(REFLECTIONS ON Psalm 117–Psalm 118)

In this one statement, “for His lovingkindness is everlasting,” we are reminded that there is nothing better than the Lord to help us and be our refuge in times of despair and trouble. What is so amazing about this statement and why is it so powerful?

It is because in this one statement, we are given a promise and also a duration of that promise. How so? The word lovingkindness in the Hebrew language (Hesed), speaks of the Lord’s unfailing and unending covenant love. It is a steadfast love that never changes and will last forever. Contained within this word is God’s promises from the time of creation all the way until the end of times.

The Lord’s lovingkindness reveals to us that there is nothing greater than the Lord’s love, which is forever. The duration though is, in addition to the Lord’s lovingkindness, the psalmist also tell us that His unending, forever, never changing love, is everlasting. God’s promise of His covenant love that knows no ends, is forever.

Is there any greater promise than that? Not just once forever, but forever even after that. That is why the psalmist doesn’t worry about the world or what man can do to him,

6 The Lord is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to 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.

Although all the nations surround the psalmist, he writes, “In the name of the Lord I will surely cut them off.” What is the name of the Lord? In Hebrew, “the Lord” is YHWH, Yahweh, or Jehovah. The interesting thing about this name is that in the original Hebrew it doesn’t contain any vowels so it cannot be pronounced. This is sacred name of the Lord.

It is in the name of the Lord, too holy to be spoken, YHWH, that we put our trust in, because His lovingkindness is everlasting. It is the Lord, and in His name, that brings about salvation and that is why the psalmist rejoices saying,

24 This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

And that is why ’til this day, we still proclaim in the church that “this is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” It is because our Lord by His holy name YHWH has called us, delivered us, given us salvation, because His lovingkindness is everlasting.

It was so with Israel, with those His Son, Jesus Christ redeemed, and now with us and forevermore. Let us then shout aloud saying, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Psalm 117
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Psalm 118