Today's Video Devotion

Today's Church Service

Sunday 12/31/23

Give Thanks

📺️ Psalm 118 🔊

 ¹O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.

 ²Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

 ³Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

 ⁴Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

 ⁵I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.

 ⁶The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

 ⁷The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.

 ⁸It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

 ⁹It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

 ¹⁰All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.

 ¹¹They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

 ¹²They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

 ¹³Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.

 ¹⁴The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

 ¹⁵The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

 ¹⁶The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

 ¹⁷I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

 ¹⁸The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.

 ¹⁹Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:

 ²⁰This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.

 ²¹I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.

 ²²The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

 ²³This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

 ²⁴This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

 ²⁵Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

 ²⁶Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

 ²⁷God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

 ²⁸Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

 ²⁹O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: David, Asaph, Solomon, Heman, Ethan, Moses, and the Sons of Korah

Date Penned: (1440-586 BC)

Overview: Poetry for the Expression of Praise and Worship to God (c 1-150)

Theme: The Fifth Book of Psalms (c 107-150)

Message: Confidence in God's Love Confidence in God's Love (v 1-29)

Psalms 118 Commentary 

(118:8) Trusting God - Pilots put confidence in their planes. Commuters place confidence in trains, cars, or buses. Each day we must put our confidence in something or someone. If you are willing to trust your mode of transportation to get you to your destination, are you willing to trust God to guide you to your eternal destination? Do you trust him more than any human being? How futile it is to trust anything or anyone more than God. 

(118:22-23) Jesus referred to this psalm when he spoke of being rejected by his own people (Matthew 31.12: Mark 1210-1); Laike 20:17). Although he was rejected, Jesus is now the "headstone of the corner" (chief cornerstone), the most important part of the church (Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2.6-7). The cornerstone of a building or structure is the foundation stone, holding it together. When we consider what Jesus did for us, we should be overwhelmed with wonder and awe that he uses us as building blocks for his spiritual temple. 

(118:24) Rejoice - There are days when the last thing we want to do is rejoice. Our mood is gloomy, the situation is out of hand, and our sorrow or guilt is overwhelming. We can relate to the writers of the Psalms, who often felt this way. But no matter how low the writers felt, they were always honest with God. And as they poured out their hearts to him, their despair often turned to praise. When you don't feel like rejoicing, tell God how you truly feel. You will find that God will show you reasons to rejoice. God has given you this day to live and to serve him- be glad, because serving him makes all the difference in the world!

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue in the Book of Psalms with Chapter 118. In our text today, we see the theme of giving thanks to our God for His unchanging love amid a changing world. In applying, we see that the Lord is our foundation to walk in this world with confidence and boldness to do His Work and His Will in a lost and dying world. Today, more than ever, we can raise the blood-stained banner of our Lord and proclaim that "Jesus Saves" and He is the way to a joyful, fulfilling life both on earth and in eternity to come. How about you? Are you giving thanks? Let us learn from our Psalm and text today to Give Thanks for He is worthy, He loves us, He is our rock, He is our foundation, He is our salvation, He is our joy, and He is our life, so we should give thanks.  

Closing Prayer

Father in the Name and through the Blood of Jesus we pray that we would Take Today's Reading of Your Word and Give Us Understanding of Its Text, that You Apply this Word to Our Lives, and that you would help us grow in You. Father, Finally we Pray for Your Kingdom to come, that Your Will to be Done here on Earth as it is in Heaven. That You would Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen

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