We’re on our third day of focus on Thanksgiving. We’ve looked at giving thanks for people and for events, but today let’s focus on how we can give thanks for the Lord’s loyalty to us!
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 118:1
We can give thanks to the LORD because He is good. How is He good? Let’s look at Psalm 118 and see!
5 different times we see the phrase, “his mercy endureth forever.” Mercy is the Hebrew word “hesed” – a theologically loaded term. R.C. Sproul says it means “God loves His people genuinely, immutably, loyally.”
If you’ve read the Bible for any period of time – that is a seemingly crazy idea – why should God be loyal to people who 1) are disloyal to Him, 2) have done nothing deserving of loyalty, and 3) actively invite the deserved wrath of God upon their lives (Romans 1:18, John 3:36)!
That’s answered by the concept of love. Unmerited. Undeserved. Often unrequited. That’s why we read it in the KJV as “mercy” – God’s merciful favor to us. How is this shown in the chapter?
I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
Psalm 118:5
His loyalty means that when we call He answers us!
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Psalm 118:6
His loyalty means that He will defend us!
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Psalm 118:8
His loyalty is better than any others!
I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
Psalm 118:21
The loyalty of the Lord brings salvation!
And if you remember the classic Sunday School song, you can rejoice with the Psalmist for all the blessings of the Lord’s loyalty!
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24
- Praise: Can we pray one hour?
- Praise: Growing our praise time
- Praise: Praising God for Creation
- Praise: Praising God our Father
- Praise: Praising God our King
- Waiting: Waiting on the Lord
- Waiting: Waiting on His Timing
- Waiting: Waiting on His Will
- Waiting: Waiting on His Peace
- Waiting: Waiting on His Authority
- Confession: Returning to Effective Prayer
- Confession: Confession brings Mercy
- Confession: Self-Interrogation
- Confession: Sins against Others
- Confession: Psalm 51
- Scripture: Praying Scripture Prayers
- Scripture: Why & How
- Scripture: Claiming Authority
- Scripture: Praying Scripture Promises
- Scripture: Praying like David
- Watching: Jesus calls us to watch
- Watching: Robert Murray M’Cheyne
- Watching: Watching for Wisdom
- Watching: The Watch of the LORD
- Watching: The Watchman on the Wall
- Intercession: Praying for Government Officials
- Intercession: Praying for Others
- Intercession: Brethren, Pray for us
- Intercession: Praying for Enemies
- Intercession: Praying for the Persecuted
- Petition: The Prerequisite for Personal Prayer Requests
- Petition: The Answer to Worry
- Petition: Petition for Wisdom
- Petition: What about the Doldrums?
- Petition: Put off and put on
- Thanksgiving: For People
- Thanksgiving: For Events
