His mercy endures forever

This is a long Psalm.  So I pulled out verses that stood out to me.  I found some of these verses quoted in the New Testament.  It reminded me of our celebration of Palm Sunday: Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Next week I'll take a break from the Psalms and read the Easter story.  I'm looking forward to it.  Ok getting excited!

Psalms 118

1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

It is challenging for sure, to have so much faith I'm not afraid.  Sometimes God gives me peace or joy to replace my fear.  To be honest, when I look back, the people I was so afraid of  are no longer in my life.  My career didn't end.  My life went on.  The Lord moved me on.

5 I called on the Lord in distress;

The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.

6 The Lord is on my side;

I will not fear.

What can man do to me?

7 The Lord is for me among those who help me;

The Old Testament taught, an eye for an eye.  In the New Testament, Jesus taught to love your neighbor as yourself.  You can see the contrast here:

Psalm 118:7 Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.

Matthew 5:44-46
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,  45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 
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Doing good to those who hate me is hard.  I still find those verses humbling and challenging.  It's just not an easy response.  I don't see this as passive behavior.  There is definitely a time to stand up.   I see this as the boss who enjoys competing with me in the office.  He constantly looks for anything I've done wrong, and ignores everything I've done right.  The person who just has to make comments that irritate others.

The only One who is 100% right all the time is God.  Humans are human.  When my husband drives us on a long trip.  I know he's a good driver.  I also know road conditions and other drivers can cause accidents.  So I pray.  And, try really hard not to watch the road. : )  It's safer for us both when I pray or draw, instead of "helping" him drive.  My husband will get a big smile when he reads this.

8 It is better to trust in the Lord

Than to put confidence in man.

9 It is better to trust in the Lord

Than to put confidence in princes.

This is a commonly quoted verse.  He is my strength and the song I sing.  My salvation.

14 The Lord is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness;

I will go through them,

And I will praise the Lord.

Jesus showed the way,

Matt 7:13-14
13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

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21 I will praise You,

For You have answered me,

And have become my salvation.

Jesus quotes this verse in the New Testament while speaking to the Pharisees.  He fulfilled this prophecy.

22 The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone. 

23 This was the Lord's doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
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Matthew 21:42-46
42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures:
'The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord's doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes'?
43 "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.  44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."
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A favorite verse for sure.

24 This is the day the Lord has made;

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save now, I pray, O Lord;

O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.

After a few thousand years, the prophecy was fulfilled.

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.

It was sung and shouted when Jesus entered Jerusalem on the donkey, fulfilling the prophecy.

Mark 11:9-10
9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

"Hosanna!
'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'
10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
That comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!"
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Jesus is the final sacrifice for our sin.

27 God is the Lord,

And He has given us light;

Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will praise You;

You are my God, I will exalt You.

Another well known and favorite verse, it's even a song. 

29 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

NKJV