PSALM 118
118
1 Give thanks to Yahweh because he is good;
his committed love lasts forever.
2 Let Israel now say,
“His committed love lasts forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron now say,
“His committed love lasts forever.”
4 Let those who fear Yahweh now say,
“His committed love lasts forever.”
5 From the trouble I called to Yahweh;
he answered me from his open space.
6 Yahweh is for me, I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 Yahweh is for me through my helpers,
and I see him even in my enemies.
8 It is better to trust in Yahweh than to trust in man.
9 It is better to trust in Yahweh than to trust in princes.
10 All nations surrounded me,
but in the name of Yahweh I cut them down.
11 They completely surrounded me,
but in the name of Yahweh I cut them down.
12 They surrounded me like bees;
they were quenched like a fire of thorns;
in the name of Yahweh I cut them down.
13 You tried to push me down but Yahweh helped me.
14 Yahweh is my strength and my music;
he is my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous.
Yahweh’s right hand works powerfully.
16 Yahweh’s right hand is lifted up.
His right hand works powerfully.
17 I will not die, I will live,
and I will speak of the things Yahweh does.
18 Yahweh has disciplined me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 They open the righteous gates for me.
I will enter them and praise Yahweh.
20 This is Yahweh’s gate.
The righteous will enter through it.
21 I will praise you because you answered me.
To me you are salvation.
22 The stone that the builders threw away
has become the cornerstone.
23 This has come from Yahweh –
it is amazing to us!
24 This is the day that Yahweh appointed.
We will be glad and rejoice on it.
25 Please, Yahweh, save now!
Please, Yahweh, work powerfully now!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of Yahweh.
You bless us from the house of Yahweh.
27 Yahweh is God and he shines on us.
Tie the sacrifice with ropes on the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God – I praise you!
My Godhead – I lift you up!
29 Give thanks to Yahweh because he is good;
his committed love lasts forever.
1 Give thanks to Yahweh because he is good;
his committed love lasts forever.
2 Let Israel now say,
“His committed love lasts forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron now say,
“His committed love lasts forever.”
4 Let those who fear Yahweh now say,
“His committed love lasts forever.”
5 From the trouble I called to Yahweh;
he answered me from his open space.
6 Yahweh is for me, I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 Yahweh is for me through my helpers,
and I see him even in my enemies.
8 It is better to trust in Yahweh than to trust in man.
9 It is better to trust in Yahweh than to trust in princes.
10 All nations surrounded me,
but in the name of Yahweh I cut them down.
11 They completely surrounded me,
but in the name of Yahweh I cut them down.
12 They surrounded me like bees;
they were quenched like a fire of thorns;
in the name of Yahweh I cut them down.
13 You tried to push me down but Yahweh helped me.
14 Yahweh is my strength and my music;
he is my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous.
Yahweh’s right hand works powerfully.
16 Yahweh’s right hand is lifted up.
His right hand works powerfully.
17 I will not die, I will live,
and I will speak of the things Yahweh does.
18 Yahweh has disciplined me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 They open the righteous gates for me.
I will enter them and praise Yahweh.
20 This is Yahweh’s gate.
The righteous will enter through it.
21 I will praise you because you answered me.
To me you are salvation.
22 The stone that the builders threw away
has become the cornerstone.
23 This has come from Yahweh –
it is amazing to us!
24 This is the day that Yahweh appointed.
We will be glad and rejoice on it.
25 Please, Yahweh, save now!
Please, Yahweh, work powerfully now!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of Yahweh.
You bless us from the house of Yahweh.
27 Yahweh is God and he shines on us.
Tie the sacrifice with ropes on the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God – I praise you!
My Godhead – I lift you up!
29 Give thanks to Yahweh because he is good;
his committed love lasts forever.
General structure of Psalm 118
Context - Psalmist leading the people in procession up to the temple to present a sacrifice to the Lord.
(v1-4) - Psalmist Rouses (calls for response from various groups in the people of Israel)
(v5-18) - Psalmist Recalls (recounts the great things God has done for Israel in their history as they approach the temple)
(v19-21) - Psalmist Received (he is ushered in through the gate)
(v22-27) - People Respond (while he is in there the pronouns switch to plurals - I/me to we/us - the people take up the praises)
(v28-29) - Psalmist Rejoices (he's back and still praising God!)
Note how this Psalm is one of those recited during Jesus' triumphal entry (Luke 19:37-40), and the Pharisees call him on it. They knew that if the people recited that Psalm in this situation it meant they were calling him the Messiah, hence their reaction (of course mistakenly assuming he wasn't actually the Messiah!)
Verse notes
(5)
The trouble. Could that be 'the (great) tribulation'? This Psalm reads in a whole new light if you take it that way. Just a conjecture, but worth debating, perhaps?
(7)
and I see him even in my enemies. I have added 'him even' just to give a better idea of what it seems to be saying: Yahweh is clearly working when my frineds help me, but he is just as active when he works through my enemies - aren't they the times you learn the most, after all?
(16)
right hand. This has been said to be a code for Jesus (at the right hand of the Father - Acts 2:33, 1 Pet 3:22 etc.). If so, then this verse takes on a whole new prophetic meaning (lifted up on the cross...John 3:14).
(22)
the stone. Follow the idea of the stone or rock through the whole Scripture and you get an amazing portrait of Jesus.
(24)
This is the day that Yahweh appointed. Every day is God's for sure, but it may well be a specific day in view here - the one on Nisan 10, 32 AD, Jesus' triumphal entry where the Israelites sang this Psalm 'for real'. How did he appoint it? Check out Daniel 9:25.
(28)
Godhead
Context - Psalmist leading the people in procession up to the temple to present a sacrifice to the Lord.
(v1-4) - Psalmist Rouses (calls for response from various groups in the people of Israel)
(v5-18) - Psalmist Recalls (recounts the great things God has done for Israel in their history as they approach the temple)
(v19-21) - Psalmist Received (he is ushered in through the gate)
(v22-27) - People Respond (while he is in there the pronouns switch to plurals - I/me to we/us - the people take up the praises)
(v28-29) - Psalmist Rejoices (he's back and still praising God!)
Note how this Psalm is one of those recited during Jesus' triumphal entry (Luke 19:37-40), and the Pharisees call him on it. They knew that if the people recited that Psalm in this situation it meant they were calling him the Messiah, hence their reaction (of course mistakenly assuming he wasn't actually the Messiah!)
Verse notes
(5)
The trouble. Could that be 'the (great) tribulation'? This Psalm reads in a whole new light if you take it that way. Just a conjecture, but worth debating, perhaps?
(7)
and I see him even in my enemies. I have added 'him even' just to give a better idea of what it seems to be saying: Yahweh is clearly working when my frineds help me, but he is just as active when he works through my enemies - aren't they the times you learn the most, after all?
(16)
right hand. This has been said to be a code for Jesus (at the right hand of the Father - Acts 2:33, 1 Pet 3:22 etc.). If so, then this verse takes on a whole new prophetic meaning (lifted up on the cross...John 3:14).
(22)
the stone. Follow the idea of the stone or rock through the whole Scripture and you get an amazing portrait of Jesus.
(24)
This is the day that Yahweh appointed. Every day is God's for sure, but it may well be a specific day in view here - the one on Nisan 10, 32 AD, Jesus' triumphal entry where the Israelites sang this Psalm 'for real'. How did he appoint it? Check out Daniel 9:25.
(28)
Godhead