“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His mercy is everlasting.”

“Let Israel say,
‘His mercy is everlasting.’
Let the house of Aaron say,
‘His mercy is everlasting.’
Let those who fear the Lord say,
‘His mercy is everlasting.’”

“From my distress I called upon the Lord;
The Lord answered me and put me in an open space.
The Lord is for me; I will not fear;
What can man do to me?”

“The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in people.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in noblemen.”

“All nations surrounded me;
In the name of the Lord I will certainly fend them off.
They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me;
In the name of the Lord I will certainly fend them off.
They surrounded me like bees;
They were extinguished like a fire of thorn bushes;
In the name of the Lord I will certainly fend them off.”

“You pushed me violently so that I was falling,
But the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.”

“The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the Lord performs valiantly.
The right hand of the Lord is exalted;
The right hand of the Lord performs valiantly.”

“I will not die, but live,
And tell of the works of the Lord.
The Lord has disciplined me severely,
But He has not turned me over to death.”

“Open the gates of righteousness to me;
I will enter through them, I will give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord;
The righteous will enter through it.
I will give thanks to You, for You have answered me,
And You have become my salvation.”

“A stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This came about from the Lord;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day which the Lord has made;
Let’s rejoice and be glad in it.”

“Please, Lord, do save us;
Please, Lord, do send prosperity!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord;
We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.”

“The Lord is God, and He has given us light;
Bind the festival sacrifice to the horns of the altar with cords.
You are my God, and I give thanks to You;
You are my God, I exalt You.”

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His mercy is everlasting.”

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Context and Meaning

Psalm 118 is a thanksgiving psalm celebrating God’s deliverance from intense opposition. Traditionally sung at the end of the Egyptian Hallel (Psalms 113–118) during Jewish festivals like Passover, it holds deep prophetic significance—pointing to Jesus Christ as the rejected stone who becomes the cornerstone (v. 22; cf. Matthew 21:42).

It moves from personal testimony to communal praise, showing that God’s steadfast love is the anchor of both individual and national salvation.

Key Themes:

1. God’s Mercy Endures Forever: Repeated four times at the start, this truth is the psalm’s foundation (v. 1–4).
2. God Is Our Refuge: Trusting Him is safer than trusting people or rulers (v. 8–9).
3. God Gives Victory Over Enemies: Opposition is overcome “in the name of the Lord” (v. 10–14).
4. The Lord Is Salvation: The psalmist testifies to deliverance from near death (v. 17–18).
5. The Messiah Foretold: The rejected stone becoming the cornerstone is a prophecy fulfilled in Christ (v. 22; Acts 4:11).
6. Today Is a Gift: “This is the day which the Lord has made” calls for rejoicing (v. 24).

Reflection and Impact

Psalm 118 offers encouragement for every believer facing trouble:

• God’s mercy is unending – “His mercy is everlasting” (v. 1–4) echoes Psalm 136 and Lamentations 3:22–23, assuring us His steadfast love never runs out.
• Refuge in God is unshakable – “It is better to take refuge in the Lord” (v. 8–9) reminds us of Proverbs 18:10—His name is a strong tower.
• Victory is in His name – “In the name of the Lord I will fend them off” (v. 10–12) parallels Philippians 2:9–11, where every enemy bows to Jesus’ name.
• God brings resurrection hope – “I will not die, but live” (v. 17) points forward to Christ’s victory over death and the believer’s eternal life (John 11:25–26).
• Christ is the cornerstone – The rejection in v. 22 is fulfilled in Matthew 21:42 and 1 Peter 2:6–7—Jesus is the foundation of our salvation.
• Today is holy ground – “This is the day the Lord has made” (v. 24) invites us to live each day with gratitude (Colossians 3:17).

Application

• Anchor Your Hope in God’s Mercy: His love outlasts every trial.
• Choose God as Your Refuge: Trust Him above human strength or influence.
• Walk in Victory Through His Name: Face opposition with confidence in Christ’s authority.
• Rejoice in Today: Live fully in the moment God has given, even in the midst of challenges.

Closing Thought

Psalm 118 is both personal and prophetic—celebrating God’s past deliverance, calling for present praise, and pointing to Christ as the ultimate fulfillment.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy is everlasting.”