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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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6 Jehovah is with me among those who help me Confiding solely in God’s help, he sets at defiance not a few enemies merely, but the whole world. “Defended by God’s hand, I may boldly and safely set at nought all the machinations of men.” When all the power of the universe is deemed as nothing, in comparison of God, then, indeed, is due honor attributed to him. Thus he tacitly reproves the unbelief of almost all men, who spontaneously alarm themselves with groundless fears. All, indeed, desire peace of mind; but, in consequence of robbing God of the praise due to his power, their own ingratitude does not permit them to realize this blessing. Were they, as is fitting, to submit in all things to the good pleasure and power of God, they would be always ready boldly to surmount all those difficulties, the dread of which from time to time annoys them. But paying more regard to the mischievous attempts of men, than to the help which God can give them, they deserve to tremble at the rustling of the falling leaf. It is the wish of David, by his own example, to correct such perversity; and, with this view, he affirms that, in the enjoyment of God’s favor, he would fear no man, being fully persuaded that he could rescue him from all the nefarious plots which were laid for him. Or if he composed this psalm after his deliverance, we see how much he had profited by the experience of the grace of God. Therefore, as frequently as God shall succor us, let our confidence in him for the future be increased, and let us not be unmindful of his goodness and power, which we experienced in our extremity. Possibly, he relates the meditations which occurred to him in the midst of his distresses; the former conjecture appears more probable, that, after he obtained deliverance, he gloried, for the future, in God’s continued assistance. Some refer the clause, those who are helpers with me, to the small troop which David had drawn to him; but this, in my opinion, is too refined; for it would tend little to the honor of God to class him among the six hundred whom David commanded, as if he were one of the troop. My interpretation is more simple, that he calls God his helper. “It is enough for me that God is on my side.” Were he deprived of all human aid, still he would have no hesitation in opposing God against all his enemies. |