I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.” vs. 17
Psalm 118:17-19
The psalmist had feared that his end was near. We don’t know what kind of crisis he had been caught up in. The context points to a military victory over a longtime enemy, but it could also have been some dread illness, or just one of the many challenges that are faced in the process of aging. At any rate, the prospect of an imminent death had diminished, and his health and vigor had been restored. He knows he’s going to live and he wants to give thanks to the Lord in the presence of the whole congregation.
Now it’s not likely that the psalmist was thinking of life beyond death – that wasn’t a part of the Jewish belief system. But because we live on the other side of Easter, we can’t help but apply his words to our own situation. For us, though death remains a lifelong enemy, it’s lost its power and sting because of what has happened in Jesus. We will die – it happens to us all. But then we shall be made alive, and for that reason we too gladly recount the deeds of the Lord. That’s why early Christians gathered for worship on the first day of the week. Every Sunday became another Easter for them, a time to celebrate new life, and to give thanks to God for the promise of victory over death.
Thought for the Day: What keeps me away from worship?
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