Psalm 118

Reading for August 27, 2012      Psalm 118

I love the music of Chris Tomlin because his songs incorporate the beautiful prose of the Scriptures. Recently, I worshipped on a beautiful moonlit night in the Blue Ridge Mountains as Chris led us in singing this song of praise, born from Psalm 118,

Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever  Forever Forever

Much of Psalm 118 has been included in worship liturgies, especially on Easter Sunday. When the women returned to the disciples and announced they had seen the Lord (Matthew 28), the response of the disciples could well have been,

 “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

   his steadfast love endures for ever!

 Let Israel say,

   ‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’

 Let the house of Aaron say,

   ‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’

 Let those who fear the Lord say,

   ‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’”

Psalm 118:1-4 (NRSV)

Jesus quoted verse 22 in his parable of the Tenants, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone” (Mark 12:10) and Peter also quoted this verse in his defense as he and John were brought before the Council. (Acts 4)

Verse 26, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord” was proclaimed by the people as Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11:9), and is now included in our liturgy for the sacrament of Holy Communion.

When Jesus appeared before the disciples on the Road to Emmaus, I can see him quoting portions of Psalm 118:15-18, 21-23 as he “explained from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).

Because of the references to Jesus throughout this Psalm, the church, as she gathers on The Lord’s Day, proclaims, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

Thomas proclaimed “My Lord and my God!” when the Lord appeared to him. (John 20:28) Ultimately, this is the response all disciples will make,

“ You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;

   you are my God, I will extol you.

 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

   for his steadfast love endures for ever.”

Psalm 118:28-29 (NRSV)

Sē’lah

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What word or phrase in today’s reading of the Psalms

 attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

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Reading for August 28, 2012      Psalm 119

This Psalm is 176 verses – rather long, but I’ll try to cover it in one day.