Psalms 118:1

Psalms 118:1 says, O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.  The first few verses of this Psalm calls on people to give thanks to the LORD because He is good and His mercy endures forever. Verse one seems to call on everyone do this, as really everyone should.  Even though we know that many people will never give thanks to God, we should still call on them to do so.  Verse two adds, Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.  Next, the people of Isreal, God's chosen people, were called on to say that God's mercy endures forever.  We as followers of Christ today must tell the world that God's goodness is everlasting.  Verse three continues, Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.  The house of Aaron were the priests, and we could apply this to preachers today, but since we are a priesthood of believers as Christians, I believe it applies to all of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse four concludes, Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.  This says that those who fear the LORD, God's people, should proclaim His mercy.  As I have stated many times, I don't believe that fear the LORD,, means to be afraid of Him, but to acknowledge His power compared to our helplessness.  Verse five states, I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.  After emphasizing the need to praise God and declare His mercy, David said that he called on God in his time of distress and that God answered him and set him in a large place.  If we are in distress today, God will set us free spiritually if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ.  Even if we are not freed from the distress physically, we have been freed spiritually forever and have an everlasting home in the great space of heaven.  Verse six adds, The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?  Since as followers of Christ, we know like David did that God is on our side, then we should say like he did that we will not be afraid.  We can also ask as David did what can people do to us that would cause us to be afraid and not put our faith in God.  The people of the world are powerless to do anything that would separate us from God's mercy.  Verse seven continues, The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. David said that since God was with Him that He would see his desire for those who hated him carried out.  We should want even those who hate us because of our relationship with God to be saved, but if they aren't, one day we will see them sent away to everlasting punishment.  Verse eight declares, It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. As David said, it is better to put our faith in God than to put our faith in mankind.  Verse nine adds, It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.  David then said it is better to put our faith in God than to put our faith in worldly rulers.