“Giving credit where it’s due”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Psalm 118 (Forward, p. 71) CEV p. 628
Unlike many leaders today who like to take the credit, either for themselves as a government, or to their military forces or industry or some other national entity, today’s psalmist is most careful to give all the credit to God. Verses 5-14 are a non-stop litany describing God’s intervention in his life:
“When I was really hurting, I prayed to the Lord. He answered my prayer, and took my worries away” (verse 5).
“The Lord is on my side, and I am not afraid of what others can do to me” (verse 6).
“With the Lord on my side, I will defeat all of my hateful enemies” (verse 7).
“It is better to trust the Lord for protection than to trust anyone else, including strong leaders” (verses 8-9).
“Nations surrounded me, but I got rid of them by the power of the Lord” (verse 10).
“They attacked from all sides, but I got rid of them by the power of the Lord” (verse 11).
“They swarmed around like bees, , but by the power of the Lord, I got rid of them and their fiery sting” (verse 12).
“Their attacks were so fierce that I nearly fell, but the Lord helped me” (verse 13).
“My power and my strength come from the Lord, and he has saved me” (verse 14).
Most surely, this has been a partnership between the psalmist and God—the psalmist did his part—but nevertheless he is most explicit in giving all the credit to God. No wonder his opening and closing refrain is “Tell the Lord how thankful you are, because he is kind and always merciful” (verses 1 & 29). Indeed, this is all about God’s incredible mercies—a good thing to keep in mind as we enter into this new year. Amen.
Forward notes: “The Lord is at my side, therefore I will not fear; what can anyone do to me?” (verse 6).
“I sometimes find it challenging to relate to the enemy language in the psalms, whether it’s retribution against them or the chronicle of evil done by them. But when I consider that my worst enemies may be internal, the psalmist’s words take on a new meaning. Sometimes my enemy, fear, threatens to overwhelm me. I feel surrounded on every side, swarmed by the buzzing of anxious thoughts, hemmed in by negative thoughts burning out of control.
“The psalmist’s song of victory offers a path to peace, showing me one way to defeat my own inner enemies. The psalm is bookended with praise and filled with thanksgiving for the past, present, and future. I’m not always able to be thankful during a time of mental or physical distress, but the psalmist’s experience helps me remember that when I take my mind off my enemies and turn toward God, I will find the Lord at my side, helping me to fend them off. God is always near, ready to save me. Knowing that, I know there is nothing to fear.”
Moving Forward: “What internal enemies plague you? How will you turn them over to God today?”