Psalms118
New International Version
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say: “His love endures forever.”
5 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place.
6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
11 They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
12 They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
13 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.
15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
16 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
23 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.
25 Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you.
27 The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you.
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
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Psalms 118Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 118. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: It is good to trust in the Lord. (1–18). The coming of Christ in his kingdom. (19–29).
vv1-18
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.
vv19-29
Those who saw Christ's day at so great a distance, saw cause to praise God for the prospect. The prophecy, verses 22, 23, may refer to David's preferment; but principally to 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.
Key Words
יָדָה: physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the hands)
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
טוֹב: good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
חֵסֵד: kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty
עוֹלָם: properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always
נָא: 'I pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the Imperative or Future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
אַהֲרוֹן: Aharon, the brother of Moses
Cross References
Psalms 118Directly quoted by Christ to apply the rejected cornerstone prophecy to Himself and His rejection.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Peter's extensive theological explanation of Christ as the living Stone chosen by God but rejected by men.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Peter boldly proclaims to the Jewish council that Jesus is the stone they rejected, now chief cornerstone.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The crowds shout 'Hosanna' and 'Blessed is he that cometh' at Christ's triumphal entry.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Jesus declares Jerusalem will not see Him again until they say, 'Blessed is he that cometh.'
Supported by JFB
Directly quotes 'The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
Moses' song of deliverance after the Red Sea, using identical phrase: 'The Lord is my strength and song.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identical threefold division of praise: Israel, the house of Aaron, and those who fear the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The source of the messianic prayer 'Save now' (Hosanna) and 'send now prosperity'.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel exhortation warning against putting confidence in princes or sons of men.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The same vivid military metaphor of enemies surrounding and chasing like swarming bees.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Illustrates the rapid, crackling, but temporary flare-up and sudden extinction of 'the fire of thorns'.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Paul's architectural metaphor of Christ as the chief cornerstone uniting Jewish and Gentile believers.
Supported by JFB
Verbal link where deliverance from distress is described as being set in 'a large room'.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The contrast between the cursed man trusting in flesh and the blessed man trusting in Jehovah.
Supported by Matthew Poole