Rev. Mark Barz, pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 118.

Psalm 118 begins and ends with a familiar refrain of thanksgiving to the LORD for His enduring steadfast love. All people are invited to join in singing in a procession leading to the temple. The psalmist has confidence in the LORD in the midst of danger. The LORD is the place of refuge when all human help fails. Even when the psalmist is surrounded by enemies, the LORD remains his strength and salvation. As the procession nears the temple, the picture of the Messiah becomes clearer. Jesus enters Jerusalem as the coming King. Though He is rejected and sacrificed there, the Father sets Him as the cornerstone for the Church. This is the Day of salvation that the LORD has made. The Church now sings Psalm 118 in anticipation of the day of salvation the LORD will bring on the Last Day when He takes us into resurrection life.


Join Sharper Iron during the month of July to study several Psalms. In the Psalter, God speaks His Word to us and teaches us how to speak back to Him in prayer. Even in the great variety of the Psalms, each one points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ.