This Psalm begins and ends with the simple command “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever,” (Psalm 118:1,29). And this truth, throughout the Psalm motivates praise. The Psalmist describes the congregation of Israel’s response to this enduring love by saying “shouts of joy and victory resound,” (Psalm 118:15) and “let us rejoice today and be glad,” (Psalm 118:24). Overall, because of God’s love the Psalm takes the form of a joyful praise.
Sabbath-keeping is hard. Work is harder. But I want to Sabbath well, and I want to participate in good work. I want to do both with joyful praise. And so I try harder. I over-plan my Sabbath, I stress myself out about all the work I could be doing but am not doing, or at least not doing well enough. And when my attempts fail, I step back and stop trying for a bit. Sometimes I feel like I’m trying to mine for joy, mine for the good by doing Sabbath and work better. I think Psalm 118 shows me I’ve got it backwards most of the time.
The Sabbath is already good, God made it so in Genesis 2, which, I think precedes my own Sabbath attempts. Work is already good, God also made work good a bit before I came around. This Psalm reminds me that I cannot create joy from trying harder, but joyful praise comes from God’s eternal work and knowing that God is already with me in Sabbath and work. That doesn’t mean I don’t do anything for Sabbath or work, I think it just means I do both knowing I enter into them already with Him. I pray that in this season we can enter into Sabbath and work from a place of joy that God is with us and wants to be with us in our work and rest. I pray that we do not feel the pressure to manufacture joy or goodness through our efforts, but participate in the joy and goodness of God with us and for us already in our work and rest. I pray that we can “rejoice today and be glad,” (Psalm 118:24).
- Dylan F.