Psalms 113-118 are often referred to as the Hallel psalms; these were sung on festive occasions, such as at Pentecost, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Feast of Dedication. These were psalms of adoration to the Lord, which commemorated Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.
Psalms 113-114 were sung before the meal, and Psalms 115-118 were sung after the meal. This was probably the hymn which our Saviour and His disciples sang at the conclusion of the Passover supper, Matthew 26:30 / Mark 14:26.
Although there’s no author named for this psalm, many commentators believe it was David who wrote it. This is because when the second temple was being founded, they sang this psalm and attributed it to David, Ezra 3:10-11.
The NIV doesn’t offer a heading for this psalm, but the KJV does. Although the headings aren’t inspired by God, they are important because they give us some understanding of the Psalm, and they help us to see why it was written. The headings usually tell us four things.
1. Who wrote them, probably wrote them, or possibly wrote them.
2. Information about the historical background to the Psalm. Why was it written?
3. They tell us of the tune the Psalm was written to.
4. How it was used.
The heading tells us this psalm was written to encourage people to praise God for His mercy.
David begins by encouraging Israel, the house of Aaron, that is, the priesthood and those who fear the LORD, that is, the Gentiles, to give thanks to the LORD because of His goodness and His love which endures forever, Psalm 118:1-4 / Psalm 115:10.
We know that Saul had murdered many priests at Nob, 1 Samuel 22:6-23, and so, when David finally became king, they would have even more reason to sing to be thankful.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘If this song was composed by King David upon the occasion of his offering a sacrifice of thanksgiving for God’s raising him to the throne of Israel, such a triple repetition of praising God’s loving-kindness appears understandable and highly appropriate.’
When David was being hard pressed, he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD answered his prayer by taking him to a spacious place, Psalm 118:5. In other words, God set him free in a space with no limits, a place where he confidently stands.
He knows that the LORD was with him, hence why he has no reason to be afraid, Psalm 118:6, and he can look in triumph on his enemies, Psalm 118:7. He knows that mere mortals can’t hurt him because God was helping him, Psalm 118:6-7 / Isaiah 51:12 / Romans 8:31 / Hebrews 13:6.
David declares it’s better to take refuge in the LORD than it is to trust humans and princes, Psalm 118:8-9, that is, those who are nobles. In other words, humans and princesses couldn’t help David the way God does.
Trusting humans and princes brings limitations, but when we trust in the LORD, we can achieve more than we can ever imagine, Ephesians 3:20-21. We become more than conquerors, Romans 8:37.
David says the nations surrounded him, Psalm 118:10; they came at him from every side, they were like a swarm of bees coming from every direction, Psalm 118:11. However, he cut them down in the Name of the LORD; they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns, Psalm 118:12.
In other words, just as these thorn bushes burned very hot for a period, they quickly cease to burn, and so too would the threat from his enemies; they would cease to exist. David achieved all of this in the Name of the LORD, Psalm 118:12.
He acknowledges that it truly was God who helped him, Psalm 118:13, and without His help, he would have stood no chance against his enemies. Because God helped David, he quotes those famous words of Miriam because he knew that the LORD was his strength, his defence and his salvation, Psalm 118:14 / Exodus 15:2 / Isaiah 12:2 / Isaiah 33:12.
After all the victories which God gave David over the nations, the shouts of joy would be heard from the tents of the righteous, Psalm 118:15. The righteous know that it was all down to the LORD’s right hand, Psalm 118:15-16, that is, His authority, power, and strength. In other words, it was God who did these mighty acts and destroyed the enemies of Israel.
David knew it was God who wouldn’t let him die; he would live, Psalm 118:17, and openly proclaim that it was God who protected him from death, Psalm 118:18 / Isaiah 38:5-8 / Isaiah 38:21 / Acts 27:22-25.
David appears to acknowledge that the nations rose up against him because God was chastening him, Psalm 118:18 / 2 Corinthians 6:9; however, God wouldn’t allow him to be killed, Psalm 118:18.
David asks that the gates of the righteous be opened so that he can enter and give thanks to the LORD, Psalm 118:19-20. The gates of the righteous to be opened is a metaphor for a triumphant entry, which is filled with praise for the LORD, Isaiah 38:20.
David says he will give thanks to God for answering his prayers, he would acknowledge that God is his salvation, Psalm 118:21. David appears to have Messianic thoughts concerning the stone the builders rejected and now has become the cornerstone, Psalm 118:22.
These words certainly point to Jesus, the Messiah, the stone who was rejected by the religious leaders in His day, Isaiah 28:16 / Daniel 2:34 / Matthew 21:42-43 / Mark 12:10-11 / Luke 20:17 / Acts 4:11 / 1 Peter 2:7.
Note that the KJV uses the words, has become the ‘head cornerstone’. The head cornerstone was used to set the orientation of the entire building, and from the head cornerstone, the building was erected. This again points to Jesus, who is the head cornerstone of His church, Matthew 16:18-19 / Ephesians 2:20 / 1 Peter 2:7.
David knows that the LORD has built the future upon the head cornerstone, and despite his being rejected, Psalm 118:22-23, David encourages everyone to rejoice today and be glad, Psalm 118:24 / Ephesians 1:21.
These are the words which Jesus quoted these words when He made that triumphant entry into Jerusalem, Matthew 21:42 / Mark 12:10-11 / Luke 20:17. In other words, ‘this very day’, Psalm 118:24, which David spoke of here, was the day Jesus entered Jerusalem as both the Messiah and King, Luke 19:40.
The KJV says, ‘This is the day the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.’ Every day is a day which the LORD has made, and every day is a day worth rejoicing and to be glad about. In a sense, every day is a day we can rejoice about our salvation, Isaiah 38:5.
After declaring that today is the day of salvation, David says, ‘LORD, save us, and grant us success’, Psalm 118:25.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following concerning Psalm 118:25.
‘The word save here seems to be used in the general sense of imploring the divine interposition and mercy. It is a part of the word which in the New Testament is rendered ‘Hosanna’, save now, Matthew 21:9, and is the language which the multitudes employed when they followed the Saviour as he went from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem.’
Henry, in his commentary, says the following concerning the words ‘grant us success’. Psalm 118:25.
‘Send me an interest in that prosperity which his kingdom brings with it to all those that entertain it. Let my soul prosper and be in health, in that peace and righteousness which his government brings, Psalm 72:3. Let me have victory over those lusts that war against my soul, and let divine grace go on in my heart conquering and to conquer.’
As Jesus entered through the gate of Jerusalem, the multitude cried, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD’, Psalm 118:26 / Matthew 21:9 / Mark 11:9 / John 12:13. Jesus came in the authority of the name of God; He was coming as their Messiah and King.
We can almost imagine the priests, while they are at God’s house, saying, ‘We bless you’, Psalm 118:26. In other words, you are welcome to come and offer your offerings of thanksgiving, Ephesians 6:24.
David declares that God is the LORD, and He has given us light in our darkest days, He had delivered us from our enemies, He has given us success and has blessed us with peace and safety, Psalm 118:27.
He says everyone is welcome to come with boughs in hand, that is, bound sacrifices, and join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar, Psalm 118:28. These were freewill offerings, which were usually bound to the horns of the altar, Exodus 27:2 / Exodus 30:2 / Exodus 37:25 / 1 Kings 2:28 / Hebrews 13:10.
There were so many sacrifices were to be offered, they were to be laid in the court even to the place of the horns of the altar of burnt offering, Exodus 10:9 / Exodus 12:14 / Exodus 23:18 / Malachi 2:3. When the people bring their freewill offerings to the altar, they would praise and extol God, Psalm 118:28, indicating that God was worthy of their worship.
David ends the psalm with the same words he began with, ‘give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever,’ Psalm 118:29. Worship should always begin and end by giving thanks to God for what He has done.
Despite being attacked from all sides by his enemies, David proclaims that God is good. As Christians, it can sometimes be difficult to understand how God is good, especially when we’re going through tough times.
James teaches us that we should be joyful when we face hard times because God is actually working on us to help us become mature, James 1:2-4. Even in difficult times, we should give thanks to Jesus, Colossians 3:23, because in our suffering, we can display Christ in our lives, 2 Corinthians 4:11.
God is good even in our difficult times because, in those difficult times, He’s allowing his good purpose, in helping us look more like Jesus, Romans 8:28-29. In a sense, we shouldn’t try to get out of our trials too early; we shouldn’t ask God to remove our trials, we must allow God to finish moulding us, helping us become stronger and more mature, James 1:2-4.
When we understand that God is going through those trials with us, 1 Corinthians 10:13, then we might begin to understand, as David did, that God is good all the time, Psalm 23:6.