Sermons on Psalm 118:8


The various sermons below interpret Psalm 118:8 by focusing on the innate human tendency to trust, emphasizing that this trust should be directed towards God. Both sermons use vivid analogies to illustrate this point: one uses the image of a child needing help in a restroom to show our natural inclination to trust, while the other employs the example of a tightrope walker to demonstrate the necessity of full commitment in trusting God. Additionally, both sermons highlight the importance of faith in the unseen, using the analogy of an Impala that hesitates to jump without seeing the landing, and the Hebrew word "yada," which means to know or trust through experiential knowledge. These elements underscore the sermons' shared message that true faith involves trusting God without needing to see the outcome, and that this trust is deepened through personal experience and relationship with God.

While both sermons share common themes, they also present distinct nuances. One sermon emphasizes the struggle between control and trust, suggesting that many people find it difficult to fully trust God because they want to maintain control over their lives. This sermon argues that true faith requires surrendering control and trusting God with all aspects of life. In contrast, the other sermon focuses on the theme of partial versus full surrender, highlighting the challenge believers face in trusting God completely due to a desire for control. It also introduces the concept of idols, explaining that misplaced trust can lead to spiritual disability and hinder one's relationship with God.

  • Hi, I've analyzed sermons that referenced Psalm 118:8. What can I answer for you?

What passages are most often cross-referenced with Psalm 118:8
What are the best sermon illustrations directly tied to Psalm 118:8


Psalm 118:8 Interpretation:

Trusting God: Overcoming Doubt and Surrendering Control (Reach Church Paramount) interprets Psalm 118:8 by emphasizing the inherent human tendency to trust and how it is naturally wired into us. The sermon uses the analogy of a child in a restroom needing help to illustrate how naturally we are inclined to trust others, and how this trust should ultimately be directed towards God. The sermon also uses the example of the Impala, an animal that won't jump unless it can see where it will land, to illustrate how humans often hesitate to trust God without knowing the outcome. This analogy is used to encourage believers to trust God without needing to see the end result, highlighting the importance of faith in the unseen.

Trusting God: Embracing Faith Over Skepticism (Reach Church Paramount) interprets Psalm 118:8 by emphasizing the innate human tendency to trust and how this is meant to be directed towards God rather than humans. The sermon uses the analogy of a tightrope walker to illustrate the concept of trust, suggesting that just as one must fully commit to crossing a tightrope, believers must fully trust in God without holding back. The sermon also introduces the Hebrew word "yada," meaning to know or trust through experiential knowledge, to deepen the understanding of trusting God with all one's heart.

Psalm 118:8 Theological Themes:

Trusting God: Overcoming Doubt and Surrendering Control (Reach Church Paramount) presents the theme of control versus trust. It discusses how many people struggle to fully trust God because they want to maintain control over their lives. The sermon suggests that true faith requires surrendering control and trusting God with all aspects of life, not just selectively.

The sermon also introduces the concept of "yada," a Hebrew term meaning to know or acknowledge God through experiential knowledge. This theme emphasizes the importance of a deep, personal relationship with God, where trust is built through knowing His character and faithfulness.

Trusting God: Embracing Faith Over Skepticism (Reach Church Paramount) presents the theme of partial versus full surrender to God. It highlights the struggle many believers face in trusting God completely, often due to a desire for control. The sermon suggests that true faith requires letting go of personal control and fully trusting in God's plan, even without guarantees.

The sermon also explores the idea of idols, explaining that anything placed before God in terms of trust becomes an idol. This theme is expanded by discussing how misplaced trust can lead to spiritual disability and hinder one's relationship with God.

Psalm 118:8 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Trusting God: Overcoming Doubt and Surrendering Control (Reach Church Paramount) provides historical context about the phrase "In God We Trust," explaining its adoption in American currency and its significance in conveying the nation's reliance on God for prosperity. This context is used to draw parallels to the personal trust individuals should place in God.

Trusting God: Embracing Faith Over Skepticism (Reach Church Paramount) provides historical context by mentioning the resurgence of religious language in the 1950s in the United States, particularly the adoption of "In God We Trust" as a national motto. This context is used to frame the discussion on trust in God versus trust in humans.

Psalm 118:8 Cross-References in the Bible:

Trusting God: Overcoming Doubt and Surrendering Control (Reach Church Paramount) references Deuteronomy 9:23 to illustrate how the Israelites missed out on God's blessings because they did not fully trust Him. This cross-reference is used to highlight the consequences of partial trust and the importance of complete reliance on God.

The sermon also references Proverbs 3:5-6, emphasizing the need to trust in the Lord with all one's heart and not lean on one's own understanding. This passage is used to support the message of surrendering control and acknowledging God in all aspects of life.

Trusting God: Embracing Faith Over Skepticism (Reach Church Paramount) references Deuteronomy 4:15 and Deuteronomy 9:23 to emphasize the importance of not creating idols and trusting God fully. The sermon also cites Proverbs 3:5-6 to reinforce the message of trusting God with all one's heart and not relying on personal understanding. Additionally, Mark 9:22-24 is used to illustrate the struggle between belief and unbelief, encouraging believers to seek God's help in overcoming doubts.

Psalm 118:8 Christian References outside the Bible:

Trusting God: Overcoming Doubt and Surrendering Control (Reach Church Paramount) does not explicitly reference any non-biblical Christian authors or theologians in its discussion of Psalm 118:8.

Trusting God: Embracing Faith Over Skepticism (Reach Church Paramount) does not explicitly reference any non-biblical Christian authors or theologians in its discussion of Psalm 118:8.

Psalm 118:8 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Trusting God: Overcoming Doubt and Surrendering Control (Reach Church Paramount) uses the story of Charles Blondin, a famous tightrope walker, to illustrate the concept of trust. Blondin's act of carrying a man on his back across a tightrope is used as a metaphor for trusting God completely, even when it seems risky or uncertain. This illustration is detailed and serves to make the concept of trust more relatable to the audience.

Trusting God: Embracing Faith Over Skepticism (Reach Church Paramount) uses the story of Charles Blondin, a famous tightrope walker, to illustrate the concept of trust. The sermon describes Blondin's feats, such as carrying a person on his back while crossing a tightrope over Niagara Falls, to demonstrate the level of trust required in one's relationship with God. The analogy of the African Impala, which will not jump unless it can see where it will land, is also used to highlight the human tendency to seek guarantees before trusting, contrasting this with the faith required to trust God without seeing the outcome.