Divine Lovingkindness: The Eternal Reign of God’s Covenant Love
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting. 2 Oh let Israel say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” 3 Oh let the house of Aaron say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” 4 Oh let those who fear the LORD say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” 5 From my distress I called upon the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me in a large place. 6 The LORD is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me? 7 The LORD is for me among those who help me; therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me. 8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. 10 All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off. 11 They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off. 12 They surrounded me like bees; they were extinguished as a fire of thorns; in the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off. 13 You pushed me violently so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me. 14 The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. 15 The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly. 16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly. 17 I will not die, but live, and tell of the works of the LORD. 18 The LORD has disciplined me severely, but He has not given me over to death. 19 Open to me the gates of righteousness; I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous will enter through it. 21 I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, and You have become my salvation. 22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone. 23 This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25 O LORD, do save, we beseech You; O LORD, we beseech You, do send prosperity! 26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD; we have blessed you from the house of the LORD. 27 The LORD is God, and He has given us light; bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I give thanks to You; you are my God, I extol You. 29 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 118
Introduction: Unveiling the Heart of Divine Sovereignty
Psalm 118 offers a profound exploration of God’s lovingkindness (חֶסֶד, hesed, Strong’s H2617) and His role as the divine King. This concept of hesed, often translated as “steadfast love” or “lovingkindness,” is central to understanding God’s character and His relationship with His people.
Linguistic Roots: Decoding the Depth of Hesed
The Hebrew term hesed encompasses loyalty, faithfulness, and covenant love. It appears repeatedly in Psalm 118, emphasizing the enduring nature of God’s love. This lovingkindness is not merely an emotion but an active force that protects, saves, and sustains.
Royal Manifestation: God as the Protective Sovereign
In the context of kingship, Psalm 118 portrays God as the ultimate sovereign who provides refuge, strength, and salvation. The psalmist declares, “The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation” (v. 14). This imagery of God as a protective and saving King foreshadows the coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
Christological Fulfillment: Jesus as the Living Hesed
Jesus, as the perfect embodiment of God’s hesed, fulfills and exemplifies this kingly lovingkindness. He demonstrates God’s protective love through His sacrificial death and resurrection. The psalm prophetically points to Christ in verse 22: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Jesus himself applies this verse to His own ministry (Matthew 21:42), highlighting His role as the foundation of God’s kingdom.
Transformative Implications: Living in the Kingdom of Lovingkindness
The concept of God’s kingly lovingkindness finds its ultimate expression in Jesus’ teachings and actions. He proclaims the arrival of God’s kingdom (Mark 1:15) and demonstrates divine love through healing, forgiveness, and self-sacrifice. Jesus’ parables often depict God as a merciful king, echoing the psalmist’s portrayal.
Conclusion: The Eternal Reign of Covenant Love
For believers, this understanding of God’s lovingkindness as exemplified in Christ transforms our approach to life and faith. It assures us of God’s unfailing love and protection, encourages trust in divine sovereignty, and calls us to extend this same lovingkindness to others. As we recognize Jesus as the cornerstone of our faith, we are invited to build our lives on His teachings and example, participating in the expansion of God’s kingdom characterized by love, justice, and mercy.
Psalm 118’s exploration of God’s lovingkindness and kingly protection finds its fullest realization in Jesus Christ. As the Messiah and King, Jesus embodies the hesed of God, offering salvation, protection, and eternal love to all who trust in Him. This concept continues to shape Christian understanding of God’s character and calls believers to live as citizens of His kingdom, marked by unwavering love and faithfulness.
A Song – The King of Lovingkindness
Disciple-Maker’s Short Story
The Loving Cornerstone
The trout sizzled in the cast-iron skillet, its skin crisping golden-brown over the campfire. Steve watched the flames dance, his thoughts darker than the gathering dusk in the mountain valley below. The weekend camping trip had been Kevin’s idea—his mentor’s attempt to create space for the conversations Steve had been avoiding.
“You know what I can’t shake?” Steve broke the contemplative silence, his voice barely audible over the crackling fire. “Every time I try to pray, I hear his voice instead.” He didn’t need to specify whose voice; Kevin knew about Steve’s father, about the years of verbal abuse that had carved deep ravines in his soul.
Kevin adjusted a log with a stick, sending sparks spiraling into the darkening sky. “I brought something I’d like to share with you,” he said, pulling out his weathered Bible. “It’s a psalm that helped me when I was struggling with similar thoughts.”
Steve tensed slightly but nodded. The mountain air carried the sharp scent of pine and woodsmoke as Kevin began reading Psalm 118 aloud. His steady voice gave weight to each word: “From my distress I called upon the LORD; The LORD answered me and set me in a large place.”
“That’s what this feels like,” Steve gestured to the vast wilderness around them. “A large place. But sometimes it feels too large, too empty.”
“Keep listening,” Kevin encouraged, continuing to read. When he reached verse thirteen, Steve’s breath caught: “You pushed me violently so that I was falling, But the LORD helped me.”
“The psalmist knew violence,” Kevin said softly. “He knew what it meant to be pushed down. But look what he discovered—God didn’t just stop the falling. He became his strength, his song, his salvation.”
The trout needed turning. As Steve carefully flipped the fish, Kevin continued reading about the cornerstone the builders rejected. “You know who that refers to, right?”
“Jesus,” Steve whispered.
“The very one. Think about it—even Jesus knew rejection. But God made Him the cornerstone, the foundation of everything. When your father rejected you, Steve, he was just like those builders. He couldn’t see your true worth. But God, your true Father, sees you differently.”
Tears gathered in Steve’s eyes, reflecting the firelight. “But how do I trust that? How do I believe in a Father’s love when all I’ve known is—” he gestured helplessly.
“Look at verse 8,” Kevin pointed. “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. Your earthly father broke that trust, but your heavenly Father’s lovingkindness is everlasting. It’s right there in verse 1, and again in verse 29. Like bookends holding everything together.”
The fish was done. As they shared the meal, Steve kept glancing at the open Bible. “You know what stands out to me?” he finally said. “Verse 18: The LORD has disciplined me severely, But He has not given me over to death. That’s different from abuse, isn’t it? There’s… purpose in it. Love, even.”
Kevin nodded. “God’s discipline shapes us, but it never destroys us. His love is different from anything we’ve experienced on earth. It’s perfect, unchanging, eternal.”
Above them, stars began appearing in the velvet sky, countless points of light breaking through the darkness. Steve picked up the Bible, his finger tracing verse 24: “This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
“Even this day?” he asked, vulnerability raw in his voice.
“Especially this day,” Kevin replied. “Because today, you’re starting to see yourself through His eyes instead of your father’s. You’re beginning to build your life on the true Cornerstone.”
A log shifted in the fire, sending up a shower of sparks that merged with the stars above. Steve watched them rise, feeling something shift within him too—like the first stone being set on a new foundation.
ToBeLikeJesus 