Yahweh Is for Me
TRANSLATION
(1) Give thanks to Yahweh, 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 Yahweh say, “His steadfast love (endures) forever.” (5) From (my) distress I called on Yahweh, and Yahweh answered me (and set me) in a large place. (6) Yahweh (is) for me. I will not fear. What can man do to me? (7) Yahweh (is) for me. (He is) my helper. I shall look (in triumph) on those who hate me.
OBSERVATIONS
Several striking repetitions marked these opening verses. First, the chant-like repetition of “his steadfast love (endures) forever” (four times in vss. 1-4) provided an obvious praise emphasis. Additionally, we should note three repetitions of “let...say” (vss. 2-4). Twice in one verse Yahweh’s name was invoked (vs. 5) along with single mentions of his name (vss. 1, 4, 6, & 7). In the final two verses, we find the phrase, “Yahweh (is) for me,” repeated.
The structure of this segment would lead us to believe that at least the first four verses were designed for use in public worship as a type of thanksgiving liturgy with the worship leader reading the first line of each verse and the congregation responding in unison with the second line. In Psalm 136 we will see an entire psalm structured this way.
OUTLINE
I. The psalmist began with a chorus of praise. (1-4)
II. The psalmist continued by recounting a crisis he faced. (5)
III. The psalmist expressed great confidence in Yahweh. (6 & 7)
IDEA STATEMENT
Because Yahweh is on our side, we will praise and trust him in every situation we may face.
APPLICATION
Paul posed the following rhetorical question in Romans 8:31: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” This question was not intended to gain information but to make the following point: because no one is greater than God, we need never worry about any opposition if God is on our side. To paraphrase the old cliché, “Together my God and I constitute a majority in every situation.”
This was precisely the thrust of the first segment of Psalm 118. Yahweh deserves the heartfelt praises of those who, by trusting in him, experience his constant protection and blessing. By describing the crisis he faced in non-specific terms (vs. 5), the psalmist emphasized that we need never fear any difficulties we might encounter. If God is for us, what can anything or anyone possibly do to oppose or to harm us?