at several of the thoughts brought out in the psalm.
This psalm is a celebration of God’s goodness and mercy in the midst of trouble and pain. We all go through problems in our lives. No one is exempt from that. Our unknown psalmist, like the authors of so many of the psalms, was familiar with difficulties. He knew where, and to whom he should turn, which makes all the difference. If we look to ourselves we find that we are often incapable to get ourselves out of trouble, sometimes only making the problem worse. Other people will often let us down, or are equally incapable of helping us. There is only One to whom we can truly turn to for help in our troubles, and that is Yahweh. We need to thank Him for life, and receive each day with joy.
Our psalmist knew to turn to the Lord in his trouble, because whenever he called upon Him, he found relief from his problems and was rescued (vs. 5). When we have the Lord in our life, and are trusting and relying upon Him, we don’t need to be afraid of others. They are mere men, and can only do as much as the Lord will allow them to. Jesus reminds us that men can only kill the body, but not our souls (Matthew 10:28). We don’t need to hang our heads in fear or discouragement. Instead, we should look up to heaven, and praise God for all He has done for us. The Lord is on our side.
As our psalmist continues, he reminds us of the One we should be putting our trust in (vs. 8-9). People often go back on their word. They might make us so many promises, and then turn around and let us down. We see that all the time with politicians today, just as the psalmist did with the political leaders, the “princes” of his day, as well. Even the best of friends can let you down. However, God always does what He says, and keeps every promise He makes. We can trust Him!
Further on in Psalm 118 the psalmist wrote several verses which became prophetic for the coming Messiah (vs. 22 - 24). He shares a visual picture of a large building stone brought to a construction site, but which the builders reject. However, that stone ends up being the cornerstone of the building, the one that is the most important, holding the building together. The New Testament points out quite clearly that this stone is really the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Parable of the Vineyard which Jesus told in Matthew 21:33-46, Jesus is the rejected son of the Owner, likened to the rejected stone, which became the cornerstone. The religious leaders rejected Jesus as the Messiah. They rejected the One who came to deliver and save the nation. Jesus was rejected by His own people (Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17). The apostle Peter declared in his sermon on Pentecost Sunday, “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36). Now Jesus is the Cornerstone of the Church (Acts 4:10-12; Ephesians 2:19-20; I Peter 2:6-7).
In verse 24 we read a verse that is familiar with many. “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” There are some times when we just don’t feel like rejoicing. Sometimes when we wake up, we just crawl out of bed dreading what lays before us, and we certainly don’t feel like rejoicing. Yet here in this verse, God is telling us to rejoice in the day He has given us. On those dreary days, when rejoicing seems like the last thing we can do, look around. Find at least one thing we can thank God for. There are undoubtedly many things we can name. Then rejoice. God has given us this day to live and serve Him.
To reestablish a thankful heart, we need to set aside time to deliberately remember all that God has done for us, and to give thanks. As our psalm today urges us, we need to remember His mercy and His steadfast love. We can have confidence in God’s eternal love. It is unchanging in the midst of a changing world. God’s love should give us great security.
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