“I Will Call Upon Him As Long As I Live” (Ps 118)

“I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live” (vs1-2).

First, we call upon the Lord in trouble (vs1-4). He says, “The pains of death surrounded me, and the pangs of the grave laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the LORD: 'O LORD, I implore You, deliver my soul!'" He hears us and then we praise Him, devoting ourselves to Him in thankfulness (vs1-2). He heard us when we were in trouble, destitute, and down in our sin, and He GRACIOUSLY saved us and blessed us. Therefore, we call upon Him continually, worship Him publicly, and proclaim the saving grace of God.

Secondly, there is no help in man, and it is worthless and futile to look to human beings, when God is your strength (vs5-11). “Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yes, our God is merciful. The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, and my feet from falling... I said in my haste, 'All men are liars.'" God is the Savior, the One who lifts up, and humans are not able to encourage, comfort, or strengthen you. Only God can be looked to for salvation, so we don't put hope in men who'll fail us. Only God matters. We're free from human opinion, free from trusting deceitful hopes, and FREE to be saved by God.

Finally, I'll publicly worship among His people as thanksgiving for salvation (vs12-19). He says, “What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people... I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the LORD’S house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!” Not much is worse than doing someone a favor, really sacrificing to help them, and they don't even say “thanks” or appear thankful. We won't do this with the gospel, if we've tasted grace. He says, “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious” (1 Pet 2:4). We PUBLICLY acknowledge His greatness, sing to Him in song, and declare Him among His elect, encouraging the saints that God is good.

Don't have a selfish, spoiled, religion where you “get” from God, but you don't give. You know someone's relationship with God by how they act in the assembly. They come to say, “Thank you”, and they live in a way to encourage His church.