There Is a God Who Is For You (Psalm 116-118)
Do you feel distressed and anxious? If so, Psalm 118 offers five words of comfort you should repeat to yourself: “The Lord is for me.”
Psalm 116-118
Today's Scripture Passage
A Few Thoughts to Consider
Do you feel distressed and anxious?
If so, Psalm 118 offers five words of comfort you should repeat to yourself: “The Lord is for me.” Psalm 118 is a song of thanksgiving and praise, celebrating God's enduring love and faithfulness. The psalmist recounts how he called upon the Lord in times of distress and was delivered from his enemies.
Emphasizing that it is better to trust in God than to rely on human strength, the psalm highlights God's role as a protector and savior. J.A. Motyer notes, “Its overall movement is a procession up to the temple gates (19), then through the gates to the altar (27).”[1] “Like Psalm 116, it is a thanksgiving and testimony psalm. It involves the whole congregation, but it particularly involves the voice of an ‘I,’ someone such as the king, a leader such as Nehemiah in a period when Israel didn’t have kings, or a worship leader.”[2] In verses 5-9, the psalmist says,
5 I called to the Lord in distress;
the Lord answered me
and put me in a spacious place.
6 The Lord is for me; I will not be afraid.
What can a mere mortal do to me?
7 The Lord is my helper;
therefore, I will look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in humanity.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in nobles.
Despite his challenges, the psalmist realizes he has no reason to fear. The Lord is with him, and that is enough. His refuge is in God, his strength is in God, his salvation is in God, and his hope is in God.
A Meditation to PRAY
Praise | Lord, I praise you for your enduring love and faithfulness. You are my refuge and strength, and I rejoice in knowing that you are always for me. Your presence brings peace even in the midst of my distress.
Release | I release my anxieties and fears, trusting that you deliver me just as you delivered the psalmist. I let go of relying on my own strength or the strength of others, knowing you alone are my true protector.
Ask | Lord, help me to live in the confidence that you are with me. I ask for the courage to trust in you fully, even when the future seems uncertain. Deliver me from my fears and guide me with your steadfast hand.
Yield | I yield to your divine plan, trusting that every step of my journey is in your control. I surrender my will to yours, knowing you are working for my ultimate safety and security. You are my Savior, and I rest in your care.
A Challenge to Act Like Christ
In the final section of the psalm, it becomes clear that there’s an alternation between the leader and the people speaking. For example, verse 17 uses the singular language as the psalmist says, “I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the Lord has done.” Verse 24 uses the plural language and says, “This is the day the Lord has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it.”
