The Word says God inhabits the praises of His people (see
Psalm 22:3) and that He will maintain our right and our cause
when we praise Him (see Psalm 9:1-4). God instructed me to
use Psalm 118 when I give a praise offering. Let’s examine it.

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because
his mercy endureth for ever. Let Israel now say, that his
mercy endureth for ever. Let the house of Aaron now
say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let them now that
fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth for ever. I
called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me,
and set me in a large place. The Lord is on my side.

By the time I reach this last phrase, I am about ready to
shout! The Word says that if God is for you, then nobody can
successfully remain your enemy (see Romans 8:31).

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do
unto me? The Lord taketh my part with them that help
me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate
me. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence
in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence
in princes. All nations compassed me about: but in
the name of the Lord will I destroy them. They compassed
me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name
of the Lord I will destroy them. They compassed me about
like bees; they are quenched as the fires of thorns.

This word thorns stands for “strife.”

For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. Thou
hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the Lord
helped me. The Lord is my strength and song, and is
become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation
is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand
of the Lord doeth valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is
exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.

Of course, the “right hand of the Lord” is Jesus. You are
praising Jesus when you do this.

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the
Lord. The Lord hath chastened me sore: but he hath
not given me over unto death. Open to me the gates of
righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the
Lord: This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous
shall enter. I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me,
and art become my salvation. The stone which the
builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will
rejoice and be glad in it.

You have probably heard this last verse all your life, but
with the whole psalm around it and in the light of what it is for,
you can see its full significance.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries