Psalm 117  Two verses..to praise the Lord... 

Who should praise Him?   "..all nations" and "all peoples". 

Why?  " For His lovingkindness is great toward us."  His "truth.. is everlasting". 

Psalm 118 continues these thoughts..  adding not just praise but thanks.. "For His lovingkindness is everlasting." ..  God's kindness, beauty, favor, mercy, pity, and goodness.. are without end. 

The psalmist adjures Israel to declare this truth. He exhorts the house of Aaron .. the priesthood.. to declare it. He encourages all "who fear the Lord" to say it too.  That's us! 

The lovingkindness of the Lord is everlasting!  Why is that so important for us to say?  How often.. if ever.. do we actually say it? 

The emphasis here in these two psalms indicates that this is a key characteristic and truth about God that we need to remember.. to praise.. to give thanks for..  The psalmist goes on to give us examples of this everlasting lovingkindness... 

v5  Because of God's lovingkindness.. we can call upon Him in our distress and He will answer us!

V6 Because of His lovingkindness. we do not have a to fear any man.. for God is for us!

v8 Because of His everlasting compassion.. we can always take refuge in Him!

v10-13  No matter of our circumstances.. no matter how dire the situation.. God's lovingkindness will not fail.. He will help us.. 

v14 Because of His everlasting lovingkindness.. we can declare "The Lord is my strength and song and He has become my salvation." 

v15 Because of His lovingkindness we can shout for joy! We see how He comes like an army on our side!

"The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly."   the psalmist gives emphasis to this truth.. and we are again reminded that it is the Lord Jesus who is at the right hand of the Father on high. He came like an army to do what no army could do.. defeating every enemy.. ascending into glory... seated at the right hand of God.. our Mediator who forever shows us the lovingkindness of God. 

The psalmist goes on to tell us how the Lord disciplined him.. but did not hand him over to death.  Instead, He gave him life.. opened the way of righteousness.. and became his salvation.  

"The stone which the builders rejected became the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes."    This we know refers to Jesus.. and as we read in Luke.. Jesus came to fulfill every word that was spoken about Him..  Oh, Let us praise the Lord for His lovingkindness is everlasting !  It is completely and perfectly displayed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ!

V24-27 "This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it."   What day?  The day when Christ became the chief cornerstone.. the day He came to save us from our sin.  The day He came to give us light.  Hallelujah!  What a Savior!

"Thou art my God, and I give thanks to Thee; Thou art my God, I extol Thee. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting." 

Amen and amen!