Psalms 118

Thanksgiving for the LORD'S Saving Goodness.

1 ¹Give thanks to the LORD, for ²He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

2 Oh let ³Israel say, "His lovingkindness is everlasting."

3 Oh let the ⁴house of Aaron say, "His lovingkindness is everlasting."

4 Oh let those ⁵who fear the LORD say, "His lovingkindness is everlasting."

5 From my ⁶distress I called upon the LORD; The LORD answered me and ⁷set me in a large place.

6 The LORD is ⁸for me; I will ⁹not fear; ¹⁰What can man do to me?

7 The LORD is for me ¹¹among those who help me; Therefore I will ¹²look with satisfaction on those who hate me.

8 It is ¹³better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man.

9 It is ¹⁴better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in princes.

10 All nations ¹⁵surrounded me; In the name of the LORD I will surely ¹⁶cut them off.

11 They ¹⁷surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me; In the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off.

12 They surrounded me ¹⁸like bees; They were extinguished as a ¹⁹fire of thorns; In the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off.

13 You ²⁰pushed me violently so that I was falling, But the LORD ²¹helped me.

14 ²²The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become ²³my salvation.

15 The sound of ²⁴joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; The ²⁵right hand of the LORD does valiantly.

16 The ²⁶right hand of the LORD is exalted; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.

17 I ²⁷will not die, but live, And ²⁸tell of the works of the LORD.

18 The LORD has ²⁹disciplined me severely, But He has ³⁰not given me over to death.

19 ³¹Open to me the gates of righteousness; I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the LORD.

20 This is the gate of the LORD; The ³²righteous will enter through it.

21 I shall give thanks to You, for You have ³³answered me, And You have ³⁴become my salvation.

22 The ³⁵stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone.

23 This is the LORD'S doing *; It is marvelous in our eyes.

24 This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us ³⁶rejoice and be glad in it.

25 O LORD, ³⁷do save, we beseech You; O LORD, we beseech You, do send ³⁸prosperity!

26 ³⁹Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD; We have ⁴⁰blessed you from the house of the LORD.

27 ⁴¹The LORD is God, and He has given us ⁴²light; Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the ⁴³horns of the altar.

28 ⁴⁴You are my God, and I give thanks to You; You are my God, ⁴⁵I extol You.

29 ⁴⁶Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Psalms 118 Commentary

Chapter 118

It is good to trust in the Lord. (1-18) The coming of Christ in his kingdom. (19-29)

Verses 1-18 The account the psalmist here gives of his troubles is very applicable to Christ: many hated him without a cause; nay, the Lord himself chastened him sorely, bruised him, and put him to grief, that by his stripes we might be healed. God is sometimes the strength of his people, when he is not their song; they have spiritual supports, though they want spiritual delights. Whether the believer traces back his comfort to the everlasting goodness and mercy of God, or whether he looks forward to the blessing secured to him, he will find abundant cause for joy and praise. Every answer to our prayers is an evidence that the Lord is on our side; and then we need not fear what man can do unto us; we should conscientiously do our duty to all, and trust in him alone to accept and bless us. Let us seek to live to declare the works of God, and to encourage others to serve him and trust in him. Such were the triumphs of the Son of David, in the assurance that the good pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his hand.

Verses 19-29 Those who saw Christ's day at so great a distance, saw cause to praise God for the prospect. The prophecy, ver. ( psalms 118:22-23 ) Christ. 1. His humiliation; he is the Stone which the builders refused: they would go on in their building without him. This proved the ruin of those who thus made light of him. Rejecters of Christ are rejected of God. 2. His exaltation; he is the chief Cornerstone in the foundation. He is the chief Top-stone, in whom the building is completed, who must, in all things, have the pre-eminence. Christ's name is Wonderful; and the redemption he wrought out is the most amazing of all God's wondrous works. We will rejoice and be glad in the Lord's day; not only that such a day is appointed, but in the occasion of it, Christ's becoming the Head. Sabbath days ought to be rejoicing days, then they are to us as the days of heaven. Let this Saviour be my Saviour, my Ruler. Let my soul prosper and be in health, in that peace and righteousness which his government brings. Let me have victory over the lusts that war against my soul; and let Divine grace subdue my heart. The duty which the Lord has made, brings light with it, true light. The duty this privilege calls for, is here set forth; the sacrifices we are to offer to God in gratitude for redeeming love, are ourselves; not to be slain upon the altar, but living sacrifices, to be bound to the altar; spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise, in which our hearts must be engaged. The psalmist praises God, and calls upon all about him to give thanks to God for the glad tidings of great joy to all people, that there is a Redeemer, even Christ the Lord. In him the covenant of grace is made sure and everlasting.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Chronicles 16:8, 34; Psalms 106:1; Psalms 107:1; Jeremiah 33:11
• 2. 2 Chronicles 5:13; 2 Chronicles 7:3; Ezra 3:11; Psalms 100:5; Psalms 136:1-26
• 3. Psalms 115:9
• 4. Psalms 115:10
• 5. Psalms 115:11
• 6. Psalms 18:6; Psalms 86:7; Psalms 120:1
• 7. Psalms 18:19
• 8. Job 19:27; Psalms 56:9; Hebrews 13:6
• 9. Psalms 23:4; Psalms 27:1
• 10. Psalms 56:4, 11
• 11. Psalms 54:4
• 12. Psalms 54:7; Psalms 59:10
• 13. 2 Chronicles 32:7, 8; Psalms 40:4; Psalms 108:12; Isaiah 31:1, 3; Isaiah 57:13; Jeremiah 17:5
• 14. Psalms 146:3
• 15. Psalms 3:6; Psalms 88:17
• 16. Psalms 18:40
• 17. Psalms 88:17
• 18. Deuteronomy 1:44
• 19. Psalms 58:9; Nahum 1:10
• 20. Psalms 140:4
• 21. Psalms 86:17
• 22. Exodus 15:2; Isaiah 12:2
• 23. Psalms 27:1
• 24. Psalms 68:3
• 25. Exodus 15:6; Psalms 89:13; Luke 1:51
• 26. Exodus 15:6; Psalms 89:13
• 27. Psalms 6:5; Psalms 116:8, 9; Habakkuk 1:12
• 28. Psalms 73:28; Psalms 107:22
• 29. Psalms 73:14; Jeremiah 31:18; 1 Corinthians 11:32; 2 Corinthians 6:9
• 30. Psalms 86:13
• 31. Isaiah 26:2
• 32. Psalms 15:1, 2; Psalms 24:3-6; Psalms 140:13; Isaiah 35:8; Revelation 22:14
• 33. Psalms 116:1; Psalms 118:5
• 34. Psalms 118:14
• 35. Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10, 11; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:7
• 36. Psalms 31:7
• 37. Psalms 106:47
• 38. Psalms 122:6, 7
• 39. Matthew 21:9; Matthew 23:39; Mark 11:9; Luke 13:35; Luke 19:38; John 12:13
• 40. Psalms 129:8
• 41. 1 Kings 18:39
• 42. Esther 8:16; Psalms 18:28; Psalms 27:1; 1 Peter 2:9
• 43. Exodus 27:2
• 44. Psalms 63:1; Psalms 140:6
• 45. Exodus 15:2; Isaiah 25:1
• 46. Psalms 118:1

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "revere"
• [b]. Heb YAH
• [c]. Heb YAH
• [d]. Or "fell"
• [e]. Heb YAH
• [f]. Heb YAH
• [g]. Heb YAH
• [h]. Heb YAH
• [i]. Lit "from the LORD
• [j]. Lit "unto"

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 118

Kimchi says their Rabbins are divided about this psalm. Some understand it of David; others of the Messiah: but, with us Christians, there ought to be no doubt of its belonging to the Messiah; since our Lord has quoted a passage out of it, and applied it to himself, Ps 118:22,23; see Mt 21:42; and so has the Apostle Peter, Ac 4:11. Nor did the Jews of those times object thereunto, which doubtless they would have done, had the psalm respected any other but the Messiah; yea, the common people that attended Christ when he entered into Jerusalem, and the children in the temple, took their "hosanna" from hence, Ps 118:26; see Mt 21:9,15. It is generally thought to be written by David, after he was established in the kingdom, and had brought the ark of the Lord into the city. It concludes the great "Hallel", or hymn sung at the Jewish festivals; particularly at the feasts of tabernacle and the passover.