Psalm 118:1 Meaning and Explanation

This verse opens Psalm 118 with the great refrain of Israel's worship: "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever." The command to give thanks rests on two unchanging realities, God's goodness and the permanence of His mercy. These are the same words that open and close several psalms, a well-worn call to praise that God's people knew by heart.

What makes this verse especially significant is the psalm it begins. Psalm 118 is a triumphant song of thanksgiving for deliverance, and it became deeply woven into the worship of God's people, sung at the great festivals. It is the psalm that supplies the words "the stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner" and "Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD." This opening verse sets the tone for that triumph. Before recounting the rescue, the psalmist establishes the foundation: God is good and His mercy lasts forever. The structure teaches us something. Thanksgiving begins with God's character rather than with our circumstances. Whatever deliverance we celebrate, the deeper reason for gratitude is always the same: the unchanging goodness and never-ending mercy of the LORD.