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Psalm 118A Song of Victory1 O give thanks to the L ord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” 3 Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” 4 Let those who fear the L ord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
5 Out of my distress I called on the L ord; the L ord answered me and set me in a broad place. 6 With the L ord on my side I do not fear. What can mortals do to me? 7 The L ord is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. 8 It is better to take refuge in the L ord than to put confidence in mortals. 9 It is better to take refuge in the L ord than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations surrounded me; in the name of the L ord I cut them off! 11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the L ord I cut them off! 12 They surrounded me like bees; they blazed like a fire of thorns; in the name of the L ord I cut them off! 13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the L ord helped me. 14 The L ord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.
15 There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the L ord does valiantly; 16 the right hand of the L ord is exalted; the right hand of the L ord does valiantly.” 17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the L ord. 18 The L ord has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the L ord.
20 This is the gate of the L ord; the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. 22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This is the L ord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that the L ord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save us, we beseech you, O L ord! O L ord, we beseech you, give us success!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the L ord. We bless you from the house of the L ord. 27 The L ord is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you.
29 O give thanks to the L ord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.
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17. I shall not die David speaks like one emerging from the sepulcher. The very same person who says, I shall not die, acknowledges that he was rescued from death, to which he was near as one condemned to it. For a series of years his life was in imminent danger, exposed every moment to a thousand deaths, and no sooner was he delivered from one than he entered into another. Thus he declares that he would not die, because he regained life, all hope of which he had entirely abandoned. We, whose life is hid with Christ in God, ought to mediate upon this song all our days, Colossians 3:3. If we occasionally enjoy some relaxation, we are bound to unite with David in saying, that we who were surrounded with death are risen to newness of life. In the meantime, we must constantly persevere through the midst of darkness: as our safety lies in hope, it is impossible that it can be very visible to us. In the second member of the verse, he points out the proper use of life. God does not prolong the lives of his people, that they may pamper themselves with meat and drink, sleep as much as they please, and enjoy every temporal blessing, but to magnify him for his benefits which he is daily heaping upon them. Of this subject we have spoken on Psalm 115 |