Psalm 118 praised God for his steadfast love. This was the last hallel (hymn of praise) Hebrews sang at Passover (cf. Mark 14:26) as they recalled God freeing Israel from slavery in Egypt. Jesus, just before his arrest and crucifixion, sang these words from the Psalm: “The Lord is for me—I won’t be afraid. What can anyone do to me?”; “The stone rejected by the builders is now the main foundation stone”; and “I won’t die—no, I will live.”

• Re-read verses 6-9. The Psalmist asked the simple yet profound question, “The Lord is for me … What can anyone do to me?” Do you trust that God is indeed “for” you? In what ways can you “take refuge” in the Lord today above any human source of safety? Verse 22 spoke of the “main foundation stone” (some translations use “cornerstone”), the key stone in the entire structure. Is Jesus the “main foundation stone” in your life’s structure?
• Picture it: Jesus was with his disciples for the Last Supper, a Passover meal. He knew exactly why he had come to Jerusalem and what would happen to him the next day. Despite what was about to come, Jesus sang Psalm 118 with his disciples, including verse 17: “I won’t die—no, I will live.” What does that show you about Jesus’ faith as he faced suffering? We’re tempted to think suffering means God doesn’t care about us. What can you say about what God has done for you in and through suffering?