August 24, 2023 — Psalm 118 

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the LORD say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place. With the LORD on my side I do not fear. What can mortals do to me? The LORD is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in mortals. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; 

in the name of the LORD I cut them off! They surrounded me like bees; they blazed like a fire of thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! 

I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me. The LORD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.” (Verses 1-14) 

“I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me. The LORD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.” 

This small verse from Psalm 118 is one of our selected readings for a graveside committal service as per the rubrics from the Occasional Services Book.  

I tell people at a funeral that death often feels like this — that we are being pushed hard in a direction we do not want to go. Death affects us like that. Every death has an impact on our lives. No matter how old the person is who has died, or how old we are when someone dies, death has a lasting impact. We often find out who are true friends are when death hits our lives. So many people are afraid of death, or do not know how to react when someone dies, they just choose not to respond except to say “I am praying for you.” Prayers are nice, but actions of love are nicer.  

The Psalmist says “…I was falling, but the LORD helped me.” This is the hope we place ourselves in when we come to the Lord in times of both loss and blessing — grief and joy. When we feel as if our whole world is shattering around us, it is the Lord who lifts us up through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. And how does the Lord do this? Well, to begin with, the Lord comes to us through each person who offers words of condolences, each person who listens to our words of grief, and each person who prays for, but more importantly “with” us. This is how we lift each other up — actually the Lords lifts us up through the community of believers.  

Let us pray: 

Holy and mighty God, your Son’s triumph over sin and death has opened forever the gate of eternal life. Save us, we pray, when we are in distress, pressed to the point of falling. Let the joy of your salvation resound through your church and in our lives, and let the whole creation reflect the brilliant light of Jesus Christ, our risen Savior and Lord. 

Amen. 

Pastor Dave