HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER
PSALM 118:1-14, 26
PSALM 118:1-14, 26
Introduction:
David most likely composed this Psalm, when the civil wars between the houses of Saul and David were ended. David was newly settled in the kingdom of all Israel, and had newly brought up the Ark of God to his royal city of Jerusalem. David speaks of God mercy as being everlasting as a result of accomplishing this task.
The latter part of this psalm GOES BEYOND THE TYPE OF CHRIST TO THE ANTITYPE, the Messiah himself and His kingdom, v. 26; Matthew 21:9, “And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.”
I. FOR HE IS GOOD
A. Give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good, vv. 1-3; Psalms 106:1, “Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
B. Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever, v. 4; Revelation 19:5, “And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.”
C. I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, v. 5; Psalms 18:6, “In my distress [straits] I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.”
1. God has set us in a large place, Psalms 4:1, “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.”
2. In God’s mercy He has not shut us up in the hand of the enemy, but freed us, Psalms 31:8, “And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.”
II. IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD
A. Than to put confidence in man, v. 8; Proverbs 3:26, “For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”
1. For the Lord is our refuge, Psalms 62:8, “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.”
2. For the Lord is our hope, Jeremiah 17:7, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.”
B. Than to put confidence in princes, v. 9; Psalms 146:3, “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.”
1. As a rule princes are NOT ONE WHIT MORE RELIABLE than the rest of mankind, Psalms 146:4, “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.”
2. What can a prince DO FOR YOU IN SICKNESS OR DEATH? Jeremiah 16:7, “Neither shall men tear themselves for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; neither shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother.”
3. PRINCIPLE has been FORGOTTEN and CHARACTER has been SACRIFICED TO MAINTAIN POSITION at court, Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
C. The Hero of the Psalms HAD NO EARTHLY FRIEND upon whom he could thoroughly rely, vv. 10-13; Revelation 20:8, “And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9- And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.”
1. They compassed me about like bees, v. 12; Deuteronomy 1:44, “And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah.”
2. But the Lord helped me, v. 13; Psalms 18:17-18, “He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. 18- They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.”
III. HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER
A. The Lord is my strength and my salvation, v. 14.
1. Moses knew his strength was in the Lord, Exodus 15:2, “The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. 3- The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.”
2. David knew the Lord as his Rock and Fortress, Psalms 18:2, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”
B. David exclaims, “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord,” v. 26; Malachi 3:1, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.”
1. God will bless His person, Luke 13:35, “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
2. God will bless His government, Isaiah 9:7, “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
CONCLUSION