O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth forever.
2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth forever.
3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth forever.
4 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth forever.
5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
7 The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
12 They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and song and is become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
18 The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
27 God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.
Rising above the heights of despair, through the fog of unbelief, and in contradistinction to the futile hope in mankind, this Psalm lifts us up with a rhapsody of praise to the God who cares. The psalm ends in the same way it begins: “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.” In fact, verses 2-4 command Israel, the house of Aaron (the priests), with all those who “fear the LORD,” to say, “his mercy endureth forever.”
In verses 5-9 the psalmist tells us that when God is called upon, He is there; that He is on our side and is our defender; and that it is better to trust in the LORD rather than men or rulers. In the providence of God, when verse and chapter divisions were added to the scripture, a rather recent addition, verse 8 in this chapter became the middle verse of the entire Bible. What better reminder in the “center” of our Bible that “it is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
Verse 10-12 remind us that when all may be against us, “in the name of the LORD, I will destroy them.”
Then the psalmist encourages us that the LORD helps us; is our strength, song, and salvation; and He is exalted and does valiantly on our behalf, vs. 13-16.
The deliverance of the LORD, vs. 17-18, leads away from death to life. The righteous will enter the “gate of the LORD” which is the “gates of the righteous.” This gate, vs. 19-20, is not open for the self-righteousness of individuals, Romans 3:23, but for those, like Abraham, Genesis 15:6 and Romans 4, whose “faith is accounted to him for righteousness.”
Verse 21
The celebration of Passover every year has at the minimum the reading, if not the singing, of the Hallel. The Hallel is Psalm 113-118 with 115-118 read or sung after the meal which divides the Seder into two parts.
This portion of Psalm 118 is certainly referring to Messiah. To attribute this portion to David, as some do, is to deny the understanding Jesus gave to this, Matthew 21:42, as well as its use in Acts 4:11 and 1 Peter 2:7.
The cry of verse 21 is that “the LORD has become my salvation.” Salvation is the Hebrew word Yeshua, the name of JESUS in the Hebrew language. That the name of JESUS, Yeshua, or salvation, is found in the Jewish scriptures should not be surprising. Consider Isaiah 40:10 and 62:11.
40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
62:11 Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
The wording in verse 62:11b is the same as Isaiah 40:10b.
Isaiah 40:10b “behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.”
Isaiah 62:11b “behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.”
And, in 40:10 it is the LORD who is coming, while in 62:11 it is salvation that is coming, but, notice, salvation is a person, “his reward…” The LORD, Yeshua, is coming!
And, as this verse 21 is written, it could be read “the LORD has become my Jesus (Yeshua).”
Verse 22
The word stone is a messianic designation. Messiah would be called a stumbling stone, Isaiah 8:14, a foundation and tried stone, Isaiah 28:16 and a corner stone.
The builders are the Jewish people. God is the architect, it is His plan, and He used the Jewish people to build His plan. But they, the Jewish people, refused or rejected the stone (Messiah). The Architect had previously decided that the rejected stone would become the most important part of the building, the cornerstone.
Ephesians 2:19-22, tells us, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.” God is building a “spiritual” house of Jew and Gentile who put their trust in Jesus for forgiveness of sins, and Jesus is the most important part of the building, the cornerstone.
Verse 23
Verse 23 states a very important truth. “This is the LORD’s doing” and “it is marvelous in our eyes.” The plan of redemption originated with God, was foretold by God, and will be carried out by God! It is not the doing of the Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, or any other religious group. It is “the LORD’s doing.”
When Adam and Eve sinned against God it set in motion “the LORD’s doing.” God would send the Messiah into the world through the Jewish people. The Jewish people would reject Messiah (although not all as there has been and there always is a remnant who believe). God would then turn around and make the Messiah the most important part of the spiritual building He is building.
To those of us who understand what God has done, “it is marvelous.” To think, that God, would step out of eternity in the person of His Son; clothe Himself in humanity, without sin; allow His creation to crucify their Creator; be buried and rise from the grave on the third day; and for those of us who understand and accept this, we have forgiveness of sin, a home awaiting us in heaven, and are a child of God. This is the most marvelous, wonderful, amazing truth that exists in the world – whether yesterday, today or tomorrow!
What a God! What a Savior!
Verse 24
Many don’t realize that when it is said in Matthew 26:30, “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives,” it is the only time scripture mentions Jesus singing. Singing is an integral part of Jewish worship. Feast of Tabernacles, Passover, the Levitical choir, and the musical insertions in Psalms are some of the indications of this truth. Why, then, is this the only place it mentions Jesus singing?
The likely reason the only time it is mentioned that Jesus sang is that it occurred during His final Passover when, in a few hours, He would hang on Calvary’s cross, dying and shedding His blood for the sins of the world. The horrors of His death were not the physical crucifixion, as painful as that might be – the Romans crucified thousands during that time period. No, the horror of His death is that He would be taking the wrath of a holy God upon Himself in the place of sinners. His Father would turn His back on His Son as the Messianic
Psalm declares, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”, Psalm 22:1, and was voiced by Jesus as He was dying, Matthew 27:46.
Jesus knew what lay ahead of Him as he went out to the Mt. of Olives. He knew the Father would have to turn from His Son when the wrath of God was poured upon Him in our place. So how amazing is it that Jesus sang “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” “This is the day” meaning of all days of history, God has set this day, when Jesus would die for the sins of the world. And, knowing the horrors that lay ahead of Him, when the Father would “forsake Him” and pour His wrath upon Him, Jesus could sing about that coming moment and declare “we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
It is no wonder that the psalmist said, “it is marvellous in our eyes.” What an amazing act of love!!!
Verses 25-26
Verse 25 captures the purpose of Jesus’ death, “Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD.” And verse 26 focuses our attention on the provider of that salvation, “Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.”
Salvation was made possible through the death (and subsequent resurrection) of Messiah Jesus. It came from God and the One who came in the name of the LORD!
Verses 27-28
Lest we forget, we are reminded that it is God who has given us this light to see, “God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light.” And it is He that has provided the perfect sacrifice for our sins to be forgiven, “bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.”
The psalmist has embraced the truth of this passage. Thus, he can proclaim “Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.” If you recognize the truth of this passage – fulfilled in Jesus – you can also praise and exalt the one true, God!
Conclusion
The psalm ends the exact same way it began – “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.” Sandwiched between this phrase is the wonderful truth of a God who indeed is good and merciful! Good, in that He sent His Son to die for us, who deserved the wrath of God. Merciful, in that He will forgive the sins of all who embrace Messiah Jesus as their sin bearer. If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you truly “can give thanks unto the LORD!”