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Celebration of the People
Marion Clark
Psalm 118:1-29
Introduction
The pilgrims have ascended the crest of Mt. Zion and now are streaming into the gates of Jerusalem, where they will observe the feast of the Passover. Among them are Jesus and his disciples. The pilgrims, Jesus, his disciples, and the people along the road and at the gate shout to one another the words of Psalm 118. Let's take time to look at this psalm shouted out on the first Palm Sunday and find out why it became a favorite of God's covenant people then, and the rich meaning it has for us today. We will look at the portion that speaks for the people this morning, and the rest of the psalm for Maundy Thursday that speaks for the Messiah.
Text
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say,
''His steadfast love endures forever.''
3 Let the house of Aaron say,
''His steadfast love endures forever.''
4 Let those who fear the Lord say,
''His steadfast love endures forever.''
This term, ''steadfast love,'' is significant. The Hebrew word is hesed. Depending upon your Bible translation, you will have read mercy (KJ), lovingkindness (NAS), or love (NIV). The ESV and RV use ''steadfast love'' in an effort to capture the nuance of love that is based on God's covenant relations to his people. God is love, yes. God loves the world. Jesus tells us that God the Father shows mercy even to the wicked. But then there is the covenant love. It is love marked by faithfulness, love founded on a binding relationship, love secured by God whose word will not fail.
Deuteronomy 7:6-9 presents the concept and basis of hesed:
For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were ...
Marion Clark
Psalm 118:1-29
Introduction
The pilgrims have ascended the crest of Mt. Zion and now are streaming into the gates of Jerusalem, where they will observe the feast of the Passover. Among them are Jesus and his disciples. The pilgrims, Jesus, his disciples, and the people along the road and at the gate shout to one another the words of Psalm 118. Let's take time to look at this psalm shouted out on the first Palm Sunday and find out why it became a favorite of God's covenant people then, and the rich meaning it has for us today. We will look at the portion that speaks for the people this morning, and the rest of the psalm for Maundy Thursday that speaks for the Messiah.
Text
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say,
''His steadfast love endures forever.''
3 Let the house of Aaron say,
''His steadfast love endures forever.''
4 Let those who fear the Lord say,
''His steadfast love endures forever.''
This term, ''steadfast love,'' is significant. The Hebrew word is hesed. Depending upon your Bible translation, you will have read mercy (KJ), lovingkindness (NAS), or love (NIV). The ESV and RV use ''steadfast love'' in an effort to capture the nuance of love that is based on God's covenant relations to his people. God is love, yes. God loves the world. Jesus tells us that God the Father shows mercy even to the wicked. But then there is the covenant love. It is love marked by faithfulness, love founded on a binding relationship, love secured by God whose word will not fail.
Deuteronomy 7:6-9 presents the concept and basis of hesed:
For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were ...
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